Savannas sit between forests and grasslands, shaped by seasonal rains, fire, and unique soils. Learn what defines them and why they matter. In general, savannas grow in tropical regions 8° to 20° from the Equator. Conditions are warm to hot in all seasons, but significant rainfall occurs for only a few months each year—about October to March in the Southern Hemisphere and April to September in the Northern Hemisphere. This type of savanna climate has two extremes, one that receives just a bit more rainfall than a semi-arid climate, and another that has an extremely rainy wet season. Savannas usually form in places between tropical rainforests and deserts, especially in parts of Africa, South America, and Australia. That location matters because the biome sits in a climate zone where temperatures stay warm, but precipitation is seasonal instead of constant. Tropical and subtropical savannas are concentrated near the equator, especially in Africa (e.g., South Africa, Kenya, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia), South America, and Australia. In general, savannas grow in tropical regions 8° to 20° from the Equator. Conditions are warm to hot in all seasons, but significant rainfall occurs for only a few months each year—about October to March in the Southern Hemisphere and April to September in the Northern Hemisphere. The tropical savanna biome is characterized by two distinct seasons in regard to precipitation; the dry season and the wet season. The dry season typically occurs from October to January and typically experiences just 4 inches of rainfall. The Savanna biome is one of the most diverse biomes in terms of animals. It’s not only aided by the vastness of the tropical grassland but also by the varying changes in the climate. The tropical savanna climate creates one of Earth's most dynamic and ecologically important landscapes. Its seasonal rhythms of rain and drought, shaped by fire and herbivory, support extraordinary wildlife and sustain hundreds of millions of people. Tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate is a tropical climate sub-type that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories Aw (for a dry winter ) and As (for a dry summer ).