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.

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.

Cheetah Update: Building a Cheetah Coalition (Take 2)

Coalition building between Sampson and Nick did not go as well as we had hoped. Read more

Dama Gazelle Born at the Smithsonian's National Zoo

A male dama gazelle was born to mother Fahima and father Raul early morning Sept. 4 in an off-exhibit area. The following day, Sept. 5, Zoo veterinarians performed a complete physical exam, which includes: listening to the calf's heart and lungs; checking his mouth, eyes, legs, feet, umbilicus and genital area; taking blood samples; and observing the calf's mobility. He appears to be healthy and strong. more

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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. Help with cam Can't see any animals? The animal(s) in this enclosure may have moved out of view. Watching a lion mother and cub Shera, the Zoo's five-year-old lioness, gave birth to four cubs on August 31. Her sister Naba, a six-year-old lioness, gave birth to three cubs on September 22. If no lions are visible, toggle between cams, as the lions have the freedom to move between dens. Facts about lions | Download the Zoo's app to watch this cam on your smartphone More Lion cams     Lions | Lion Cubs 4W | Lion Cubs 5W Related Cams      Cheetah Cam 1      Naked Mole-rat

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.