Southern Africa is currently experiencing its worst drought in over two decades, and the impact on wildlife is alarming. The drought is greatly affecting the KAZA Transfrontier Conservation Area, which spans Namibia, Botswana, Angola, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. KAZA is home to an estimated 228,000 elephants, making it the last great elephant range on the continent.

In Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, the drought has created a particularly urgent crisis. Every winter, elephants from across the KAZA region flock to Hwange, drawn to the managed waterholes that sustain them through the dry season. Typically, around 40,000 elephants migrate here, but this year, as surrounding areas dry up months earlier than usual, over 55,000 elephants are expected to descend on the park. This surge is straining Hwange’s waterholes, which are managed by our local partners, the Friends of Hwange Trust, as part of our Water for Wildlife program.

The situation is dire. In past years, Hwange’s solar-powered water pumps were enough to keep the water flowing. But with so many additional elephants competing for dwindling water resources, we’ve had to step up our efforts. To keep the waterholes functioning around the clock, we’re installing battery systems to power the pumps through the night. Each of these systems costs $10,000 per borehole – a critical but costly lifeline in this drought-stricken region.

When we shared the severity of the drought crisis with our partners at the Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, they immediately invited us to apply for an Animal Crisis grant. Thanks to their swift action, we secured the funds needed to install another battery system at the “Boss Long One” Pan, one of Hwange’s most vital water sources. This pan, which attracts a steady stream of thirsty wildlife, would have dried up without intervention, but today it remains a critical lifeline thanks to the generous support we received.

While the drought continues to challenge the region’s wildlife, the kindness and responsiveness of partners like the Busch Gardens Conservation Fund offer a beacon of hope. Their generosity is helping us save the lives of Hwange’s elephants, proving that, together, we can make a real difference, even in the face of a crisis.

To learn more about our Water for Wildlife Program, click here!