Travelling around Zinave National Park, an area around the size of Switzerland, is not easy and Peace Parks and partners rely on light aircraft to move people and supplies. This means many hours spent in the air with stunning birds-eye views of these vast landscapes. It is a privilege that few get to see.
Situated in the Inhambane Province of Mozambique, Zinave National Park is an outstanding example of what can be achieved through healthy partnerships between communities, conservationists and governments. After a difficult past which affected wildlife populations, very few could have imagined the Zinave of today. Thanks to some incredible rewilding and restoration efforts, the park has undergone an epic transformation — now a thriving wilderness area alive with the sounds of nature.
In the middle of the reserve, far away from any fence lines, a beautiful 18 600-hectare expanse of wilderness now provides a sanctuary for more than 2 400 translocated animals. Wildlife numbers in this protected environment are booming. So much so, that Peace Parks was able to reintroduce the first predators – a clan of four spotted hyenas – in 2020. Elephants, giraffe and a wide variety of other mammals, big and small, also criss-cross the woodlands and plains of the park.
Here, the Peace Parks team travels across the savannah, through miles of sandy tracks dotted with trees and woodland, to experience the true wilderness of Zinave. At night, by Zinave pan, they listen to the grunts of hippo in the nearby woods called the Sacred Forest.
The wonder of Zinave is that it is as yet only starting out on its journey to provide a low-impact tourism experience. So, the Peace Parks team is privileged to experience Africa at its wildest.
Developing a thriving tourism economy will secure this wilderness for generations to come. Sensitive and careful development, boosted by the establishment of tourism infrastructure and the employment of people from surrounding communities is essential to the park’s future. Thanks to the dedication of Peace Parks Foundation and its Mozambican partners, (in particular the co-management partnership with ANAC), the future of Zinave shines bright.
If you would like to help rewild Africa and be part of the Peace Parks’ mission, you can donate here: www.peaceparks.org/donate
Remember, it’s not just a gift. You will be making a meaningful difference and impacting the course of conservation history.
