OUR WORK
Conservation at scale
The park is an integral part of the Mozambican component of the Great Limpopo transboundary landscape. In 2015, a long-term co-management agreement was signed between Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) and Peace Parks. This park will sustain and restore the landscape dynamics of the larger ecosystem and enhance ecological connectivity through the establishment of a wildlife economy in the interstitial communal lands.
With everyone focussed on a single goal, Zinave has come alive with activity since the commencement of the joint management in early 2016.
Rewilding
African rhinos return to Zinave National Park, Mozambique
There was a great deal of work to be done in Zinave. Fences were erected, infrastructure upgraded, accommodation for staff and rangers built, a helicopter hanger constructed, vehicles purchased, extra staff appointed, and field rangers were employed and trained.
An extensive livelihood improvement strategy for the surrounding communities was implemented and community liaison officers were appointed to oversee the development of the conservancies between the three national parks.
A sanctuary was erected within the 4091 km2 park as a secure zone where translocated wildlife could safely land while an advanced anti-poaching unit was developed. Following the first translocation of seven elephant from Maremani Nature Reserve in South Africa to Zinave in October 2016, giraffe, sable, impala, reedbuck, waterbuck, and buffalo have been added to the plains from conservation areas in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Thanks to a massive effort that began in 2022, a crash of 37 rhinos has been brought to Zinave. The happy and settled herd has produced seven healthy calves, one of which is a critically endangered black rhino. This much-celebrated event is a clear testimony of the success of the Zinave’s rewilding. By the end of 2023, 2540 wild animals from 16 different species were translocated to this park.
Washington Post journalist Sudarsan Raghavan joined Peace Parks Foundation on one of the rhino translocations and penned an excellent narrative of his experience here.
Ecological connectivity
Further rewilding happened without human intervention, as signs of lions were seen in the park. The first cat was captured on a camera trap in the sanctuary in early September 2021. This clearly indicated that predators were being naturally drawn to the area’s prosperous ecosystem. Steadily over the past few years, more lions have made their own way into Zinave using ecological linkages between protected areas, instinctively attracted by a plentiful food supply and the safety offered by the sanctuary.
The expansion of the sanctuary in Zinave was successfully completed in November 2023 bringing the sanctuary size to 33 000 ha. In 2024, plains game slowly started expanding their range into the expanded area.
Combatting wildlife crime
Five 36-meter-high towers have been erected to provide complete LoRaWAN coverage across the expanded sanctuary to enable the real-time monitoring of wildlife, specifically rhinos, and other key park assets. The Zinave Smart Park project also includes the installation of the Earth Ranger system to enable both real-time operations management and improved data management and analysis.
A digital radio system enables communication across the expanse of the park and links to the Anti-Poaching Operations Control room. This, combined with well-trained rangers and specialised equipment, has resulted in great anti-poaching success in the park. Aerial patrols provide regular surveillance flights effectively identifying logging sites which are now eliminated from the core park areas.
Elephant Collaring in Zinave
Community development
The development of the park goes hand-in-hand with intensified engagement with the local communities living adjacent to and inside the park. In addition to increased employment opportunities already offered through the park, baseline studies determined the needs and development potential of all relevant local communities. This led to improved water provision systems, conservation agriculture projects, a chicken breeding unit, as well as cookstove and beehive distribution in selected settlements. With The Hunger Project now active in the area, these communities are benefitting from community mobilisation, women empowerment and gender equity, training in agricultural production techniques and literacy classes.
Honey, Bee and Baobab Trees
Conservation finance
Funding
We source reliable funding and take care of the financial administration thereof so as to assist the park in achieving its objectives.
Tourism
Ideally situated close to one of Mozambique’s tourism development nodes, the Vilanculos-Bazaruto Archipelo, Zinave is set to become a sought-after tourist destination.
Tourism numbers are steadily increasing. Seven hundred and fifty three tourists visited the park in 2023 compared to 212 in 2022, and 86 campsites were occupied. Download the park brochure for more information.
