Namibian savanna woodlands
The Namibian savanna woodlands, also known as the Namib escarpment woodlands, are deserts and xeric shrublands ecoregion of Namibia and Angola.
They extend north and south from southwestern Angola to central Namibia, east of the coastal Namib Desert. The woodlands cover the Namib escarpment, which rises from the low-lying Namib coastal plain to the Southern African plateau on the east. Baynes, Erongo, Naukluft, Spitzkoppe, and Gamsberg mountains lie along the edge of the escarpment. Brandberg Mountain lies west of the escarpment in the Namib Desert, and is included in the ecoregion.
To the northeast lie more humid woodland and savanna ecoregions – the Angolan miombo woodlands at furthest northern end, and the Angolan mopane woodlands to the northeast. To the east is the arid Kalahari xeric savanna, and to the south are the low desert shrublands of the Nama Karoo.
The varying rainfall, topography, and soils within the ecoregion supports several plant communities. In the north and east, Mopane savanna with the trees Colophospermum mopane, Sesamothamnus benguellensis, and S. guerichii, is predominant. The semi-desert and savanna transition community supports a variety of species. In the south, open dwarf shrub savanna, with small trees scattered among shrubs, herbs, and grasses, is predominant.
The ecoregion has many endemic species, particularly on Brandberg and the Kaoko escarpment.
