Mapfungautsi State Forest
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| Mafungautsi State Forest | |
|---|---|
 Mapfungautsi State Forest | |
 Interactive map of Mafungautsi State Forest | |
| Location | Gokwe South District, Midlands Province, Zimbabwe |
| Nearest city | Kwekwe |
| Coordinates | 18°27′37″S 28°57′49″E / 18.4603444°S 28.9637472°E |
| Area | 82,100 ha (203,000 acres) |
| Established | 1953 |
| Governing body | Forestry Commission |
Mafungautsi State Forest is a protected forest located in Gokwe South District, Midlands Province, Zimbabwe. It is the third largest indigenous State forest in Zimbabwe, covering approximately 82,100 hectares [1]
The Mafungautsi State Forest, which does not encompass the whole of the Mapfungautsi Plateau (locally perceived as Mapfungautsi Mountains by easterly lowland communities), was demarcated as a State forest in 1953 (101,000 ha). However, in 1972, the north-eastern part of the forest was reclassified as a communal area, and some parts of the southern area were gazetted, reducing the forest's size [1].
Ecology
Mafungautsi State Forest is a crucial watershed for the Sengwa-Mbumbusi, Lutope, and Ngondoma River system, which flow into the Sanyati river and eventually the Zambezi river. The forest is home to teak and mahogany tree species, but these are at risk due to deforestation and poaching[1].
Conservation
The State Forest lies largely west of the Kwekwe-Gokwe Highway, starting from Chemagora T-Junction and stretching westward. In contrast, the plateau's more scenic side is situated east of the highway. Mapfungautsi State Forest is managed by the Forestry Commission, a central government body responsible for enforcing regulations and making arrests. However, the commission has faced challenges in driving out invaders, with reports of political interference hindering efforts to apprehend intruders[1].
Threats
Mafungautsi State Forest faces significant threats from deforestation, with an estimated rate of 1.5% per year, three times the estimated average over the period 1999-2010[1].
Mapfungautsi Mountain Range Mystery
Although Mapfungautsi is technically a plateau, people approaching it from the eastern, northeastern, and southeastern lowlands often perceive it as a chain of mountains due to its steep escarpments, elevated forested ridges, and abrupt rise from surrounding plains. Mapfungautsi Plateau is not alone in this perception as a mountain. The Jos Plateau in Nigeria is often referred to as the "Jos Mountains" by people in the surrounding lowlands. Despite being a plateau, its steep edges and elevated position make it appear mountainous to those approaching from the plains. In African toponymy, especially in pre-survey naming traditions, visual perception matters more than geomorphological precision. What looks like mountains often gets named as such. Each year, an unexplained natural phenomenon takes place on this plateau (specifically the communal land part of it), visible only to those perceiving it as a mountain range. When the rainy season approaches, smoke billows from the mountain range during the day, and locals witness a raging fire at night. However, by the next day, there's no sign of fire – vegetation remains untouched.[2] From the visible strength of the phenomenon, locals could traditionally predict whether it would be a good or bad agricultural season (the stronger, the better). This "smoke-without-fire" phenomenon draws parallels with the biblical burning bush and has earned the range its name, Mapfungautsi (the smoking mountain). Traditionalists attribute these unusual fires to the spiritual realm. Similar mysterious fires occur elsewhere, like:
- Turkey's "Eternal Flame" (Yanartas National Park)
- Azerbaijan's "Land of Fire" (Yanar Da)
- Germany's "Burning Mountain" (Brennender Berg)
