Land Classification

Zimbabwe land is currently classified as National Parks and State Safari Land and Communal Land.

National Parks Land has been put aside for the purpose of photographic tourism and the conservation of wildlife, flora and fauna. Large tracts of this state land such as Hwange Game Park, Mana Pools and many others, offer unique opportunities to get close to nature.

State Safari Land is land in more remote marginal areas, unsuitable for agriculture but ideal for game and hunting operations on a sustainable off-take basis. These areas include Chewore, Chete, Chirisa, Dande, Matetsi and Deka, Forestry Land. Big game occurs in these areas.

Communal Land is traditionally held by indigenous people. Government grants authority to local District Councils to assume responsibility for the management and utilisation of the wildlife. With assistance from National Parks the council decides on a sustainable annual quota of animals to be hunted and offers them to Hunting Operators on a tender basis. The funds thus generated go to benefit local development, such as building bridges and schools and installing grinding mills, and also to compensate local families whose crop production has been reduced by marauding wildlife. This scheme is known as CAMPFIRE. It is now used in a number of African countries and has proven effective in reducing poaching.