A remarkable conservation milestone for Zimbabwe’s wildlife
We are excited to share an important conservation milestone from Zimbabwe: African wild dogs have returned to Matusadona National Park after decades of local extinction.
In February 2026, 20 African wild dogs were translocated to the park by African Parks and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), marking the return of this endangered species to the Matusadona landscape. The animals were introduced as two established packs and underwent a period of soft release to allow them to acclimatise to their new surroundings before moving into the wider park.
A New Chapter for Matusadona
The return of wild dogs is about more than bringing a species back. It represents years of conservation investment and collaboration. Since 2020, Matusadona has strengthened anti-poaching systems, ranger capacity, biodiversity monitoring, community development and human-wildlife conflict mitigation, creating the conditions needed for wildlife to return and thrive.
African wild dogs are among Africa’s most endangered large carnivores, with approximately 6,600 dogs remaining in the wild. As highly social predators, they play an important role in healthy ecosystems, helping to regulate prey populations and maintain ecological balance. Their return to Matusadona is therefore an important step in restoring the park’s natural ecosystem and strengthening conservation across the wider Sebungwe landscape.
Just as importantly, successful conservation depends on creating space for people and wildlife to thrive together. The Matusadona team is continuing to monitor the packs using GPS collars, supported by community-based early-warning systems and human-wildlife conflict response measures to help ensure peaceful coexistence as the wild dogs settle into their new home.
At African Bush Camps Foundation, we believe that lasting conservation is built through collaboration, bringing together communities, conservation organisations, government and partners around a shared vision for Africa’s wild places.
Beyond the Return
The return of African wild dogs signals something bigger than the arrival of a new species. It speaks to the recovery of a landscape and the patient, long-term work required to restore it. With these remarkable predators back in Matusadona, there is renewed hope for a healthier, more complete ecosystem and for the continued return of wildlife to a place that holds such importance for Zimbabwe’s natural heritage.
Every stay at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge contributes to this broader story. Not just through proximity to Matusadona, but through the direct link between tourism revenue and the long-term work of conserving wildlife, empowering communities, and sustaining wild spaces across Southern Africa.
We’re delighted to celebrate this remarkable return to Matusadona and the continued restoration of Zimbabwe’s wildlife heritage.