Field notes

Deserts receive very little rain. They may have sand, rocks and hardy plants, and they are not always hot. Savannas are open grasslands with scattered trees; many have a wet season and a dry season. Rivers carry flowing freshwater through the land and support plants, animals and people. Australia has the Great Victoria Desert and the tropical savannas of the north. South Africa has the Kalahari region and savanna areas such as Kruger National Park. Both countries have rivers, including Australia’s Murray River and South Africa’s Orange River. Environments are varied, and people and wildlife adapt to local conditions.