Zimbabwe
Along with our Zimbabwean partners, WT is deeply committed to the interconnected relationship between responsible tourism, local communities, and conservation. We strongly believe that tourism can be a force for good—to provide employment and sustainable income for local communities, which then in turn promotes the conservation of the local wildlife and natural resources.
Local villages once had nothing to gain from safari tourism, but we—together with our Zimbabwe partners—are changing that. Through the groundbreaking Community Rhino Conservation Initiative, local communities have dedicated portions of their communal land for rhino sanctuaries. By transforming unproductive grazing land into thriving wildlife havens, they now directly benefit from conservation—operating and protecting the sanctuaries and their four resident rhinos, with 70% of the sanctuaries’ revenues going directly back to the communities. This initiative is also reintroducing white rhinos to Hwange National Park, where they’ve been absent for more than 50 years. This is an awe-inspiring conservation project WT is proud to support, and our travelers are thrilled to witness firsthand on our Zimbabwe safaris.
The proximity of these lodges to the local villages provides several opportunities for very meaningful, authentic, and unscripted cultural experiences (these are not choreographed visits that you might experience on other safaris). Given the strong connection that Camelthorn Lodge and our Trip Leaders have to the local community, our guests are welcomed to the nearby village as visiting friends not just as travelers
We are proud to support the work our local partners in Zimbabwe have undertaken for the local communities and wildlife conservation. Here are some examples of the incredible work your tourism dollars help support:
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Our Africa Specialists know every detail about our Zimbabwe safaris. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!