Sioma Ngwezi Management Complex
Key Facts
Countries
Zambia
Area
24 727 km²
Management Model
Integrated Co-management
Animals Rewilded
695
Community Beneficiaries
508
The Sioma Ngwezi Management Complex is a cornerstone of Zambia’s contribution to the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) and one of the country’s last remaining wilderness landscapes. Bringing together Sioma Ngwezi National Park and the Lower West Zambezi Game Management Area, the Complex plays a role in restoring cross-border wildlife movement between Angola, Botswana and Zambia.
In 2024, the Government of Zambia, the Barotse Royal Establishment, WWF Zambia and Peace Parks signed a 20-year integrated co-management agreement, creating a new long-term management model for the landscape. Long-term collaboration brings government, traditional leadership and conservation partners together to strengthen inclusive governance, empower communities as custodians of the landscape, and secure this priority landscape for the future.
The Complex is central to restoring wildlife movement across western Zambia. Although Angola and Zambia comprise a significant proportion of the KAZA landscape, they support relatively few of its elephants. Restoring landscapes like Sioma Ngwezi is therefore critical to rebalancing wildlife distribution, strengthening ecological connectivity and creating long-term opportunities for communities through tourism, conservation and sustainable land management.
Focus Areas
Our focus areas below reflect some of the long-term work underway in the Sioma Ngwezi Management Complex.
Landscape Connectivity
Restoring wildlife movement between Angola, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia across the wider KAZA landscape.
Integrated Co-management
Building a shared governance model that brings together government, traditional leadership and conservation partners.
Community Stewardship
Supporting local communities as custodians of the landscape through inclusive governance and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Sustainable Conservation Finance
Building long-term financial sustainability through tourism, carbon and landscape-scale investment initiatives.
Stories from Sioma Ngwezi
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.