The Victoria Falls Protection Area lies in Matabeleland North Province. Bounded by the Zambezi River and Zambia to the north and Botswana to the west, the protected land and Safari Areas is approximately 5 200 kmsq. It contains three National Parks Victoria Falls, Zambezi and Kazuma Pan, two Safari Areas - Matetsi and Deka and four forest areas; Fuller, Panda Masuie, Kazuma Pan and Mvuti. The Parks are administered from the ZIPWMA Zambezi HQ in Victoria Falls, the Safari Areas from the Matetsi HQ and the Forestry Areas from the HQ in the Fuller Forest Area.
The Victoria Falls is a listed World Heritage Site and is shared with Zambia. This site has recently come under the re-evaluation of the World Heritage Site Committee, given the various problems that threaten its status which include substantial over-development by the tourist industry. A brief overview of both the natural resources and the management and utilisation status is given in the next few pages.
Landform, Geology & Soils
The area is underlain by basalt which is exposed in the area adjacent to the Zambezi River. Most of the land is overlain by Kalahari sands which is gently undulating. The most spectacular feature is the Victoria Falls where the Zambezi River cuts a 300 metre deep gorge into the basalt.
Water Resources
The main river in the area is the Zambezi which forms the boundary of the Matetsi Safari Area and the Zambezi and Victoria Falls National Parks. Other main seasonal rivers include the Deka and Matetsi. The eastern parts of the area are poorly drained and this can cause seasonal waterlogging. The Kazuma Pan is the centre point of a localised depression in the Kalahari sands.
Climate and Vegetation
Seven principal vegetation types are recognised in the area which include woodlands, grasslands, scrublands and swamps. Mopane woodlands are found on the lower and poorer soils while Kalahari and Munga woodlands are predominant on the sandy soils. Riverine forests and swamps are a feature mainly of the Zambezi River, above the Victoria Falls.
Wildlife
Over 30 species of large and medium sized mammals are found in the area and their distribution is dependent on vegetation, water distribution and land-use. The area is part of the greater ecosystem which extends from Hwange in Zimbabwe through to Kafue in Zambia, the Caprivi strip in Namibia, Botswana and Angola.
Neighbours
Outside the protected areas in Zimbabwe land-use is generally restricted to communal subsistence type farming. The Zimbabwean areas border onto National Parks in Zambia (Mosi-oa-Tunya NP) and Botswana (Chobe NP; 6 km gap) and hunting areas in Botswana (NG 5 and 8). To the south of the area, in Zimbabwe, lies the Hwange NP.
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