African Parks is a non-profit organisation that takes total responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities. Their approach combines world-class conservation practice with business expertise. They place emphasis on achieving financial sustainability of the parks by combining long-term donor funding with tourism revenues, related business enterprise and payment for ecosystem services, which all serve as a foundation for economic development and poverty alleviation. It is their belief that making wildlife parks socially and economically viable, particularly for the benefit of local communities, will contribute to their survival in the face of competing forms of land use.

The total project area of Bangweulu covers over 6,000 km2. This encompasses the territories of six Chiefdoms, with the land belonging to the communities and the Chiefs holding it in trust on behalf of their subjects. Although part of the Bangweulu Wetlands Area has protected wetland status under the RAMSAR convention. In order to preserve this unique habitat and wildlife, African Parks took over the management of the area in 2008 in partnership with the local communities. It was the decision of the communities, expressed through their Chiefs and advisors, to invite African Parks to be their private sector management partner for the Bangweulu Wetlands Project. The Bangweulu Wetland Management Board was established in August 2008 and consists of representatives of the six local communities, African Parks and the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA). This ensures that the stakeholders at the heart of the project, the people that live and work in the community, have a role to play in managing this incredible area.

In the last couple of years and due to intensive management there has been a tremendous increase in Sitatunga and the Black Lechwe. A recent hunt conducted here by PH Phil Minnaar saw his client take a Sitatunga just shy of 30 inches and he recorded a herd of over 2,000 male Lechwe. The current population has been counted at 75,000.

Africa parks have invested in a first class tented hunting camp and will be offering all inclusive packages for 2013. No doubt these safaris will be expensive but very worthwhile for those who are serious about Sitatunga.



AR's Faisal and I will be hunting the Bangweulu swamps in October and will be able to give you all a first hand report of the hunting here.

Good luck to the two of you Andrew. I'm sure it will be another great adventure and I look forward to reading the report and seeing the results.

George

quote:

Originally posted by Jorge400:
Good luck to the two of you Andrew. I'm sure it will be another great adventure and I look forward to reading the report and seeing the results.

George

Will be thinking of you mate.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:


AR's Faisal and I will be hunting the Bangweulu swamps in October and will be able to give you all a first hand report of the hunting here.

Damn i wish i could go with.

Looking forward to reading the report. I'm sure ya'll will have a great time.

Andrew-

Thanks for the update.

The Bangweulu is a very unique hunt for equally unique trophies. Trudging silently through the swamps in the early morning dark so as to be in the machan before first light can be challenging. When I hunted it in 2004 the camp and facilities were a bit rough and I had hopes that things would improve under the new management system; sounds like they have.

Hunters should be advised that not everyone who seeks the evasive Sitatunga will be successful however. I was fortunate and took mine on the first morning, but that is a rare happening. The Black Lechwe run in huge herds and are not skittish. Biggest problem is sorting out the true trophy. Other good species, such as Oribi, are available as well.

Not a hunt for everyone; more for the experienced african hunter who wants to add some unique species to their bag. 5 days in the swamps should be plenty of time, so it can be an add-on to a trip into the Luangwa Valley. I will eagerly await your report on the new facilities and management results.

Keep well.

Perhaps there's a swamp in my future.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
Perhaps there's a swamp in my future.

Does this mean you're going moose hunting out on the Peninsula in the coming days?