KAZA documentary scoops silver
Film to ‘position KAZA as leading conservation area’
The documentary draws on narratives around biodiversity, tourism, culture, livelihood, history and experiences of living alongside wildlife.
A short documentary film on the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) won a silver award in the wildlife and conservation category at the 2023 International Tourism Film Festival Africa, held at the Peninsula All Suite Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, on Friday, 5 May.
The film was produced by Makhulu Media with additional footage from the National Geographic Society.
Supported by Germany’s ministry of economic cooperation and development, through the GIZ climate resilience and natural resource management project, the film tells the story of the KAZA TFCA – the world’s largest terrestrial transfrontier conservation area which was established following the signing of the 2011 KAZA Treaty by the governments of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The film highlights some of the unique features of the landscape including the rivers, wetland ecosystems and biodiversity. It also showcases the people of the region – drawing on narratives around biodiversity, tourism, culture, livelihood, history and experiences of living alongside wildlife.
“We are proud of this film which has brought together compelling narratives informed by real-world experiences from across KAZA. The award is testament of the recognition of the efforts that have gone into the development of the TFCA so far,” Dr Nyambe Nyambe, the KAZA secretariat’s executive director, said.
“With increased awareness about KAZA, we foresee the film’s ripple effect positioning KAZA as a leading transboundary conservation area and tourism destination.”
Voices of the people
Lisa Blanken, head of component for the SADC/GIZ project, said the award represents a highlight in GIZ’s work in supporting TFCAs across the SADC region.
She also stressed the importance of communicating the successes of KAZA and the voices of the people working and living within the TFCA through film, to not only increase awareness amongst communities and stakeholders, but to also attract more tourists to this unique cross-border tourism destination.
The German ministry, under the regional cooperation framework with SADC, has supported KAZA since 2009 in three phases and Covid-19 emergency relief at a cost of nearly 44 million euros (about N$920 million).
This support was specifically in the areas of infrastructure, law enforcement, natural resources management, tourism development, community development and various capacity-building initiatives in protected areas management through the German development bank KfW and implemented by the Peace Parks Foundation.
The film was produced by Makhulu Media with additional footage from the National Geographic Society.
Supported by Germany’s ministry of economic cooperation and development, through the GIZ climate resilience and natural resource management project, the film tells the story of the KAZA TFCA – the world’s largest terrestrial transfrontier conservation area which was established following the signing of the 2011 KAZA Treaty by the governments of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The film highlights some of the unique features of the landscape including the rivers, wetland ecosystems and biodiversity. It also showcases the people of the region – drawing on narratives around biodiversity, tourism, culture, livelihood, history and experiences of living alongside wildlife.
“We are proud of this film which has brought together compelling narratives informed by real-world experiences from across KAZA. The award is testament of the recognition of the efforts that have gone into the development of the TFCA so far,” Dr Nyambe Nyambe, the KAZA secretariat’s executive director, said.
“With increased awareness about KAZA, we foresee the film’s ripple effect positioning KAZA as a leading transboundary conservation area and tourism destination.”
Voices of the people
Lisa Blanken, head of component for the SADC/GIZ project, said the award represents a highlight in GIZ’s work in supporting TFCAs across the SADC region.
She also stressed the importance of communicating the successes of KAZA and the voices of the people working and living within the TFCA through film, to not only increase awareness amongst communities and stakeholders, but to also attract more tourists to this unique cross-border tourism destination.
The German ministry, under the regional cooperation framework with SADC, has supported KAZA since 2009 in three phases and Covid-19 emergency relief at a cost of nearly 44 million euros (about N$920 million).
This support was specifically in the areas of infrastructure, law enforcement, natural resources management, tourism development, community development and various capacity-building initiatives in protected areas management through the German development bank KfW and implemented by the Peace Parks Foundation.
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