Although drosophilids are widespread models in genetics and molecular biology, their diversity and distribution is relatively poorly known. Field information is important because it provides an appropriate framework to interpret genetic and evolutionary studies. We sampled drosophilids in the Brazilian savanna, one of 34 biodiversity hot spots worldwide. This extremely rich and endangered biome is highly seasonal and consists of a vegetation mosaic, ranging from open fields to riparian forests; these forests occupy only 5% of the Brazilian savanna but concentrate most of the biome's diversity. Twelve monthly collections in a riparian forest of the Brazilian savanna revealed 61 drosophilid species, comprising the genera Amiota Loew, Drosophila Fallén, Neotanygastrella Duda, Rhinoleucophenga Hendel, Scaptodrosophila Duda, Zaprionus Coquillett, and Zygothrica Wiedemann. This richness represents about a half of the recorded drosophilid species of the whole biome, and includes five new occurrences for the Brazilian savanna: the genus Amiota, Drosophila coffeata Williston, D. neorepleta Patterson and Wheeler, D. pseudosaltans Magalhães, and Rhinoleucophenga brasiliensis (Lima). This result suggests that drosophilid richness in this biome is likely to be high but remains understudied.