Lavushi Manda National Park

Lavushi Manda National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Location	Zambia
Coordinates	12°19′S 30°51′E / 12.317°S 30.850°E / -12.317; 30.850
Area	1,500 km²
Established	1972
Governing body	Department of National Parks and Wildlife

Lavushi Manda National Park is a national park in the

Geology and hydrology

Lavushi Manda lies on the plateau area of Lavushimanda District between the Muchinga Escarpment and the alluvial flats of the Bangweulu floodplain.^[3] The scenery is dominated by the 40^[2] to 47 km long Lavushi mountains in the southern half of the park. This range reaches up to 1,811 meters altitude, forming one of the highest points in Zambia.^[3] The rocks in the rugged landscape are mainly quartzites, which are ancient metamorphosed sandstones.^[5]

Away from this range, the park is dominated by undulating or rather flat terrain, covered by vast stretches of

There are numerous seasonal and perennial streams. Perennial rivers which drain the park are, from southwest to northeast, the Lulimala, Lukulu,[2]^[6] Lumbatwa^[6] (including the Lubweshi) and Mufubushi.^{[citation needed]} All of these streams form part of the boundaries and, with the exception of the Lukulu, have their sources on the boundaries of the park.^[1] These streams all flow into Lake Bangweulu.^[2] Kapanda Lupili and Mumba Tuta are two waterfalls on the Lukulu as it enters and exits the park, respectively;^[6][7] the Kanyanga waterfalls are also in the park on this river.^[8][9] The Lukulu is normally a small river, but in December heavy rains begin which colour and raise the level of the water, and increase flows.^[10]

There are numerous rocky pans and flat plains throughout the park which form seasonal lakes. Although there are no truly permanent lakes in the park, the Chibembe plain and Lake Mikonko keep a substantial surface of standing water well into the dry season.^{[citation needed]}

Habitats

The habitats within the park are the Lavushi mountains, large dambo grasslands, woodlands, streams and rivers.^[2]

Riparian forest occurs as a narrow evergreen strip following the perennial streams^[2] or as a deciduous or semi-deciduous strip fringing the seasonal streams.^{[citation needed]}

The grasslands in the park are especially seasonally wet headwater dambo grasslands.^[2] Bog grasslands are common especially near the mountains where seepage water creates year-round wet conditions.^{[citation needed]}

Flora

Hibiscus meeusei has been collected at higher altitudes just within the park.^[11] Agarista salicifolia was collected on Lavushi Mountain,^[12] and Justicia richardsiae was found growing on hard laterite pan soil.^[13] A typical feature of the riparian forests in Lavushi Manda are the frequent presence of Raphia farinifera (raphia palm), which is absent in the nearby Kasanka National Park.^{[citation needed]}

Fauna

Mammals

Protracted poaching has led to a serious depletion of all larger mammal populations. The last wild

In 2017 150 puku were moved from Kasanka National Park to the Bangweulu Game Management Area by African Parks, a number quickly moved from there into the Chimbwe plain and lower Lukulu river valley in LMNP.^[4]

A checklist was complied by the Kasanka Trust in 2011 of potential bird species which the park might hold.[15] In 1998 BirdWatch Zambia went birdwatching in the park for BirdLife International. A number of exclusively miombo birds were registered in 1998, and the list of these birds were used by BirdLife International to designate Lavushi Manda as an "Important Bird Area" as of 2001, for protecting common species typical of the vast miombo regions of Southern Africa. The only bird thought to possibly occur in the park at the time which was considered somewhat rare (at the time) was the migratory great snipe, which might arrive in the winter. The designation included the nearby Luitikila Forest Reserve and Bangweulu Game Management Area, although the national park appears to be the only locality studied in 1998.^[16]

Lavushi Manda is home to rock-associated species such as

A checklist was complied in 2015 of potential species which the park might hold.[21]

There are Nile crocodiles which occur in the Lukulu river.^[14] A sand snake identified at the time as Psammophis sibilans was collected in this region in 1932 ("Nsanga River" west of Lavushi), before it had even become a game reserve,^[22] although recent studies of this species would likely classify it as either Ps. orientalis, Ps. mossambicus or the recently described Ps. zambiensis.^[23] Similarly, Gerrhosaurus nigrolineatus was identified in the "Lavushi Hills" some time before 1934,^[24] but a more recent taxonomy would possibly classify this record as G. intermedius, although it is essentially unclear.^[25]

A

Biodiversity in catches downstream from Mumba Tuta Falls is higher than further upstream, suggesting that these falls are a barrier for fish migration.^{[citation needed]}

The top

Insects

The dung-rolling

The flea beetles Medythia exclamationis and Physonychis violaceipennis; the marsh beetle Contacyphon des; the leaf beetles Neobarombiella senegalensis and Monolepta vincta; the longhorn beetles Ceroplesis militaris, Chromalizus leucorrhaphis and Macrotoma palmata; and the chafer beetles Eulepida zambiensis and Pachnoda allardi were collected along the Lukulu river. The Physonychis, Neobarombiella, Macrotoma and Eulepida were collected more than once, the marsh beetle and an unidentified species of Cicindelina were especially common. A large number of other unidentified insects were also captured.^[28]

Management

Prior to 2011 resources available to be committed to Lavushi Manda National Park had dwindled such that there was no effective management.

Fire management is conducted in the early dry season by setting off wildfires, primarily to thwart poachers which may potentially set late and more destructive fires in September–November. Unplanned fires have been minimal during the 2010s.^[4]

Law enforcement is provided by Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) rangers and wildlife police officers. There were 24 arrests in 2016. Surrounding chiefdoms have Community Resources Boards (CRB) organised with the DNPW. Additional law enforcement was funded by the World Land Trust, 25 village scouts were employed in 2017 from the Mpumba CRB to patrol the zone near the chiefdom, including the Luwombwa sector in the park and adjoining parts of Kafinda Game Management Area. They made 34 arrests and there were 22 convictions for poaching. Especially bushpig and common duiker were targeted with firearms or wire snares. Mpumba hunters voluntary surrendered twenty guns in 2016. Chiundaponde CRB also sometimes patrols areas adjoining that chiefdom.^[4]

There were 32

The Kasanka Trust managed the park for DNPW, under a memorandum of understanding, in exchange for developing the road network in the park while working with DNPW on combating poaching.^[2][29] The not-for-profit trust generated funds to operate Lavushi Manda mainly from external funding in the form of grants and donations, but also for a degree on its tourism operations at Kasanka National Park. Approximately a third of its funds went to Lavushi Manda. In 2017 Kasanka Trust relinquished management of the park back to DNPW, citing financial and managerial issues. Some of the road network in the park had been maintained, other roads had been neglected. The boundaries of the park are demarcated by cut lines, but these are not always maintained.^[4]

Tourism

Park entrance fees were approximately USD $5 for international visitors in 2018, while camping fees were USD $15 per person per night. Vehicle fees were USD $1.70 for local vehicles and USD $15 for internationally-licensed vehicles.^[6] Park fees and camping fees must be paid at the entrance to the park.^[1][6][10] There are three basic campsites: Mumba Tuta, Kapanda Lupilli and Peak. There are two sites with more permanent Meru-style tents at Mumba Tuta and Linda Camp, the headquarters.^[1] There was once a campsite on the Chibembe, but it is no longer maintained.^{[citation needed]}

It is possible to hike unaccompanied in the park.

• List of national parks of Zambia
• Wildlife of Zambia

References