The Site encompasses marshy coastal plains bordered by a stabilized dune cordon, and includes a complex of mangrove forests, intertidal mud and sand flats, and freshwater marshes. These different habitats support various waterbirds. In the mangroves, nesting bird species include the woolly-necked stork Ciconia episcopus, hamerkop (Scopus umbretta), African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) and yellow-billed stork (Mycteria ibis), while the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) winters there. The mudflats host populations of pink and lesser flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus and Phoenicopterus minor) in the dry season, and large numbers of wintering waders including a few thousand avocets. Fulvous whistling duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) nest in the freshwater swamp and rice paddies. A small island is also important as it is a high tide roost for shorebirds. Human activities include traditional fishing and subsistence rice cultivation, while there is intensive rice cultivation in surrounding areas.