Climatic regions are varied and often extreme. Tropical forests, arid plains, harsh deserts, lush grassland savannas, and high, snow-covered mountains provide a variety of habitats for the continent's abundant wildlife. Simson African Hall presents one of the most diversified collections of African mammals and birds in the world. Exhibits include a pride of lions on high ground alertly surveying the savanna below, a cheetah at the moment of the kill, and almost two dozen species of hoofed mammals from the tiny klipspringer to the majestic nyala, from the flashy zebra to the elegant giraffe. All exhibits display animals, either alone or in associated groups, within the framework of their natural habitats.
Tours hope to convey some of the vastness and excitement of Africa.
A docent tour of African Hall uses the exhibits of African mammals and birds to focus on many of the subjects outlined below. Most students find the tour more rewarding if these subjects and the listed vocabulary are discussed in class prior to your visit to the Academy. The vastness of Africa. The diverse and often inaccessible topography. Major geographical features.