Biodiversity Conservation

Matusadona's undulating hills transition into lush, browse-rich woodlands with perennial springs and riverine vegetation, while open grasslands fringe its northern edge along the vast Lake Kariba. This rich habitat supports a healthy variety of mammal species, including lion, leopard, buffalo, zebra, elephant, hippo and an impressive variety of antelope species.

In June 2026, Matusadona National Park, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) and African Parks together reintroduced a group of black rhino – a species that had been absent from the park for more than ten years.

Twenty wild dog – in packs of six and 14 respectively – were released into the park in February 2026, marking a return of the species to the area after decades of local extinction. The Matusadona team monitors the packs, tracking their movements, social dynamics, and adaptation to their new environment.

In July 2025, a series of wildlife translocations that introduced 74 animals – African buffalo, common eland and sable antelope – took place. The operation forms part of a broader strategy to restore biodiversity and ecological function across the Sebungwe region.

Collared elephant, as well as buffalo and sable, provide valuable information, with the data obtained on their movements showing that seasonal dispersal still takes place through several surprisingly intact corridors. Elephant movements have been noted through three protected areas around Matusadona, adding to previous data and confirming the park’s connectivity to safari areas. 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. Data collected added to the existing elephant monitoring data that directly informed the Nyaminyami Rural District Land Use Plan, supporting the planned designation of protected corridors and community-owned conservancies.

A Temminck’s ground pangolin research and monitoring project established in collaboration with the Tikki Hywood Foundation, continues to collect sufficient data to learn about this little known, secretive species, while educating surrounding communities on the importance of its conservation. In 2024, six pangolins were released into the park. Four of these were rescued from wildlife traffickers, while two were voluntarily surrendered by community members, indicating that the project’s educational message is spreading.

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 tented Forward Operating Base built in the Sanyati Gorge area to provide conservation law enforcement coverage along the vulnerable eastern boundary, has seen positive results, with tigerfish spawn in the Sanyati Gorge being unhindered by illegal nets for the first time in over 25 years.

To further support healthy fisheries, the Lake Kariba Captain and the Nyaminyami Rural District Council (NRDC) 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.