Sango Nature Project

The Sango Nature Project is a conservation and rewilding initiative dedicated to restoring and protecting large-scale natural landscapes across Southern Africa. The pilot project of this initiative is the Sango Wildlife Conservancy (SWC), a 57,300-hectare landscape in southeastern Zimbabwe that has been transformed from a failed cattle ranch into a thriving wildlife conservancy. Acquired in 1992 by Wilfried Pabst, the property has undergone more than three decades of science-led ecological restoration and wildlife recovery. Today, the SWC forms part of the 300,000-hectare Save Valley Conservancy and is connected through the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, one of Africa’s largest transboundary conservation landscapes linking Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa. Today, the SWC protects a diverse mosaic of savanna, woodland, wetland, and river ecosystems. It supports significant populations of endangered wildlife, including one of Zimbabwe's most important black rhino populations, safeguards approximately 8.5 million tonnes of stored carbon, and generates lasting socio-economic benefits through local employment, with more than 100 full-time jobs, the majority of which are held by members of neighbouring communities. At its core, the Sango Nature Project seeks to demonstrate that large-scale rewilding is not only ecologically effective, but also socially beneficial and economically viable. The project is guided by five core principles: being led by nature, built on trust, designed for impact, guided by scientific evidence, and verified through internationally recognised standards. The project's carbon stocks have been independently assessed and certified by TÜV Nord Germany. In parallel, Sango is currently undergoing certification processes under both the IUCN Green List and B Corp frameworks, reflecting its commitment to excellence in environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and governance. Long-term conservation efforts are further supported by secure private land tenure, protected under the German–Zimbabwean Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement. The long-term vision of the Sango Nature Project is to build a network of vast, connected, and rewilded landscapes across Southern Africa. To achieve this, the project seeks to strengthen conservation outcomes at Sango through enhanced natural resource protection, improved human-wildlife coexistence, expanded community engagement and environmental education programmes, and the restoration of ecological connectivity within the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area. The initiative also aims to expand conservation efforts into neighbouring landscapes and share its model, expertise, and lessons learned with other conservation initiatives across the region. By combining biodiversity conservation, climate action, community development, and innovative conservation finance, the Sango Nature Project aims to demonstrate a practical, scalable, and replicable model for protecting nature while creating lasting value for both people and ecosystems.