Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
The Limpopo river forms the southern border of Zimbabwe with South Africa, and flows west–east. The Mwenezi river is a major tributary and flows north–south. They do not meet in Zimbabwe, but converge to a distance of 20 km apart. In between is the Sengwe Communal Land in Chiredzi District of Masvingo Province, mostly a flat and undulating area around 300 m in altitude. The border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique is a straight line across country, marked with a game fence. The three countries meet on the Limpopo river, just north of Pafuri, at 22°25’S 31°19’E. The Mwenezi river forms a boundary between the Gonarezhou National Park and the Malapati Safari Area, and has formed the Manjinji Pan (a sanctuary under the Parks and Wild Life Act) from an old oxbow. The pan is at 22°07’S 31°24’E and is in the Communal Land. There is some development of a flood-plain downstream from the pan. Towards Chikwarakwara, to the west on the Limpopo river, are more flood-plain areas. The natural vegetation of the area is mopane woodland and
Terminalia woodland. Manjinji Pan is surrounded by thick woodland, dominated by fever-tree
Acacia. There are many palms
Hyphaene in the area. The local people practise subsistence agriculture and pastoralism with cattle and goats. They regard Manjinji Pan as a sacred area.
See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species.
Serinus citrinipectus is common in the area, apparently associated with
Hyphaene palm-savanna. Flocks of hundreds were seen in 1990.
Anthreptes reichenowi has also been seen, but it is considered to be much rarer than
Serinus citrinipectus.
Gyps coprotheres flies over the District and is likely to feed on dead animals there. When full, the Manjinji Pan attracts hundreds of waterbirds.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The District Council protects the Manjinji Pan, but the local people are already in the habit of doing so. The
Hyphaene palms are used to make cane furniture and the stems cut to collect sap for wine-making. Over-exploitation of the palms could threaten
S. citrinipectus. Any threats to the area in general are likely to come from overgrazing and trampling by cattle.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Limpopo - Mwenezi flood-plain and pans (Zimbabwe). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/limpopo--mwenezi-flood-plain-and-pans-iba-zimbabwe on 23/11/2024.
