African Parks

Africa Day is a celebration of our continent, its people, its cultures and its future. That future begins with learning. When a young person steps into a classroom, joins a conservation club, learns practical skills, or spends time in nature with those who know it deeply, something powerful happens. Knowledge is passed on, confidence grows, opportunities emerge, and a deeper connection to people and place begins to take root. Across the landscapes managed by African Parks in partnership with governments, education is helping foster pride in their natural heritage in ways that reach far beyond the classroom. This Africa Day, explore stories of learning, shared knowledge and opportunity from across the continent. bit.ly/4nPUr6Q #AfricaDay #ConservingAfricaThroughLearning #AfricanParks

As she disappears beneath the waves carrying a tag, she carries vital information that could help protect the future of her species. On World Turtle Day, we celebrate one of the ocean’s great navigators. Sea turtles can travel thousands of kilometres across oceans, yet many return to nest on the very same beaches where they once hatched. Bazaruto Archipelago National Park in Mozambique is one of the few places in the world where five different species of sea turtle have all been recorded nesting, and the only known site in the western Indian Ocean where this occurs. Earlier this month, African Parks’ marine team, turtle specialists and local fishers worked together to tag turtles found entangled in fishing nets. Together, they are helping researchers better understand how turtles move through heavily fished waters, where they travel between nesting seasons, and which habitats matter most to them. This work is not only about turtles. Coastal communities also depend on these same waters for their livelihoods and food security, making collaboration essential for the future of this shared seascape. Since 2023, 40 turtles have now been satellite tagged in Bazaruto, contributing valuable data that will help strengthen long-term marine conservation efforts along this remarkable coastline. Thank you to Akashinga for their in-kind support. For more on this story, follow this link: bit.ly/4a6vvlM 📸 Maxine Piron #WorldTurtleDay #SeaTurtles #Bazaruto #MarineConservation #Mozambique #AfricanParks

The theme of today’s International Day for Biological Diversity, “Acting locally for global impact,” reflects our approach to conservation. From habitat restoration and species conservation to community engagement, education and livelihood development,local action across the protected landscapes we manage is helping to create lasting positive impacts for people, wildlife, and the planet. Learn more:bit.ly/4dGhRqw

Curious young minds and digital content are combining to create powerful learning experiences through the Abundelo (@abundelo_ap) programme for environmental education, supported by African Parks. Pupils in schools located near Malawi’s Liwonde National Park and Mangochi Forest Reserve, as well as five other national parks and reserves, are using 500 tablets donated by @samsung to learn about environmental issues and spark inspiring conversations – as Mrs Chaika, one of the teachers involved explains, the children are “learning wildlife conservation and developing modern tablet skills at the same time” #LiwondeNationalPark #MangochiForestReserve #Malawi #AfricaMonth #EnvironmentalEducation #AbundeloProgramme #Samsung #AfricanParks

There are many dimensions to conservation. The creation of protected areas, policy, research and reporting all rightly get attention. But what is far less appreciated and spoken about is the role that effective, long-term management on the ground plays in ensuring these natural systems can thrive into the future. It’s the less glamorous part of the work. It’s not easy. It’s nuanced. And it requires constant balance. Our Director of Conservation Development, Jean Labuschagne, sat down with Yuejia Peng at hub101.earth podcast to talk through exactly that. What it takes to manage 24 protected areas across 13 countries. And what a genuine, long-term partnership with governments and communities looks like in practice. Watch full episode here: bit.ly/3PmaegM #ConservationManagement #ProtectedAreas #WildlifeConservation

We are proud to be part of a new partnership for the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park - one of the region’s earliest and most enduring examples of transboundary conservation. Over the next 30 months, the governments of Botswana and South Africa (@enviromentza), the @EUinBotswana (NaturAfrica), @IUCNe and African Parks will work together to strengthen long-term management, improve coordination across this shared landscape, and support the communities whose lives are closely connected to it. While this is a shorter-term project, we hope that it will lay the foundation for longer term engagement in this important area in the future. #KgalagadiTransfrontierPark #Conservation #Botswana #SouthAfrica #AfricanParks

Happy 100th Birthday to Sir David Attenborough! His pioneering work made us fall in love with nature while understanding its fragility. An eloquent champion for biodiversity & climate action. #SirDavidAttenborough #NaturalHistory #Conservation #Inspiration #100Years

These fish species, found in the rivers and springs of Chinko Conservation Area in CAR, represent the rich biodiversity of the ecosystem. While the Chinko waterways remain largely ecologically intact, upstream mining activities could result in changes to watercourses, damage to riverbanks and the release of sediment and chemicals into the water. Conserving the biodiversity represented by these freshwater fish will require the adoption of more sustainable approaches to resource management. Images: Dr Joe Cutler #ChinkoConservationArea #CCA #CAR #Biodiversity #BiodiversityConservation #Fish #Research #AfricanParks

Follow the journey of a pack of African wild dog as they travel by air and road from Nuanetsi Ranch in southern Zimbabwe to Matusadona National Park in the north of the country. Wild dog have been absent from Matusadona for at least 20 years. Ensuring a stress-free translocation depends on planning in advance, and on the stakeholder relationships that the park has built up over the last few years. Watch the video to witness the local and regional impact of wildlife translocations. #MatusadonaNationalPark #Zimbabwe #WildlifeTranslocation #AfricanWildDog #Conservation #AfricanParks

The landscapes of Iona National Park in southern Angola are remarkable due to their age (at least 50 million years old), their diversity, and their ability to support life. This Earth Day, the resilience and slow-motion dynamism of Iona reminds us of the power of the planet. #EarthDay #PowerOfThePlanet #IonaNationalPark #Landscape #Geology #Biodiversity #Conservation #AfricanParks

It’s Earth Day, and we’re inviting you on safari - virtually. Today, we’re teaming up with Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants (@EBTSOYP) as they take learners on an online adventure across all seven continents. Join us at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time for an interactive live class from Malawi’s Majete Wildlife Reserve. Anchored by the Shire River, Majete’s varied terrain supports a rich tapestry of life, with thriving populations of lion, wild dog and elephant. Grab a front-row seat and tune in live via this link: bit.ly/4czkSdb #EarthDay2026 #VirtualSafari #MajeteWildlifeReserve #ConservationEducation

This Earth Day (22 April), we’re excited to join the Exploring By The Seat of Your Pants team on an unforgettable global journey — a live virtual classroom adventure across all seven continents. Africa will be represented by Malawi’s Majete Wildlife Reserve, where students will experience a real-time safari, bringing conservation to life from the ground. You can join the adventure too - tune in to the live online class. Click here to learn more and register: bit.ly/48gaKmT 📸 Marcus Westberg #EarthDay2026 #VirtualSafari #MajeteWildlifeReserve #ConservationEducation

Imagine feeling raindrops on your skin for the first time in a decade… That’s what residents of the Angolan coastal town of Tômbwa are experiencing during the current, unusually heavy rains. The downpours have transformed the desert landscape of nearby Iona National Park into a wonderful green carpet of vegetation, even though some roads and river crossings have become temporarily impassable. #IonaNationalPark #Angola #Rainfall #Transformation #TravelAdvice #AfricanParks

Two of the most important tools used by the Bisa and Ba-Ushi peoples of the Bangweulu Wetlands in Zambia share a similar shape. The ubwato dugout canoe is designed for fishing, and also serves as a floating classroom in which young fishers are taught watercraft. Meanwhile, on land, the canoe-shaped ibende is used for milling cassava. The rhythmic pounding involved in this task (typically undertaken by women) provides the backing track to the sharing of knowledge and community values down the generations. Each of these two vessels carries the accumulated knowledge and heritage of the communities that make and use them, and represent both literal and figurative journeys. The care and effort that is put into making and maintaining them provides an inspiring counterpoint to contemporary throwaway culture. 📸 2 Mana Meadows 3 Mike Dexter #BangweuluWetlands #Zambia #Culture #Heritage #Sustainability #AfricanParks

Munazi Eco Lodge’s setting in the forests of Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park lets guests see and hear forest wildlife from the comfort of their A-frame cottages. It’s also close to the park’s Uwinka Visitor Centre, from where activities such as chimpanzee trekking begin. The combination of deep relaxation, authentic design and construction and immersive wildlife encounters has already put Munazi on the map as one of the most exciting eco lodge openings of 2026, and ensured its inclusion in Condé Nast Traveller’s List of Africa’s sleekest new safari lodges. Read more here: bit.ly/4sOyZQC 📸 Gael R. Vande weghe #NyungweNationalPark #NyungweForest #Rwanda #EcoTourism #ChimpanzeeTrekking #AfricanParks

Keeping up with western lowland gorilla in the Republic of Congo’s Odzala-Kokoua National Park involves an intricate dance through dense vegetation. The reward for local teams of primatologists and trackers consists of invaluable opportunities to observe the gorilla, and gradually habituate them to the presence of humans. This makes further research possible, and enables meaningful and respectful tourist activities in the forest. #OdzalaKokousNationalPark #RepublicOfCongo #Gorillas #GorillaHabituation #Primates #Rainforest #GorillaTrekking #Research #Conservation #AfricanParks

In over 90 years as a protected area, Rwanda’s Akagera National Park has witnessed many changes. These have included increasing the revenue generated by the park as part of progress towards financial sustainability, working with local communities to enhance and diversify their livelihoods, and the translocation of lion, giraffe, black rhino and white rhino. Today, the park is a living, breathing example of the positive impact that can be achieved through partnerships and collaboration. Learn more about the history of Akagera in our latest blog: bit.ly/4ta9iLb 📸 1 Scott Ramsay 2 & 4 Drew Bantlin 3 Wiki West #AkageraNationalPark #Rwanda #90Years #Conservation #AfricanParks

The recent immersive conservation learning experience enjoyed by schoolchildren from two villages near Malawi’s Majete Wildlife Reserve has helped to inspire the next generation of conservation leaders. Beatrice Moyo, one of the participants, described how “This programme has opened our minds. We are now more aware of conservation issues and are ready to take action. We are proud of what we have achieved here at Majete,” Through a combination of immersive lessons, discussions and wildlife experiences, the primary school learners gained fresh insights into ecology and were inspired to become ambassadors for the reserve and for wildlife conservation. #MajeteWildlifeReserve #Malawi #LessonsInConservation #EnvironmentalEducation