The KAZA (Kavango-Zambezi) region includes the African countries of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Encompassing an area of approximately 520,000 square kilometres, this region is one of the largest conservation areas in the world, renowned for its exceptional biodiversity, iconic natural landmarks, and its remarkable efforts in uniting conservation and tourism.
One of the key benefits of the KAZA region is its commitment to conservation and sustainable tourism. The five countries that make up the region have collaborated to establish the KAZA Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA), a groundbreaking initiative aimed at preserving biodiversity, protecting ecosystems, and promoting responsible tourism. The TFCA model emphasizes the importance of transboundary cooperation, enabling wildlife to roam freely across borders and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the region’s natural resources.
Working with stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and the tourism industry, KAZA actively engages local communities and empowers them to participate in conservation efforts, providing alternative livelihood opportunities and fostering a sense of ownership and stewardship over their natural heritage.
Tourism plays a vital role in the KAZA region’s conservation efforts by generating economic benefits and providing incentives for the preservation of natural resources. Travellers to the KAZA region can experience a myriad of wildlife-based experiences, including game drives, guided walks, boat safaris, and cultural interactions. Visitors can witness the awe-inspiring migration of wildlife, explore pristine wilderness areas, and engage with local communities to gain a deeper understanding of the region’s rich cultural heritage.
Sustainable tourism practices are key to the KAZA region’s tourism strategy. The region promotes low-impact tourism, encouraging responsible behaviour among visitors, such as adhering to ethical wildlife viewing guidelines, minimizing waste, supporting local businesses, and respecting the cultural norms and customs of local communities. By embracing sustainable tourism, the KAZA region aims to ensure that tourism activities benefit both conservation efforts and the well-being of local communities.
KAZA TFCA Secretariat and Programme Manager, Netsai Bollmann, spoke to Travel Monitor’s Kate Webster about the program.
Why is it important that the KAZA countries work together to promote Tourism in the region?
Historically, tourism marketing among the KAZA partner countries comprising the Republics of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe has, for the most part, centred around a single country model based on political boundaries, with each country competing for its market share by using various promotion strategies to attract visitors. The KAZA partner countries, however, in recent years came to the realization that collective or joint marketing of the KAZA region will compliment rather than compete with individual partner country efforts while diversifying tourism offers through capitalizing on the region’s natural and cultural heritage assets and contributing to socio-economic growth and biodiversity conservation. This was the basis for the 5 countries committing to marketing the region as a collective.
How is KAZA making it easier for travellers to visit the countries in the region?
The KAZA Secretariat and Partner States have been working together on the establishment of a KAZA Univisa (https://www.kavangozambezi.org/tourist-visa/) – to support ease of movement between the partner countries. While uptake has been slow in terms of implementation by all 5 countries, the Univisa has been actively in place between the Republics of Zambia and Zimbabwe for several years – since the announcement of its rollout phase through a Memorandum of Agreement signed between the two countries in December 2016. Zimbabwe and Zambia are, however, currently engaging in response to a recent change in tourist visa requirements in Zambia, which is likely to have implications with respect to implementation of the KAZA Univisa. The KAZA partner countries are, however, committed to working together to address issues relating to ease of movement across the KAZA region.
How can travel agents learn more about selling KAZA to their clients?
During the period January – December 2023, the KAZA Secretariat is implementing 3 key tourism development and marketing interventions, aimed at applying a comprehensive approach to effectively profiling KAZA as a leading and attractive international tourism destination. These include the development of a destination brand and corporate identity – collectively undertaken by the KAZA Secretariat, partner countries, and the private sector, a tourism marketing campaign targeting regional and international markets, and the establishment of the Great KAZA Birding Route – an initiative to profile vital birding areas in KAZA, where they are, how they are accessed, and what services are on offer with respect to birding experiences. These initiatives will, through partnership-based and collective approaches, package and succinctly communicate the development and conservation story of KAZA, and its wide array of diverse offers – nature, wildlife, and cultural heritage.
In the meantime, the KAZA Secretariat is on standby to facilitate access to information by tour planners (independent travellers and tourism retailers and wholesalers), working with the national tourism organisations of the 5 partner countries.
Why is it important to balance tourism with conservation and community sustainability?
KAZA and the tourism sector are interdependent. KAZA is an ideal platform for promoting regional tourism integration and growth in Southern Africa, thereby contributing towards to employment creation, economic diversification, and subsequently to poverty reduction in rural and remote areas adjacent to its major tourism attractions. Conversely, the tourism sector is the largest market-based contributor to financing a significant number of protected areas in KAZA, with the tourism industry in KAZA destinations being almost exclusively dependent on healthy natural and cultural heritage systems, often with wildlife as the primary attraction.
For more on the KAZA region, visit kavangozambezi.org
