Zinave National Park
Key Facts
Countries
Mozambique
Area
4 091 km²
Management Model
Protected Area Co-management
Animals Rewilded
2 559
Community Beneficiaries
34 289
Zinave National Park is one of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife restoration success stories. In just seven years, between 2015 and 2022, Zinave was transformed from a near-silent landscape into Mozambique’s first Big Five national park. Zinave demonstrates how quickly nature can recover when ecological systems are rebuilt at scale.
Its restoration is helping strengthen ecological connectivity across the wider Great Limpopo landscape while providing critical habitat for endangered species, including black and white rhino.
Located just 35 minutes by air from Vilankulos and the Bazaruto Archipelago, Zinave also has the potential to become one of Mozambique’s premier conservation tourism destinations.
Focus Areas
Our focus areas below reflect some of the long-term work underway in Zinave National Park.
Rewilding
Rebuilding wildlife populations through large-scale reintroductions, including black and white rhino, elephant and other key species. Since 2018, more than 2 550 animals have been reintroduced to Zinave, including elephant, giraffe, buffalo, black rhino and white rhino.
Wildlife numbers have increased by more than 300%, helping restore ecological processes across the park’s 4 091 km² landscape.
Rhino Conservation
Establishing a viable breeding population of black and white rhino and securing the future of the species.
Protected Area Management
Since the co-management agreement was signed in 2015, investment has focused on park infrastructure, protection systems, upgraded operations control rooms, radio communications and integrated park management to support effective stewardship of the landscape.
Community Development
Creating employment, supporting sustainable livelihoods and strengthening conservation partnerships with neighbouring communities.
Community structures, including natural resource management committees and community forums, play an important role in long-term landscape management and shared conservation outcomes.
Tourism Development
Developing high-quality tourism infrastructure and experiences that support conservation and local economic growth. Recent investments include upgrades to Tondo Tented Camp, while new tourism concessions are planned to unlock Zinave’s potential as a premier wildlife destination.
Stories from Zinave
our partners and donors
Conservation at this scale cannot be done alone.
Long-term conservation depends on partners prepared to invest in the future of these landscapes through funding, expertise, technology and long-term commitment.