Mopani loathed by many, loved by few!
“Mention ‘mopani veld’ and the words either conjure up responses such as ‘monotonous’ or ‘boring’, or at the other extreme ‘wild wilderness’, ‘special atmosphere’ or ‘interesting’.
In reality, both impressions are valid.”
« Nick Zambatis is the former Manager: Biodiversity Conservation in Conservation Management: Kruger National Park. He retired in 2016. His first job in Kruger was as a research technician based at Skukuza, which he started in 1987. “The transfer from Pretoria to the Lowveld was ecstasy and the Kruger appointment was a dream come true,” he recalls. He holds an MSc degree on the determinants of grass composition and production in Kruger National Park, from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
General description and identification
The butterfly-like leaves of the mopani () make it easy to identify, especially when in leaf. It is a deciduous species, with the leaves turning a range of oranges, yellows and eventually a red-brown colour, falling off to form a carpet on the ground. New leaves are bright, red-brown and very shiny, gradually turning
