Black Rhinos return to Matusadona National Park in major conservation milestone

Critically endangered black rhinos have returned to Zimbabwe's Matusadona National Park for the first time in more than three decades, marking one of the country's most significant wildlife conservation achievements in recent years.

Situated along the shores of Lake Kariba, Matusadona National Park was once home to Zimbabwe's largest population of black rhino. However, widespread poaching during the late 1980s and early 1990s forced authorities to relocate the remaining animals to safer areas across the country.

Now, descendants of those original rhinos have been reintroduced to the park through a joint initiative involving African Parks, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), and conservation partners.

The rhinos were carefully transported from several protected areas, including Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy and Matobo National Park, before being moved to a secure protection zone within Matusadona. Following a period of monitoring, they will be released in phases into the wild.

For travellers, the return of black rhinos adds another exciting dimension to Matusadona National Park's wildlife offering. The park is already renowned for its spectacular Lake Kariba scenery, elephant herds, lion populations, and exceptional wilderness experiences.

The reintroduction forms part of Zimbabwe's long-term Rhino Conservation Strategy and is expected to establish a new breeding population that will help strengthen the country's black rhino numbers over the coming decades.

The project also highlights the remarkable recovery of Matusadona National Park since African Parks began co-managing the reserve in 2019, helping restore one of Zimbabwe's most iconic safari destinations.

Visitors to Matusadona National Par can now look forward to the possibility of seeing one of Africa's rarest and most endangered mammals roaming the landscape once again.

 

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Zimbabwe launches major wildlife translocation program to restore Matusadona National Park! [update]

update (22 August 2025): The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), working with the Matusadona Conservation Trust, has successfully translocated 50 African buffalo, 10 common eland and 14 sable antelope to Matusadona National Park. The translocations are expected to revive graze and browse dynamics, strengthen prey bases, and enhance ecosystem resilience across the Sebungwe region. 

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), in collaboration with the African Parks Network and the Matusadona Conservation Trust, has launched a comprehensive multi-year wildlife translocation program aimed at restoring biodiversity and ecological balance in Matusadona National Park.
As part of this ambitious conservation initiative, ZimParks has issued permits for the relocation of 10 eland and 50 buffalo from Tsetse Island (located within Lake Kariba Recreational Park) as well as 20 sable antelope from the Sibilobilo Safari Area.
In addition, other key herbivore species - including more sable, eland, and roan antelope - will be translocated from carefully selected populations across Zimbabwe. These strategic wildlife movements are designed to re-establish viable, self-sustaining herbivore populations in Matusadona National Park, contributing to the long-term ecological recovery of the park and the greater Sebungwe landscape.
All translocations are being guided by rigorous ecological assessments to ensure that source populations remain healthy and that relocated species thrive in their new habitat.
This far-reaching wildlife conservation effort is about more than just moving animals. Over the coming years, the project will implement critical measures to support:

• Enhanced anti-poaching and law enforcement efforts,
• Ongoing biodiversity monitoring
• Community development programs to improve local livelihoods and strengthen the relationship between conservation and the communities surrounding Matusadona National Park.

These integrated activities aim to generate tangible conservation and socio-economic benefits, positioning Matusadona National Park as a flagship destination for ecotourism in Zimbabwe and a beacon of successful landscape restoration.

With substantial investments now being made in infrastructure, ecological restoration, and stakeholder engagement, Matusadona National Park is undergoing a transformative revival. This landmark initiative marks a bold step in Zimbabwe's broader commitment to sustainable natural resource management and the protection of its iconic wildlife.

Matusadona National Park, located on the southern shores of Lake Kariba in northern Zimbabwe, spans approximately 1,400 square kilometers of rugged hills, woodlands, and shoreline grasslands. Once a stronghold for black rhinos and elephants, the park is home to a rich diversity of wildlife, including buffalo, lion, leopard, hippos, crocodiles, and a wide variety of antelope species. Its unique mix of miombo and mopane woodlands, plus floodplains and lakeside habitats, supports a high density of birdlife and offers one of the few remaining truly wild safari experiences in Zimbabwe.