Most visitors will come to Mwabvi to see animals, but the park also offers very different types of landscape and vegetation. These varying habitats, while beautiful, support a wide range of fauna, indeed Mwabvi has interesting and varied vegetation ranging from dry evergreen forest to swamp.

The following plant communities exist within the reserve:

A. Riverine Woodland: The large dense, dark green trees found along the river courses (Acacia nigerescens, Cordyla Africana and various Ficus, Trichelia and Diospyros species). There is a block of riverine woodland separated by almost one kilometre from the river by the nearby portion of the river. The fact that a new woodland has not had time to develop on the present river course and that the relict riverine woodland is distinctly mature, with the conclusion that the Thangadzi River must have changed its course in a single dramatic flood within the past few decades.

B. Mopane Woodland: The mopane with its characteristic butterfly-shaped leaves is the dominant woodland in the reserve covering approximately one third of the land. It is often found on poor soil as a mono-species offering a spectacular sight when  the green leaves in the dry season turn gold and red. Browsers like kudu and eland feed on mopane. It is also one of the primary feeding areas for elephant.

C. Dry Deciduous Thicket: The dominant trees in this complex are Brachystegia bussei, pterocarpus angolensis, Adansonia digitata and Ceiba pentandra. The Acacia ataxacantha and certain Commpihora and Combretum species are also present. This covers about 1.5% of the reserve. Tall and majestic trees are particularly prominent, amongst others Torchwoods grow to 25m in height.

D. Riparian Thicket: The thickets include Capparis tomentosa, Combretrum mossambicense, Combretrum obovatum and various Acacia, Maerua, Phyllanthus and Maytenus species. This vegetation has the same characteristics as dry deciduous thicket but its occurrence along watercourses allows it to be separated. Very often it appears as an extension to the riverine woodland.

E. Closed Mixed Woodland: The dominant trees here are, Brachystegia, Julbernaeda, Burkea, Pseudolachnostylis, Combretum, Diplorynchus and Commphora species. Found on all the hills in the reserve with some degree of variation canopy cover and tree height. The woodland here has been described as an open canopy.

F. Eastern Uplands Woodland: This is restricted to Mulaka Hills area and the dominant trees are Combretum species. It covers 9% of the reserve. This ranges from almost close, to open woodland, from comparatively tall woodland to shrub. This habitats favoured by wildlife because of the nutritious pods of the dominant trees.

G. Central Dambo: This refers to the extensive dambo, which runs alongside the road from Migudu to Kanyimbi for almost the full extent of the reserve. The vegetation type (or, rather, this single feature in the landscape) is regarded as one of Mwabvi’s most attractive tourism assets. All grazer species of fauna can benefit from this area; e.g. Zebra, Wildebeest an Hartebeest.

H. Grasslands and Sparse Savannah: Acacia nigrescenns, Acacia nilotica, Dalbergia melanoxylon and Albizia harveyi are common tree species. This vegetation is found along the narrow seasonal streams, and it covers about 8km’s of the reserve. It is naturally without trees in places with permanent high water tables and nutritious black cotton soil.

SPECTACULAR TREES OF MWABVI

The Sausage Tree, with its big sausage-like fruits is one of the important trees for wildlife. Elephants and giraffe eat the young fruits as well as the leaves. In the driest season, with very little food in the reserve, the mature fruits lying on the ground save animals like baboons and zebras from starvation. The big red flowers, rich in moisture and nectar are favoured by most antelopes, fruit bats, birds and baboons. Humans also benefit from the tree. In local medicine, the fruits are used against ulcers and sores, and to increase the milk production of mothers.

The Baobab is one of the impressive trees in the reserve. It can reach an age of more than 2500 years and a girth of more than 20m. Most of the year, it is found bare without leaves in order to reduce evaporation. The nutritious pulp and seeds of the fruit are eaten by both animals and humans, and people use the fresh leaves for relish. Hollow baobab trees can provide shelter for owls, bats and mammals like porcupine and aardvark.

The Mopane with its characteristic butterfly-shaped leaves is the dominant woodland in the reserve. It is often found on poor soil as a mono-species offering a spectacular sight when all the green leaves in the dry season turn gold and red. Browsers like kudu and eland feed on mopane. The hard and heavy wood is excellent for firewood and is resistant to termites.