The East African savanna, a dry tropical grassland, is home to a rich array of spectacular animals. Predators like lions and cheetahs prey on grazing and browsing animals like zebras and gazelles. Stately birds like kori bustards stalk smaller prey while rarely seen naked mole-rats inhabit burrows on the savanna. You can see these species and more without traveling to Africa. Just come to the Zoo or take a virtual visit. African species at the Zoo

Animals from many parts of Africa make their home at the Zoo. The Zoo's Cheetah Conservation Station is home to Grevy's zebras, scimitar-horned oryx, dama gazelles, cheetahs, and other animals.

Zebra Day

Come to the Cheetah Conservation Station for Zebra Day on Saturday, June 2 for a day of fun-filled, family-friendly activities. Get the details

Cheetah Cubs are Growing Up

Amani's cubs have moved! They are almost 11 months old and now weigh between 58 and 78 pounds! Read more in the latest keeper updates.

See photos and watch a video about the cubs.

The cubs were born to two separate females; the first to five-year-old Amani on December 6, the second to nine-year-old Zazi on December 16. Read about the news and see photos.

Celebrate the birth of the cubs—adopt a cheetah!

More news

Please note: The cheetah cubs' temporary new home does not have web cams.

(please leave this field blank) Get the latest National Zoo news Subscribe to our e-newsletter (please leave this field blank) First Name: Please enter a valid email address Enter your email address: By signing up, I acknowledge I am at least 13 years of age or a parent giving a child permission to sign up. Questions or comments? Please email us. Support Our Cheetah Conservation Program | Help with cam Can't see any animals? The animal(s) in this enclosure may have moved out of view. Spotting cheetahs: Three male cheetahs live at the Zoo's Cheetah Conservation Station. Cheetahs are the world's fastest land mammal, able to run as fast as 60 miles per hour. Cheetah Fact Sheet | Adopt a Cheetah Related Cams      Naked Mole-rat      Lions:   Lions | Lion Cubs 4W | Lion Cubs 5W | Lion Cubs 3W

Cheetah Chat

Tune into the Zoo's podcast, Cheetah Chat, to learn about cheetah spots and speed, and the history and future of the Zoo's cheetah conservation efforts.

Animal Enigma

This striped carnivore lives in many regions of Africa and is now on exhibit at the Small Mammal House. What is it?

Grasslands in Africa and Beyond

Africa's Sahel grassland, home to endangered scimitar-horned oryx and many other rare species, merges into the Sahara desert to the north and the savanna to the south. Mostly dry grasslands also cover southern Africa, home to cheetahs, Cape buffalo, black rhinos, and kori bustards also found in East Africa. Zoo scientists are working in all of these areas to help conserve the incredible biodiversity of Africa's grasslands.

North America's grasslands were once home to abundant black-footed ferrets, bison, and prairie dogs. On South America's plains, seriemas and maned wolves stalk prey. Parts of Asia, such as Mongolia, home of Bactrian camels, Mongolian gazelles, and Przewalski's horses, are covered with grasslands.