RUFUNSA CONSERVATION PROJECT
Protecting and Preserving Rufunsa Game Management Area
The Rufunsa Conservation Project was born out of tragedy. Between 2017 and 2018, seven magnificent bull elephants were unlawfully killed within just 18 months. This crisis highlighted the urgent need for protection in Rufunsa Game Management Area (RGMA) — a 300,000-hectare buffer zone on the eastern boundary of Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park.
Rufunsa sits at a crossroads of ecosystems: it is an essential wildlife corridor linking the Luangwa Valley to the Zambezi River system, and forms part of the Lower Zambezi–Luangwa Transfrontier Conservation Area, which extends into Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
The landscape of mopane woodlands, riverine forests, and thickets provides refuge for elephants, lions, wild dogs, buffalo, and the critically endangered pangolin, while also supporting tens of thousands of people living in Mphuka and Mburuma Chiefdoms.
In 2019, Game Rangers International, together with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), Community Resource Boards, and Conservation Lower Zambezi, launched the project with critical seed funding from Friends of Jackson Hole. What began with just two ranger units has since expanded into a holistic programme addressing wildlife protection, human-wildlife coexistence, community empowerment, climate resilience and rescue of orphaned elephants.
​​Today, Rufunsa is becoming a beacon of hope: wildlife is returning, communities are gaining new livelihood opportunities, and the foundations of a long-term conservation strategy are in place.
CONSERVATION SERVICES
From protecting wildlife and educating children to empowering communities and tackling conflict, Rufunsa’s five core conservation services work together to secure a future where people and nature thrive — click below to explore each activity in more detail.
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Conservation Education
Law
Enforcement
Community
Radio
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Human-Wildlife
Coexistence
IMPACT
Since its launch in 2019, the Rufunsa Conservation Project has brought measurable change to both wildlife and communities:
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900+ wire snares removed from the landscape, reducing the silent slaughter of wildlife.
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16 poachers apprehended and 27 poachers’ camps dismantled, increasing the perception of risk for would-be offenders.
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3,000+ ranger patrol days achieved annually, creating a consistent presence on the ground.
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23 elephant corridors mapped and protected, reducing human-elephant conflict.
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91 women empowered through livelihood initiatives such as goat rearing, poultry and bakery micro-enterprises.
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9 schools supported with Conservation Clubs, reaching over 700 children with environmental education.
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21 elephant orphans rescued from Rufunsa since 2009 and given a second chance to return to the wild, totaling 32% of all of GRI’s orphans.
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Together, these efforts have led to a drastic reduction in elephant killings, a decline in human-wildlife conflict, and signs of recovery with new elephant calves sighted each year.
FUTURE PLANS
To secure lasting conservation impact in Rufunsa, we are building on the foundations of the past five years with ambitious next steps:
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Finalise the General Management Plan (GMP) and conduct baseline biodiversity surveys to guide long-term protection.
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Expand the Ranger Force and establish fully equipped patrol bases and fly camps, ensuring consistent coverage across Rufunsa’s 300,000 hectares.​
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Strengthen Ranger welfare and training, providing performance incentives, equipment, rations, vehicles, and communication systems.
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Launch a biodiversity monitoring system to gather scientific evidence of wildlife recovery and ecosystem health.
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Scale up Human-Wildlife Conflict mitigation, including smart elephant deterrents, additional boreholes, and secured wildlife corridors.
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Develop sustainable livelihood opportunities, such as aquaculture and climate-resilient forestry initiatives, reducing community reliance on unsustainable practices.
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Establish a sustainable funding model, ensuring Rufunsa Conservation Project can thrive well into the future.​
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Our vision is simple: A Rufunsa where wildlife flourishes, communities prosper, and conservation is sustained for generations to come.
TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST
The Rufunsa Conservation Project is generously supported by:
5 YEAR REPORT
The Rufunsa Conservation Project 5-Year Report (2019–2024) highlights our journey from crisis response to community-led conservation. Inside you’ll find our successes, challenges, and future plans — showing how Rangers, communities, and partners are working together to protect one of Zambia’s most important wildlife corridors.