. Ancient Ghana was located in the western part of Africa, near the Niger River. To the north of the empire was the Sahara Desert and to the south, along the Atlantic Ocean, sprawled a coastal rain forest.
. Ancient Mali was also located in between the Sahara Desert and the coastal rain forests. Mali expanded east and west to encompass almost 1,800 miles. The empire's location also allowed easy access to the Niger River.
. The majority of ancient Ghana and Mali was located on savannas. Savannas, or tropical grassland, are vast grasslands with scattered shrubs and the occasional tree. Savanna regions are characterized by long dry seasons (winter) and shorter wet seasons (summer). The dry season rainfall only averages around 4 inches, and there is a span of three months when rain scarcely falls at all. Frequent droughts occurred in the region. A particularly long drought during the 12th century contributed to the decline of Ancient Ghana.
· A variety of animals grazed in the western span of Africa. These animals included sheep, cows, and goats.
.Gold mines and iron ores were abundant in the region. These natural resources were important aspects to the success of both empires.
