When I visited Gonarezhou National Park I was stunned not only by the park’s vast wilderness, beauty and wildlife, but by the way that the local communities had been brought on board to stop wide-scale poaching and to see the potential for saving the wildlife.
The driving force behind turning the park’s future around is Clive Stockil. I had the privilege to be taken on safari by Clive. Along with his wealth of knowledge about the land, wildlife and communities in which he grew up, he told us about his realistic view of wildlife needing to support the local communities in order to survive.
His passion was obvious to me and has led to one of Africa’s most successful community conservation projects.
At Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge, I saw first hand how he has helped to create a symbiotic partnership between the Mahenye Community and the private sector. The community now benefits directly through wise land use and conservation through tourism. Benefits include a school development and maintenance of the local clinic. The partnership employs 34 community members, directly contributing to local cash flow through wages.
Clive Stockil explains why Community Conservation is so crucial to saving wildlife habitat
I would encourage anyone to visit Gonarezhou – especially those who are interested in viable conservation projects. A visit here will not only combine wildlife experiences and picnics in one of the most magnificent sceneries you will ever experience. But a daily conservation levy allows you to contribute directly to supporting community and conservation work.
I suggest staying at a fly camp or moveable tented camp inside the park to fully appreciate this vast wilderness area (part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park project).
As you cross rivers on foot and hike up Chilojo Cliffs on elephant paths you’ll see the park from different perspectives. And back at your tented camp as you relax and watch the wildlife graze in the floodplains, you’ll find a profound sense of peace and solitude in knowing that you have played a small part in helping the local communities as well as saving this incredible wilderness area for generations to come.
