Where We Work:

Southeast Lowveld

Zimbabwe’s Southeast Lowveld region, located within the Savé and Limpopo Valleys, is a critical landscape for black and white rhinos, wild dogs, lions, and elephants. For these populations to thrive, they must overcome threats including poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and unsustainable mining.

We have worked here since 2001. Our current objectives are part of an ambitious strategy designed to build community resilience and safeguard biodiversity. They include:

  • Maintenance of ecosystem integrity, with viable populations of AWF’s focal and other species
  • Cross-border collaboration in service of conservation objectives
  • Progress toward a vibrant wildlife economy
  • Human-wildlife conflict mitigation
  • Improved community access to natural resources for sustainable use
  • Support for community livelihood projects
Southeast Lowveld Gonarezhou Maose-Xini Save Conservancy
National Park
Other State Protected Area

AWF in Action

Conserving rhinos in the Savé Valley

The private conservancies of Bubye, Savé, and Malilangwe host the largest population of black rhinos in Zimbabwe, with over 300 animals combined. We support rhino monitoring and landscape management; in 2021, we provided funding and strategic support for the landscape’s first rhino audit. Thanks to concerted conservation interventions, the rhino population is stable as of 2022.

Rhino

Helping keep poachers at bay

Ivory and rhino horn poachers operating in the landscape are backed by international trafficking networks and possess sophisticated weaponry, communications, and tactics. To support these critical populations, we help strengthen the Savé Valley Conservancy's operational efficiency and management. Better rhino protection benefits other species and the habitat as well.

Get an overview of our ranger work
camera traps

We work with the people of Zimbabwe for wildlife. Our strategic, implementing and funding partners include:

Communities in the Southeast Lowveld landscape

Wildlife We Are Protecting

Olivia Mufute

Contact

Olivia Mufute

‪Country Director