Why soaring tourism is good news for Zimbabwe’s wildlife

Hwange—home
to
more
than
45,000
elephants,
150
other
mammal
species,
and
400
bird
species—is
a
crucial
area
for
wildlife
and
a
key
anchor
to
the Kavango-Zambezi
Trans-Frontier
Conservation
Area. That’s
why
it’s
a
vital
part
of
IFAW’s Room
to
Roam
initiative, which
secures
connected
spaces
and
safe
passage
for
elephants
and
other
wildlife
while
fostering
harmonious
coexistence
with
people.

In
late
2019,
IFAW
signed
a
memorandum
of
understanding
with Zimbabwe
Parks
and
Wildlife
Management
Authority (ZimParks)
to
facilitate
financial
support
and
technical
expertise
in
managing
these
protected
areas.
Improving
tourist
camps
and
infrastructure,
such
as
roads,
was
always
one
of
the
main
goals
because
tourism
helps
the
park
and
local
communities
earn
an
income.

But,
just
a
few
months
later,
the
industry
came
to
a
halt.
IFAW
and
ZimParks
immediately
refocused
their
efforts
on
preventing
poachers
from
seizing
the
opportunity
to
profit
from
animals’
pain.
They
significantly
increased
ranger
patrols
and
improved
ranger
facilities. The
Makona
ranger
base
has
now
been
transformed
and
not
a
single
elephant
poaching has
been
recorded
in
the
IFAW-supported
areas
since
2021.

Tourists
return
to
Hwange

Having
dropped
to
as
low
as
10,000
visitors
a
year
during
the
pandemic
(down
from
more
than
40,000
visitors
each
year
prior
to
the
pandemic),
entries
into
the
national
park
are
finally
back
on
an
upward
trajectory.
In
2022,
more
than
30,000
entries
were
recorded.

International
tourists,
eager
to
reconnect
with
Zimbabwe’s
largest
wildlife
reserve
and
experience
an
African
safari,
are
returning
to
the
iconic
park,
bringing
with
them
much-needed
funding
that
will
help
rangers
continue
to
protect
wildlife.

Loveness
Kudiwa,
ZimParks
Tourism
Manager
based
at
Hwange
Main
Camp,
says
the
post-COVID
resurgence
has
also
seen
a
new
trend—the
emergence
of
a
more
conscious
traveller
and
a
preference
for
camping
and
wild
spaces.

‘Travellers
are
keen
to
avoid
crowded
spaces
and
seek
exclusive
safari
experiences.
This
is
a
welcome
development
for
a
destination
like
Hwange,
which
offers
an
authentic,
life-enriching
safari
experience,’
she
said.

Long-term
benefits
from
tourism 

Tourism
facilities
in
and
around
the
park,
such
as
sanitation
and
camping
infrastructure,
have
undergone
much-needed
renovation
and
upgrading.

Enhancing
the
park’s
appeal,
IFAW’s
partnership
with
ZimParks
ensures
visitors
know
that
the
park’s
wildlife
and
communities
are
protected
and
receive
mutual
benefit
from
living
alongside
each
other.
The
partnership
has
already rehabilitated
several
community
services,
including
the
Dete
Old
Age
Home,
boreholes
providing
access
to
potable
water,
and
community
gardens.

Phillip
Kuvawoga,
IFAW’s
Landscape
Conservation
director,
said
that
the
ultimate
goal
is
to
support
sustainable
landscapes
where
human
communities
and
wild
animals
can
thrive
together.

‘We
must
rebuild
the
tourism
sector
as
a
key
pillar
for
conserving
natural
and
cultural
heritage,’
he
stated.

What
Hwange
offers
tourists

James
Kuwanda,
a
Hwange-based
tourism
executive,
attributed
the
resurgence
to
impressive
conservation
efforts,
new
tourism
investment,
and
the
recent
introduction
of
domestic
flight
services
to
Hwange
National
Park.

‘There
is
increased
publicity
about
Hwange
National
Park,
and
we
have
seen
many
developments
and
a
surge
in
tourism
investments.
Connectivity
has
also
improved.’

Mandabvu,
situated
in
the
northern
part
of
the
park,
teems
with
animals
and
provides
the
most
memorable
safari
experiences
imaginable.
The
Mandabvu
dam
has,
in
recent
years,
been
a
magnet
for
elephants,
impalas,
lions,
zebras,
and
kudus.

On
a
recent
visit,
John
Stergianos,
a
safari
lover
relaxing
at
Mandabvu
campsite,
said,
‘The
animals
look
calm
and
happy.
It
is
brilliant.
We
are
planning
another
trip
for
next
year
to
bring
some
friends.’