What is ZimParks?

Full name / role: Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, commonly known as ZimParks.

Mandate: Manages Zimbabwe’s national parks, protected areas, and wildlife conservation efforts.

It is the successor to earlier government departments overseeing wildlife and parks.

History & Legal Basis

The wildlife and national parks functions were earlier in the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management.

The Parks and Wildlife Act of 1975 is a key legislative foundation under which ZimParks operates.

This Act transformed ownership and custodianship of wildlife in Zimbabwe, allowing landowners and communities (communal, private) to participate in wildlife conservation.

Areas & National Parks Managed

ZimParks oversees a wide array of national parks, wildlife areas, and recreational sites across Zimbabwe.

Some notable ones:

Hwange National Park

Mana Pools National Park

Nyanga National Park

Chizarira National Park

Zambezi National Park

Matobo National Park

Kazuma Pan National Park

Each park has its own distinctive geography, flora, fauna, tourism offerings, and conservation challenges.

Tourism, Accommodation & Activities

ZimParks operates lodges, campsites, tented camps, self-catering cottages, and basic camps in various parks.

Visitors can engage in wildlife viewing, walking safaris, birding, guided trails, canoeing, hiking, and recreational activities like fishing in designated water bodies.

Some parks also offer camping platforms, hides (observation decks), picnic sites, and overnight options in wilderness settings.

Reservations: The ZimParks reservations portal allows booking park accommodations and campsites in advance.

Fees, Pricing & Payment

ZimParks publishes park rates (conservation, vehicle, accommodation, etc.) which differ for domestic Zimbabweans vs. foreign visitors.

Foreign nationals often must pay in US dollars.

Local residents may pay in local currency (RTGS) at prevailing interbank rates.

Advance payment is typically required for bookings.

Challenges & Conservation Issues

Droughts and water scarcity: These have had serious impacts on wildlife, especially in Hwange, where many elephants died due to starvation and lack of water.

Human–wildlife conflict: As wildlife populations grow or shift, conflicts with neighboring communities arise—especially during resource stress.

Poaching: Remains a threat to certain species, particularly elephants and rhinos.

Resource constraints: Maintaining infrastructure, staffing, and facilities across vast and remote areas is challenging.

Pressure on carrying capacity: Some areas, especially those with high elephant populations, face overpopulation concerns that exceed sustainable levels.