Location: Shashe Wilderness Camp and the Tuli area

Image 1

Photo: Bart Wursten
Shashe Wilderness Camp of Wlidlife & Environment Zimbabwe

Image 2

Photo: Bart Wursten
Majestic specimen of Xanthocercis zambesiaca at the Camp entrance.

Image 3

Photo: Bart Wursten
The WEZ cottages under riverine trees.

Image 4

Photo: Bart Wursten
Shashe River in flood; a rare sight in this normally dry environment.

Image 5

Photo: Bart Wursten
Large Ficus sycomorus at the water's edge.

Image 6

Photo: Bart Wursten
Shaded parking among carpets of Tribulus zeyheri.

Image 7

Photo: Bart Wursten
Ficus sycamorus on the banks of the Shashe River.

Image 8

Photo: Bart Wursten
Dark skies over the Tuli police station.

Image 9

Photo: Bart Wursten
Bridge over the Hwale River, a tributary of the Shashe.

Image 10

Photo: Bart Wursten
Euphorbia cooperi and Aloe chabaudii on the basalt hills.

Image 11

Photo: Bart Wursten
The rare Adenia spinosa near Hwale Bridge.

General Information

Quarter degree square: 2129C3

Country: Zimbabwe

Habitat: Dry deciduous open woodland, grassland, seasonal pans, riverine vegetation.

Altitude range: c. 600 m

Annual rainfall:

Location (short):

Location (detailed):

Description

Tucked away in one of the most remote and untouched corners of the country lies Tuli. Though marked on most maps as a true village, it consists of little more than a police post, surrounded by vast expanses of near empty scrubland, dominated by Colophospermum mopane (Caesalpiniaceae), Terminalia prunoides (Combretaceae), Commiphora glandulosa (Burseraceae) and several of its equally undemanding cousins. Less than a kilometer further, the Shashe River marks what should be, by any other logic, the border with neighbouring Botswana, weren't it for some bizarre historical twist carving out the "Tuli-Circle" on the opposite bank and planting the Zimbabwean flag. On the banks of the river, Wildlife & Environment Zimbabwe, long ago built a small camp, where members and non-members can stay to enjoy the natural beauty and tranquility of the area in shade of majestic riverine trees like Ficus sycamorus (Moraceae), Faidherbia albida (Mimosaceae) and Xanthocercis zambesiaca (Fabaceae). Most of the year the soils appear to be a dry and barren resort, suitable only to hardy succulents like Sesamothamnus lugardii (Pedaliaceae), Euphorbia cooperi (Euphorbiaceae), Aloe chabaudii (Aloaceae), Stapelia gigantea (Asclepiadaceae) or the grotesque Adenia spinosa (Passifloraceae). However, an often brief and meagre season of rains, temporarily transforms the earth into a colourful garden of eager and short-lived flowers. Carpets of Tribulus zeyheri (Zygophyllaceae) are mixed with the bright orange-red bells of Hermannia kirkii (Sterculiaceae), deep pink heads of Indigofera holubii (Fabaceae) and many others.

Useful links

View a list of records for Shashe Wilderness Camp and the Tuli area

View a list of unique taxa (excluding cultivated plants) for Shashe Wilderness Camp and the Tuli area

View a list of unique taxa (all taxa whether cultivated or not) for Shashe Wilderness Camp and the Tuli area

View map showing records

View a list of recorders who have visited this location


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Location details: Shashe Wilderness Camp and the Tuli area.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/location-display.php?location_id=9, retrieved 19 March 2024

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