Peace Parks Foundation: Saving Simalaha

The Simalaha Community Conservancy - the first of its kind in Zambia - is one of the critical steps towards realising the dream of the world's largest contiguous game area.

The Conservancy will be located within the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) at the confluence of the Zambezi and Kasaya Rivers in southern Zambia. It will approximately 187 000ha, making it integral to ensuring the ecological connectivity of the KAZA TFCA by consolidating two non-contiguous areas -- Kafue National Park in Zambia and Chobe National Park in Botswana -- and reducing habitat fragmentation.

The Simalaha Floodplains are seasonally inundated by rising flood waters particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation due to the ever-increasing loss of wetlands and water diversion for agricultural development. Over the past 20 years wildlife numbers have diminished to a point there most large species have been virtually eradicated from the area.

The Simalaha project aims to reintroduce these species to their once abundant carrying capacities. The decision to undertake the establishment and development of the Simalaha Community Conservancy was motivated by the traditional leadership, represented by Senior Chief Inyambo Yeta and Chief Sekute, who have given their full support to PPF, and have requested PPF to assist with the fundraising and development of the Simalaha Community Conservancy.