Kavango Zambezi Trans Frontier Conservation Area
UNCOVER KAZA
Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area
The KAZA TFCA spans an area larger than Germany and Austria combined, nearly twice the size of the UK, and is located where Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe meet. Highlights include the vast 15,000 km² Okavango Delta—Earth’s largest inland delta—and the iconic Victoria Falls, a World Heritage Site and one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Vision
To create a world-renowned conservation and tourism destination spanning the Okavango and Zambezi River Basin regions—across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—guided by the principles of sustainable development.
Mission
To ensure the long-term, sustainable management of the Kavango Zambezi ecosystem, celebrating and preserving its natural, cultural, and heritage assets through leading conservation and tourism models. This will support the well-being of communities and stakeholders across the region through aligned policies, strategies, and practices.
Overview
The Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) represents a collaborative commitment to preserving one of Africa’s richest and most diverse ecosystems. Unlike earlier efforts such as the Okavango Upper Zambezi International Tourism Initiative (OUZIT) and the “Four Corners” Transboundary Natural Resource Management initiative, KAZA is uniquely government-led. The five partner countries—Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—collectively drive the initiative, with conservation established as the primary land use and tourism developed as a complementary benefit.
The foundation of KAZA TFCA was set on 7 December 2006, when environment, wildlife, natural resources, and tourism ministers from the five nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to begin formal negotiations. Once the Treaty establishing KAZA TFCA is signed, the MoU will be replaced.
A Regional Commitment
KAZA TFCA was recognized as a Southern African Development Community (SADC) project in July 2006. This status aligns it with the broader SADC vision of regional integration and its goals of promoting sustainable resource use and protecting the region’s environmental heritage.
