Dambo

A dambo is a class of complex shallow wetland found across central, southern and eastern Africa, most extensively in Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe, generally occurring in higher rainfall flat plateau areas where the drainage pattern branches like a river system. Dambos are defined by their vegetation: grasses, sedges and forbs, with occasional rushes but no woody plants, which sets them apart from the surrounding miombo woodland. By the end of the dry season a dambo typically looks dry, exposing grey soils or black clays, yet it keeps wet lines of drainage running through the driest months. The wetlands are extensive, estimated to cover ten to twelve percent of the area of Zambia, and comparable landscapes exist elsewhere in Africa under other regional names such as mbuga, vlei and fadama. Fed by rainfall that drains out slowly to feed streams, a dambo is a vital part of the local water cycle and supports the region biodiversity.