The African grassland habitat characterized by scattered acacia trees is the savanna. Savannas combine a continuous or nearly continuous grass layer with trees spaced far enough apart that their canopies usually do not form a closed forest.
East African savannas commonly contain acacias along with Combretum, baobabs, Borassus palms, and Euphorbia. Seasonal rainfall, fires, grazing, and browsing help maintain the open landscape. These conditions support large herbivores such as zebras, wildebeest, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, and antelope, followed by predators including lions and cheetahs.
Savannas are broader than the classic postcard image of acacia trees on a grassy plain. Some are almost treeless grass savannas, while others are wooded savannas with many shrubs and trees. The defining feature is the open structure, not one particular tree species.
Pampas and prairie are temperate grasslands, while steppe usually refers to a dry grassland with sparse vegetation. A savanna is generally associated with warm climates and pronounced wet and dry seasons, especially across tropical Africa.