The Kavango Zambezi Trans Frontier Conservation Area (TFCA) is situated in the Okavango and Zambezi River basins where the borders of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe converge, offering an unparalleled tourism experience.
The Okavango Delta is famous for its labyrinth of lagoons, lakes and hidden channels and is the largest inland delta in the world, providing an oasis for animals in the Kalahari desert.
Also within the Kavango Zambezi TFCA is Victoria Falls, which borders Zimbabwe and Zambia, and is noted as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Within this compelling conservation area, there are a few unique and compelling investment opportunities opening up. Here are two that are situated in the Zambian boundaries of the TFCA.
Sioma Ngwezi National Park
The Sioma Ngwezi National Park is situated in the south-western corner of Zambia and thus far has been relatively underdeveloped but is now growing in tourism attraction. The park is surrounded by a 35 000-km2 game management area.
It is unfenced, allowing free movement of the animals between the park and the game management area and allowing access to the Zambezi River. The park and surrounding area form an important link in the migratory route of elephants from the bordering national parks of Namibia and Botswana.
Investment opportunity: Six wildlife (block) concession sites have been identified in Sioma Ngwezi National Park that envisions the establishment of 16 two-bed lodge facilities at each of the following sites: Mufulani; Katuli; Ibaale; Ngwezi; Kalolo; and Kwando.
Three of the block concessions are 50 000 hectares in size (Mufulani, Katuli and Kwando), while Ibaale, Ngwezi and Kololo are about 40 000 hectares. All six block concessions provide variations in landscape and diversity in habitats, and are situated around the core wilderness area of the national park.
Each concession is unique, thereby reducing competition between tourism operators while providing excellent opportunity for synergetic marketing and branding. Four of these concessions are situated around the natural areas within the territories and two are in the Baiklaea.
Several access gates and roads have been proposed to ensure general access to the region without negatively impacting on the park or its ecotourism concessions. A wildlife recovery zone has also been proposed by several stakeholders who recognise the importance of wildlife as part of the product base on which ecotourism concessions will be based.
Activities that are planned within this development include game and bird viewing, and hiking.
Sioma Falls
The Sioma Falls, also known as the Ngonye Falls, is the second highest waterfall along the Zambezi and is shaped in a beautiful horseshoe, with water cascading over a staggered 20-meter drop.
The area offers significant cultural and tourism value, including business opportunities and socio-economic benefit for the local communities. Respective stakeholders have already met to formalise a way to protect and conserve the falls as a landmark feature and to unlock the ecotourism potential of the area.
A concept integrated development plan (IDP) for the Ngonye Falls, dated July 2008, was formulated with the Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), stakeholders of the IDP in the Western Province and the Simumbi and Linanga communities on either side of the river.
Investment opportunity: Sioma Falls Lodge. This investment opportunity planned for activation by 2010 involves the development of a luxury lodge site accommodating 30 two-bed rooms situated on the western bank of the falls, with easy access to the M10.
In addition, two lower intensity sites have been earmarked for further development, one on the eastern banks at Kaale Island and the other somewhere in the riverine forest opposite the main falls.
Preceding the lodge development will be the establishment of a low-impact cultural campsite in the vicinity of the historical Litunga channel. This channel was used by the Litungas in the past to circumvent the falls during official visits to Sesheke.
A game fence is also proposed on the Simumbi side with access roads and trails. An additional phase preceding the development of the lodge site will be the re-introduction of game to the western section along with a river trail.
Planned activities include: A recreation and orientation centre; An interpretation centre; Interpretive trails; both single and multi-day; Overland campsite; Adventure activities such as rafting and kayaking; and Fishing charters.
For more information about either of these investment opportunities, or any others currently being marketed by Boundless Southern Africa please contact the organization directly:
