Flora

Around Third Bridge the trees are almost all mopane (Colophospermum mopane), with their distinctive butterfly-shaped leaves. Tall, undamaged specimens can reach 18m in height, when they're known as 'cathedral mopane' for their gracefully arching branches. In neighbouring areas, where the nutrients are not as plentiful or the trees have been damaged by elephants, this same species grows much lower – and is known as 'stunted mopane.' In both you'll find their leaves hanging down and tending to fold together during the heat of the day, leaving little shade underneath.

This tremendously successful tree is one of the commonest species in the hot, dry areas of the subcontinent. It's notable for its tolerance of poorly drained, alkaline soils – and often occurs in areas where there's a lot of clay. Driving in mopane country during the rainy season usually involves negotiating lots of sticky, clay-filled mud-holes.

For the camper, the mopane wood is a dark-reddish colour, hard, heavy and termite-resistant. Thus even long-dead pieces won't have been completely eaten by termites. It burns exceedingly well, smelling sweetly and producing lots of heat, so think of collecting some firewood if you're passing through here on the way to Xakanaxa or Third Bridge. (Turn each piece over, looking under it carefully for snakes and scorpions, before picking it up.)

Animals

With relatively dense forests this area can seem devoid of wildlife. But don't be mistaken; it isn't. Because the soil in mopane forest areas is often very poorly-drained, it's dotted with small pans, temporary shallow ponds, during and shortly after the rains. This allows most of the big game species to leave the over-populated areas beside the watercourses and disappear into these huge areas of forests.

Elephant, zebra, impala, kudu, tsessebe, common duiker, bushbuck, steenbok, eland, roan warthog, baboon and vervet monkey can all be found here, as will lion, leopard, spotted hyena, wild dog and many of the smaller mammals. But you will have to look much harder here for them than on the open floodplains and beside the watercourses where they congregate during the dry season.

What you are guaranteed to see here at any time of year are lots of bush squirrels (Paraxerus cepapi), which are so common in mopane woodlands that they're often known as 'mopane squirrels'.

Birdlife

The high density of small rodents in mopane woodlands, especially tree squirrels, means that it's a good place for small raptors which hunt from perches (rather than the air). These include barn owls, smaller hawks and kestrels, and even martial eagles.

Meanwhile two very common species here are the small, black and white Arnot's chat, which appear in pairs or small groups, often hopping about the ground or lower branches in search of small insects – memorably described by a friend on first sight as 'little flying zebras.'

Also the red-billed hornbill, which seems to be everywhere with it's heavy flap-flap-flap...glide... flap-flap-flap...glide... style of flight. Remember Rowan Atkinson's performance as the hornbill in Walt Disney's The Lion King and you'll never be able to watch one again without smiling.