Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area

	Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area
	Elephant herd in Chobe National Park
location	Angola Botswana Namibia Zambia Zimbabwe; ; ; ;
surface	519,912 km²
Geographical location	18 ° 9 ′ S , 21 ° 58 ′ E Coordinates: 18 ° 8 ′ 45 ″ S , 21 ° 58 ′ 22 ″ E
Setup date	August 2011
administration	transnational

The expansion of the area into five states

The Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area ( KAZA TFCA or KAZA ) is a cross-border nature and landscape protection area in southern Africa . In particular, it should enable elephants to move freely in their natural habitat. The establishment was formally confirmed on August 18, 2011 by the heads of state and government of the participating countries Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Angola; the official opening took place on March 15, 2012 in Katima Mulilo .

The protected area covers an area of around 520,000 km² and is therefore the second largest land protection area in the world after the Northeast Greenland National Park . The cross-border project is one of the Peace Parks and is supported by the Peace Parks Foundation . Financial support comes from the Netherlands , among others .

Position and extent

The Kaza project began with the first planning in 2003. In 2006, a letter of intent was signed by representatives of the five participating countries Angola , Botswana , Namibia , Zambia and Zimbabwe . With an extension of 520,000 km² - other sources speak of 287,132 km², which only includes the area protected as national parks - about 20% larger than Germany .

The reserve connects a number of existing national parks and game reserves, in particular the Caprivi Strip in Namibia, the Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta in Botswana, the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and the Victoria Falls in the border area between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The more than 35 national parks and reserves already in existence in the area of the Kavango-Zambezi Conservation Area include the following:

Zambia: Liuwa Plain National Park , Kafue National Park , Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and Sioma-Ngweizi National Park
Namibia: Mamili National Park , Mudumu National Park and Bwabwata National Park
Botswana: Chobe National Park , Makgadikgadi Pans National Park , Nxai Pan National Park and Moremi Game Reserve
Zimbabwe: Hwange National Park , Kazuma Pan National Park , Lower Zambezi National Park and Victoria Falls National Park
Angola: Luiana Game Reserve and Mavinga Game Reserve .

Significance for nature conservation and economy

The largest population of African elephants lives on the territory with around 250,000 animals . For tourism, it is planned to allow access with a single visa and without border controls within the entire area. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development is supporting the project through KfW Development Bank with funds amounting to around 20 million euros .