Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why can old termite mounds provide good places for trees and shrubs to grow in Kenya?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Savanna
A savanna marked with acacia trees in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Africa's Serengeti Plain is commonly used as an example of the savanna biome—a hot, seasonally dry ecological region characterized by an open tree canopy (i.e., scattered trees) above an understory of continuous grasses.
In Kenya, old termite mounds serve as favorable environments for trees and shrubs primarily because they are raised above the general soil surface. This elevation provides flood-proof sites that allow these plants to grow in areas where the surrounding grassland might otherwise be unsuitable due to waterlogging or other soil conditions.1