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History of the Park

Umfurudzi Park and the surrounding area have a recorded history dating back to the bushman and early stone ages, evident by the rock paintings and other archeological sites found throughout the park. In more recent history the park was settled by early Mashona and then by Portuguese traders and later by colonial mining prospectors.
Post 1950, the area was designated state land for wildlife habitation under the colonial government of the day and was managed by the Manicaland Hunters Association. The Parks and Wildlife Act of 1975 officially designated Umfurudzi Safari Area, and placed the land under the control of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management.
In the early 1980’s, black rhino were in abundance within the Park. As pressure mounted on the rhino due to poaching the ZPWMA captured and trans located 44 Black Rhino from Umfurudzi to other Parks.
The area continued as a hunting area until 2007, when the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management ceased all hunting due to unsustainably low animal population levels.
Causes of decline were due to poorly funded parks failing to mobilise adequate resources for law enforcement, exposing animal populations to excessive illegal off take over the years.
The cessation of hunting in Umfurudzi was brought about by consultations with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, by Hamish Rudland (representing Pioneer Corporation Africa) and lan Jarvis (representing Wilderness Africa Trust).
After successfully stopping the hunting in Umfurudzi, began the process of negotiating a joint management of the Park. This process took 3.5 years of careful and methodical negotiation to create a mutually beneficial arrangement that was sustainable and effective.
In August 2010 a Joint Venture Agreement was signed between Pioneer Corporation Africa and Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority approved by the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Management.

The Vision of Umfurudzi Park

The vision of Umfurudzi Park is a hybrid one, developed by the joint venture partners, PCA and the ZPWMA through consultation and through personal experiences within the wildlife industry as well as within Umfurudzi Park.
  • To create an environment where wildlife can survive, thrive and multiply.
  • Where commercial activities create an enabling environment through sustainable revenue and profit generation within the Park.
  • Where research and consultation provide information for strategic decisions and management of the Park.
  • Where the community realises the benefits of wildlife for its own development and therefore protects the park and its resources for future generations.
  • Where access to the Park and wildlife education to the general public brings conservation awareness to Umfurudzi and other Parks.
  • Where the success of the Umfurudzi Park model can be duplicated to other parks.
  • Where wildlife resources can be sustainably harvested to repopulate other parks.
  • Creating an unprecedented legacy of sustainable wildlife management for future generations to enjoy.

Joint Venture Agreement Summary

  • 25 years renewable for 25 years
  • 50/50 Joint Venture
  • Joint Venture company called "Umfurudzi Park"
  • Management Committee to manage the affairs of the Umfurudzi Park
  • Park Manager to be appointed
Although a simple agreement, this being the first such agreement signed by the Authority and a private sector company, it captures the importance of sustainable management of wildlife in Umfurudzi Park for the benefit of all Zimbabweans with a special focus on local communities.
This arrangement also makes the agreement a typical PPCP (Private, Public, Community Partnership) a globally recommended approach for developing economies.
The agreement is based on capital investment by PCA for development of infrastructure and logistical support as well as business skills in marketing the Park and in the development of products for the global tourism market. ZPWMA would provide operational expertise as well as all existing wildlife, goodwill and infrastructure, as their investment into the Joint Venture.
The agreement allows for the commercialization of sustainable conservation activities within the Park, in order to generate revenue to sustain wildlife management and protection while developing and educating the immediate communities surrounding the Park.
Umfurudzi Park is governed and operated by a management committee equally represented by ZPWMA and PCA, chaired by either party on an annual rotation.