Wonder Gorge (24239)
Zambia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2005
National site name: Wonder Gorge
Central coordinates: Latitude: -14.6167, Longitude: 29.1167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 500 to 1150
Area of KBA (km2): 216.89764
Protected area coverage (%): 2.15
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Where the Lunsemfwa river descends the Muchinga escarpment it has curved a spectacular gorge into the sedimentary rock, several kilometres long.It is extremely steep,relatively narrow and about 300m deep. About halfway along its length it is joined from the north-east by the Mkushi river in an equally impressive gorge. Directly above the confluence is bell point, a viewpoint that has been awarded National Monument status due to its outstanding natural beuty. Bell Point was named after Miss Grace Bell, a freind of e. knowles jordan,who was probably the forst european to reah the area in about 1913. The gorge is sorrounded by rolling terrain covered with miombo, it is remote and sparserly populated.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: Very little has been carried out, but there are atleast two records of Taita falcon and it seems likely that this localised species is a breeding resident. many birds that are typical of rocky habitats occur, such as Black eagle,Mocking Chat,Rock-loving Cisticola, striped pipit and red-winged Starling. The sorrounding miombo holds a good number of zambezian endemics and near endemics such as Pale-billed Hornbill, Miombo Rock Thrush, central Bearded scrub Robin, Arnot's Chat, Red-capped Crombec, rufous -bellied Tit and Sousa's Shrike. Non-bird biodiversity: Not known.
Delineation rationale: Boundary not yet defined.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Caves & Subterranean Habitats (non-aquatic) | 50 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 50 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing |