Simalaha Community Conservancy
Key Facts
Countries
Zambia
Area
1 819 km²
Management Model
Community Conservancy Co-management
Animals Rewilded
2 145
Community Beneficiaries
13 839
Simalaha Community Conservancy is Zambia’s first officially recognised community conservancy and a leading model of community-led conservation in the region. Established under the leadership of the Sesheke and Sekute Chiefdoms in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and Peace Parks, it places custodianship of land and wildlife directly in the hands of local communities.
Located within the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, Simalaha provides ecological connectivity across the Chobe-Zambezi landscape. It is also a key link in the wildlife dispersal area between Zambia and Botswana, with long-term efforts underway to reconnect wildlife movement between Simalaha and Chobe National Park.
By combining community leadership, sustainable livestock management, conservation and land-use planning, Simalaha demonstrates how landscapes and communities can support one another while strengthening climate resilience across one of southern Africa’s most important conservation landscapes.
Focus Areas
Our focus areas below reflect some of the long-term work underway in Simalaha Community Conservancy.
Community-led Conservation
Strengthening traditional leadership, local governance and community stewardship.
Herding for Health
Improving rangeland management, livestock productivity and climate resilience through sustainable grazing.
Ecological Connectivity
Restoring wildlife movement across the Chobe-Zambezi landscape and reconnecting corridors to Chobe National Park.
Climate-resilient Livelihoods
Supporting climate-smart agriculture, agri-hubs and local enterprise development.
Natural Resource Governance
Building community institutions that support long-term stewardship of land and natural resources.
Stories from Simalaha
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.