Animat Habitat conservation. Africa, Afrique.

Habitat Conservation

Africa

Africa is at a crossroads, on the brink of possibilities. Therein – in the nature conservancies, in the national parks, and in the corridors in-between – is hope for African wildlife. There is still time to make a difference. Animat Habitat has recognized select wildlife conservation foundations and funds making a difference in Africa.

Conservation in Eastern Africa

Conservation in Southern Africa

Elephant-Human Relations Aid, Namibia
Elephants Without Borders, Botswana
Okavango Wilderness Project, Angola, Botswana
The Zambezi Society, Zimbabwe

Protected Habitats in Africa

Large, migratory land mammals still have room to roam in Africa. African savanna elephants, while not unique as a migratory species, are uniquely large land mammals capable of roaming across larger spaces than most. A critical challenge for the future of elephants in Africa is habitat fragmentation. This is a human problem that has a human solution. The challenge, where possible, is to limit, manage and return to nature any land development into the wild places that remain or into the wildlife corridors that connect them. And to preserve these vestiges of wilderness for the benefit of local people, the elephants and the planet.

Tourism is an economic driver for many African nations with wildlife, in particular with wild elephants. While tourists share in the responsibility to travel in an ecological, environmentally economical way, travel companies will remain an intermediary between international travelers and many of the wildlife parks and reserves. And it remains the responsibility of the travel companies to make sure that tourist travel is not degrading the natural environment nor disrupting the wildlife in the area.

The wildlife tourism industry in Africa is big business, but all business is dependent on its clientele. Individual actions can make a collective difference, indicating that travelers will only support ethical, sustainable wildlife tourism. When sustainable use of the wild places and ethical treatment of the animals that live in them is made a priority by a big collective of individual tourists, the wildlife tourism industry will change for the better.

When going on a safari, look for companies that promote places where wildlife appears to live in an appropriate habitat with access to shelter, space, and water at all times. Look for experiences that offer observation of animals engaging in natural behaviors in natural environments. And look to visit national parks and protected areas that are managed by a reliable and ethical operator, where the money you spend will support park officials and local communities that uphold these wild places.

Eastern Africa

Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley, Kenya
Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania
Lake Malawi National Park, Malawi
Lake Turkana National Parks, Kenya
Mount Kenya National Park and Natural Forest, Kenya
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
Selous Game Reserve^[1], Tanzania
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Tsavo National Parks and Chyulu Hills Complex, Kenya

More habitats protected by Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya.

Aberdare National Park
Amboseli National Park
Arabuko Sokoke National Park
Boni National Reserve
Dodori National Reserve
Hell's Gate National Park
Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park
Kisumu Impala Sanctuary
Kiunga Marine National Reserve
Lake Bogoria National Reserve
Malindi Marine National Park
Meru National Park
Mount Elgon National Park
Mount Longonot National Park
Mwea National Reserve
Nairobi National Park
Ol Donyo Sabuk
Rimoi National Reserve
Ruma National Park
Saiwa Swamp National Park
Shimba Hills National Reserve
Watamu Marine National Park

More habitats in Kenya.

Maasai Mara National Reserve

More habitats protected by Tanzania National Parks Authority, Tanzania.

Arusha National Park
Gombe Stream National Park
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
Katavi National Park
Kitulo National Park
Lake Manyara National Park
Mahale Mountains National Park
Mikumi National Park
Mkomazi National Park
Ruaha National Park
Rubondo Island National Park
Saadani National Park
Saanane Island National Park
Tarangire National Park
Udzungwa Mountains National Park

More habitats protected by Department of National Parks, Malawi.

Lengwe National Park
Nyika National Park

More habitats protected by Adminstração Nacional das Áreas de Conservação, Mozambique.

Banhine National Park
Bazaruto National Park
Gorgongose National Park
Limpopo National Park
Mágoè National Park
Quirimbas National Park
Zinave National Park
Chimanimani National Reserve
Maputo Special Reserve
Niassa National Reserve

Southern Africa

iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa
Maloti-Drakensberg Park, Lesotho, South Africa
Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape, South Africa
Mosi-oa-Tunya – Victoria Falls, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Okavango Delta, Angola, Botswana, Namibia
Torra Conservancy near Twyfelfontein, Namibia

More habitats protected by South African National Parks, South Africa.

Addo Elephant National Park
Agulhas National Park
Augrabies Falls National Park
Bontebok National Park
Camdeboo National Park
Garden Route National Park
Golden Gate Highlands National Park
Karoo National Park
Kruger National Park
Mapungubwe National Park
Marakele National Park
Mokala National Park
Mountain Zebra National Park
Namaqua National Park
Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
Table Mountain National Park
Tankwa Karoo National Park
West Coast National Park

More habitats in South Africa.

Tembe Elephant Park

More habitats protected by Eswatini National Trust Commission, Eswatini.

Hawane Nature Reserve
Malolotja National Park
Mlawula Nature Reserve

More habitats protected by Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Botswana.

Chobe National Park
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Makgadikgadi Pan
Nxai Pan National Park

More habitats protected by Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Namibia.

Bwabwata National Park
Dorob National Park
Etosha National Park
Khaudum National Park
Mangetti National Park
Mudumu National Park
Namib-Naukluft National Park
Nkasa Rupara National Park
Skeleton Coast National Park
Waterberg Plateau Park

More habitats in Angola.

Bicuari National Park
Cangandala National Park
Iona National Park
Longa-Mavinga National Park
Luengue-Luiana National Park
Quiçama National Park

More habitats protected by Ministry of Tourism and Arts, Zambia.

Blue Lagoon National Park
Kafue National Park
Lavushi Manda National Park
Lochinvar National Park
Lower Zambezi National Park
Luambe National Park
Lusaka National Park
Lusenga Plain National Park
Mweru Wantipa National Park
North Luangwa National Park
Nsumbu National Park
Sioma Ngwezi National Park
South Luangwa National Park
West Luangwa National Park

More habitats protected by Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Zimbabwe.

Chizarira National Park
Gonarezhou National Park
Hwange National Park
Kazuma Pan National Park
Matobo National Park
Matusadonha National Park
Nyanga National Park
Zambezi National Park

More habitats in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area^[2]

This is a list of wild places in Africa – in large part where savanna elephants inhabit – that need to be preserved. An objective for wildlife conservation in Africa is to support and, in many cases, to reconnect wild places like these so that elephants and wildlife may migrate safely across park boundaries and navigate corridors between habitats, apart from human agriculture and development and so on. These wild places include protected habitats in the Republic of Kenya and a contingent of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).^[3]

This list was updated September 2019.

¹ A “game reserve” is a protected area where animals are seen on safari as well as are hunted for sport. In a game reserve, animal populations are controlled in their natural habitat. And so their ecosystems are conserved. A reserve that prohibits hunting may be considered a “nature reserve”.

² Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) is an agreement signed by Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, binding these countries to create a transfrontier park straddling their national borders.

³ The Union of Comoros and republics of Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles are part of SADC but the islands are unique habitats and unlisted here. The United Republic of Tanzania and republics of Malawi, Mozambique are part of SADC and are listed here in East Africa. The republics of Gabon, Congo, Uganda are part of SADC and are (to be) listed here in Central Africa.