THE CREATION OF A SUSTAINABLE CONSERVANCY IN AFRICA
In 2012, the senior leadership of the two chiefdoms agreed that their land be developed as a wildlife conservancy, to allow for conservation of the area and viable natural resource management, but also promote income generation through nature-based economies and tourism opportunities. On 22 October of that year, Simalaha was officially launched by Chief Sekute of the Kazungula district and Senior Chief Inyambo Yeta of the Sisheke district. They also opened the conservancy offices at Mwandi Kuta.
The Conservancy comprises 180 000 ha of communal land and lies within one of six key wildlife dispersal areas in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), namely the Chobe Zambezi dispersal area that reaches from Chobe National Park in Botswana to Kafue National Park in Zambia.
The Conservancy is fundamental to re-establishing wildlife populations and their migration routes in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area – the biggest terrestrial cross-border conservation system in the world – connecting 36 protected areas across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Peace Parks Foundation, through funding from the Swedish Postcode Lottery, MAVA Fondation pour la Nature (MAVA), COmON Foundation, and various other donors, have been working alongside the people of Simalaha since the beginning – with a focus on improving the social, economic and environmental circumstances of the region.
Zambian Horseback Safaris is privileged to be the sole tourism operator in the Simalaha Wildlife Conservancy.
We contribute to the Simalaha Conservancy Trust in order to empower and support community initiatives to move out of poverty and to develop a love and ownership of their wildlife.
Park Fees of USD 50.00 per person per night are payable at Zambian Horseback Safaris of which 100% proceeds the Simalaha Conservancy Trust. Simalaha benefits from concession fees as well as the training and employment of local peoples in the construction and running of the lodge.
YOUR STAY CONTRIBUTES TO THE COMMUNITY TRUST
Doug will be your guide through the story of the Simalaha, the land, the people, its cultural history and relevance to sustainable community and wildlife development
