Banhine National Park

Banhine National Park 

Banhine is a national park approximately 700,000ha in extent and situated in central southern Mozambique midway between Pafuri in the west and Vilanculos in the east. Banhine was established in 1973 with the express purpose of conserving the giraffe and ostrich populations found there. Although Banhine is situated midway between Pafuri and the coast, it is an arid environment with an annual rainfall of approximately 430mm.

Yet despite the arid environment Banhine has a wetland that covers more than one percent of its surface area, as well as over a thousand pans that vary in extent from a few square metres to a few hundred hectares. Not only is there great diversity in the nature of the pans, but also in the chemical composition of the water.

Many of the pans and wells have a high dissolved salt content and are almost as salty as sea water, while others, that may only be separated by short distances, are potable and “sweet”. Even within the wetland itself the salinity of water changes according to the replenishment status of the wetland as well as the position in the wetland. Some areas have a higher level of salinity than others.

Epic Mozambique Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound