30 Jun 2025
PROTECTING THE WILD HEART OF VICTORIA FALLS
At Bushtracks Africa, we’re lucky to call Victoria Falls home.
We guide visitors through this region’s beauty every day - through the spray of the Falls, along the Zambezi’s quiet waters, and across plains where lions, buffalo, and elephant still roam free.
But behind the wonder is a rising threat. The wildlife here is under siege.
As the town grows, with over 100 new families settling in each month, pressure mounts on natural resources. And with that pressure comes poaching.
In just six weeks, ten animals were lost to snares in and around Victoria Falls - lions, warthogs, bushbuck, impala, and buffalo. One of them was a lioness known affectionately as the Hippo Creek Female. She raised four cubs on her own. She was often seen, often photographed, and deeply loved by guides and travelers alike. Her story should have continued. Instead, it became another reminder of what we stand to lose.
We believe in the work being done to stop this.
For over 25 years, the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit (VFAPU) has worked tirelessly to protect the region’s wildlife. Their rangers patrol day and night, removing snares, deterring poachers, and responding to threats with courage and resolve. But they need more boots on the ground. VFAPU wants to grow their ranger team from 15 to 30 - ten dedicated patrol units covering more ground, more often.
That’s where you come in.
Through their Sponsor a Ranger program, you can directly fund this vital frontline work:
• $200 puts a ranger in the field for two weeks
• $400 supports a ranger for a full month
• $1,200 keeps a three-person team active for a month
Every contribution helps. Every dollar counts.
If you’ve ever felt awe here, if you’ve ever been moved by a lion’s gaze or an elephant’s silent path through the trees - consider giving back.
Learn more, donate, or spread the word. Because what’s at stake is irreplaceable.
