Zambezi Tambara Wildlife Conservancy
The Zambezi Tambara Wildlife Conservancy (ZTC) that lies within Coutada 7, is subdivided into 4 conservation development blocks. Studies were carried out to see what conditions would best suit the wildlife in each zone. The areas will be fenced electrically, water points built and animals reintroduced before opening for eco-tourism activities.
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LODGE SITES IDENTIFICATION CRITERIA
Lodges sites identification criteria is mainly based on accessibility from the existing back-bone roads, underground water supply, camouflage, vintage view and topographical background landforms like hills, rock boulders and plains, some sites are surrounded by baobab trees. These factors create bush ambience for each lodge site, each site has its own unique surroundings. Each lodge site will have its own water hole in front of the lodge, replenished by a solar powered borehole. The idea is to identify as many sites as possible then later check if the location is feasible and not too close to each other etc. The lodges sites shall be more on the periphery of the reserve for accessibility and creation of less developed wild nucleus. In total we shall identify over 55 eco lodge sites across the three blocks (ZTC 1,2 ,3 & 4) Environmental Assessment Empact will be conducted on each lodge site to achieve our Touching the Earth Lightly Policy.
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ROAD CONSTRUCTION
There is so much roads already made during timber extraction, used and compacted by 30ton timber haulage trucks and all what is needed is to mark and name them on our road maps of each block. These roads will automatically become our back- bone roads, they just need gravel reinforcements fill and re positioning on some sections of seep lines. We are going to maintain these back-bone roads as natural as .
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ELECTRIFIED GANGEROUS GAME FENCE
An electrified 2,4m high game fence shall be used as both physical and psychological barrier to prevent the animals leaving or entering ZTC Ecosystems. As detailed Dangerous Game Adequate Enclosure Fence Plan with regional minimum big game standards, specifications, designs and construction models has been submitted and approved by the government. Included in the fence plan are the budgets for the first 420 kilometres for the 4 Blocks.
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WATER PROVISION
Due to lack of perennial water in the ZTC, there is great need of artificial water holes and 150 boreholes shall be required. These boreholes will be equipped with solar energy and special Lorentz submersible pumps with uplift capacity of 70Â 000 litres per day at head depth of 150m. CBZs / CDAs shall be supplemented with extra boreholes for human, livestock and drip irrigation. Phase 2 shall be construction of dams on less silted streams with good catchment area.
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ROAD CONSTRUCTION
There is so much roads already made during timber extraction, used and compacted by 30ton timber haulage trucks and all what is needed is to mark and name them on our road maps of each block. These roads will automatically become our back- bone roads, they just need gravel reinforcements fill and re positioning on some sections of seep lines. We are going to maintain these back-bone roads as natural as .
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ANIMAL SOURCING & RESTOCKING
Animals shall be sourced from large National Parks and Game Reserves were genetics are not compromised or weakened. These animals shall be sourced from different countries and reserves to further fortify our genetic pool. A proper blood sampling for disease shall be conducted in quarantine pens before animals are imported to the ZTC. Receiving bomas, and veterinary pens shall be constructed and completed before the animals are captured and transported. On elephants we shall bring at least 6 large tuskers’ progeny from East Africa. Some ambassador animals shall be identified across species for radio collaring, to promote research and geo fencing. Predators shall be gradually released two years later after building a positive prey base. We shall focus more on leopard population breeding than lions. A total of 13 000 animals be sourced over the next five-year period, in phases of restocking.
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Below are some of the main investments and infrastructure to be built
- • Construction of over 55 five-star eco lodges in within the new ZTWC, with each lodge employing at least 20 people. Construction costs estimated at $1,4 million per lodge tallying to $77million usd worth of infra structure investments.
- • Erection of 420kms of Dangerous Game Fence estimated at $5million usd
- • Establishment of Africa’s largest Wildlife and Veterinary Research Centre & state of art Vet LAB at a cost of $5million usd. This centre will work in collaboration with over 50 international universities
- • Construction of five student tented camps at a cost of $350 000 per camp tallying to $1,8million usd
- • Boreholes and Dams $5,5million usd
- • Animal Reintroduction $60million usd