African Savanna

I stretch out like a big, warm blanket under a giant blue sky. My grasses tickle your toes and sway in the gentle breeze. Tall, twisty trees with flat tops stand like big umbrellas, giving shade from the bright sun. The air is warm and smells like sunshine and earth. Can you guess who I am? I am the African Savanna, a big, beautiful home.

For a very, very long time, I have been a home to amazing animals. Since around 2 million years ago, the very first people walked across my plains. Tall giraffes with long necks munch on my special acacia leaves, reaching for the highest snacks. Big, gentle elephants stomp by with their families, their big ears flapping hello. Zippy zebras with black and white stripes gallop and play, while sleepy lions nap in the warm sun. A long time ago, around 5000 BCE, wonderful people called the Maasai came to live with me. They take good care of their cows and sing beautiful songs. We all share this special home together, listening to the buzz of the busy insects and the big, friendly roar of the lions at night. It feels happy to have so many friends.

I have two favorite kinds of weather. Sometimes the sky gives me a big drink of water, and all my grasses turn bright green and yummy for the animals to eat. Other times, the sun warms me up until I am golden and cozy, perfect for napping. To keep me and all my animal friends safe, kind people created special parks where everyone can live happily. One very famous park, called the Serengeti, was created in the year 1951. I love being a wide-open space for playing, exploring, and living. I will always be here, sharing my sunshine and the happy songs of my animals with the world.