At 1,470 km2, Matusadona’s unique and varied landscape consists of undulating hills descending to thickly wooded browse-rich habitat that is interspersed with prolific perennial springs and tall riverine vegetation. Open grasslands surround the northern edge of the park, which borders the vast Lake Kariba. At one point, Matusadona supported the highest density of lion in Africa, and was an incredible stronghold for elephant and black rhino. Yet, despite the challenges in the past, a healthy variety of mammal species still occurs within Matusadona, including lion, leopard, buffalo, zebra, elephant, hippo and an impressive variety of antelope species.
While Matusadona’s five-kilometre buffer zone around its boundary limits the effect of some conservation challenges, such as encroachment of human settlements and agriculture, other challenges remain a focus. These include human-wildlife conflict, illegal hunting of high-value species, including buffalo and elephant, and fishing at unsustainable levels.
Species Restorations
The restoration of Matusadona’s wildlife populations is a management priority with the intention to reinstate the park as Zimbabwe’s premier elephant and black rhino sanctuary.
In 2021, 223 zebras were translocated to Matusadona. This large game translocation is part of a long-term plan to help restore Matusadona ecologically, bolstering the park as a prime wildlife destination.
Monitoring and Survey
The elephants collared in 2021 have been providing valuable information, with the data obtained on their movements and those of uncollared elephant have shown that seasonal dispersal still takes place through several surprisingly intact corridors. Likewise, it shows the importance of land-use planning as part of a holistic approach that helps to reduce human-wildlife conflict and improve elephant management methods.
A Temminck’s ground pangolin research and monitoring project, the first in the park, has been established in collaboration with the Tikki Hywood Foundation, with the aim of collecting sufficient data to learn about this little known, secretive species, while educating surrounding communities on the importance of its conservation.
Conservation Law Enforcement
Rangers from local communities continue to be recruited and trained with the majority coming from the neighbouring chiefdoms. Throughout the year, rangers receive ongoing training.
A new tented Forward Operating Base has been built in the Sanyati Gorge area to provide conservation law enforcement coverage along the vulnerable eastern boundary. This has had positive results, as the 2022 and 2023 tigerfish spawn in the Sanyati Gorge went ahead unhindered by illegal nets for the first time in over 25 years.
Major lake operations have taken place, with the Lake Kariba Captain and the Nyaminyami Rural District Council (NRDC), to legally register and mark vessels in the seven fishing camps found in the Lake Kariba Basin around the park. Boats found to be unseaworthy, or illegally operated, are confiscated.
Communication between park management and local communities is significantly improving reporting on Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC). Before 2019, few incidents were reported leading to the assumption that there was minimal conflict with wildlife. However, each year since has seen an increase in reports, which can partly be attributed to the improved relationship between local people and the park and the growing trust communities have in the park’s efforts to reduce conflict. Efforts include increase in the park’s capacity to respond effectively to HWC in the district, and use of data collected to identify patterns, so that, together with the affected community, specific areas of intervention can be targeted to prevent conflict.