Temporary freshwater pools or pans are known for their nature value and
socio-economic importance especially in arid and semi-arid regions, but
it is still poorly known how they develop in a natural setting. The
ecologically valuable temporary freshwater pans of the Save Valley
Conservancy in Zimbabwe, are studied in order to gain insights into
their formation. Field observations of 17 existing pans and in situ
measurements at one possible site of pan formation were done. It was
observed that in most cases trees were bordering existing pans with
Diospyros mespiliformis being present at eight locations and
Colophospermum mopane at five. These two species were co-existing at two
locations which had also dead trees present. On the basis of these
observations, a suspected developing pan was followed up using
hydrological field observations to understand processes that are
important in pan formation. In situ infiltration tests as well as
penetrometer tests, before and after a rainfall event, were completed on
a grid covering 25 m2. The measurements were taken at one-metre interval
and the data were krigged in order to visualise the contours. Initial
insights point towards the areas in the immediate vicinity of trees
acting as preferential pathways for infiltration, which is in contrast
to what is needed for ponding. Based on these findings, we propose a
possible theory for the formation of pans in the study area and suggest
techniques for monitoring pan formation.