Feeding Wilderness camps in Zimbabwe

In just over a year since opening, the Ngamo Livestock Farm & Vocational Centre in Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland North province is already transforming lives and communities.

Celebrating its first 43 graduates and supplying over four tonnes of fresh, organic produce to local families and Wilderness camps, the centre is proving that conservation, education and sustainable agriculture can grow hand in hand.

According to Wilderness, these milestones highlight the centre’s growing role in building a locally driven conservation economy, combining skills development, sustainable agriculture and food security.

“This is an incredibly proud moment for us as educators, but even more so for our students,” said Principal Lecturer Lawrence Matshazi. “Ngamo is not just a farm or a training facility – it is a pathway to a better future. These young people now possess practical skills that will strengthen food security, support their families and contribute to a resilient local community. Watching them achieve distinctions has been immensely rewarding.”

The centre, opened in February 2025, is a collaboration between Wilderness and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with support from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and KfW Development Bank via the SADC TFCA Financing Facility.

It provides free, HEXCO-accredited training in agriculture and conservation-linked livelihoods to young people from the Tsholotsho District. For graduates of Wilderness’ Children in the Wilderness (CITW) programme, Ngamo offers a clear pathway from environmental education to tertiary-level skills and employment opportunities.

The first group of students completed their National Foundation Certificate examinations in October 2025, with results released in January 2026.

In its first year, the farm produced more than 2.7 tonnes of vegetables, 709 chickens and 1 590 eggs, with a combined market value of US$7 097.

Wilderness said the produce supports the centre’s dining hall for students, staff and volunteers. At the same time, surplus is sold to local communities and Wilderness camps in Hwange National Park, helping to reduce dependence on distant suppliers. Additional produce is donated through a community cooperative, supporting vulnerable households and families of volunteers.

Infrastructure expansion is ongoing, including the construction of an on-site abattoir and a second greenhouse for climate-smart agriculture and organic fertiliser experimentation. Indigenous trees planted across the farm improve soil health while providing hands-on learning opportunities for students.

The centre also benefits the wider community. Twenty local residents received honorary certificates in crop management at the graduation, while additional free training continues in areas such as climate-smart agriculture, enterprise development, animal health, predator-proof bomas, financial literacy and conservation awareness.

Looking ahead, the programme is growing. Around 30 first-year students joined in February 2026, while ten graduates are advancing into a second year towards a National Certificate, all at no cost.

Wilderness, a world-leading conservation and hospitality company, offers immersive journeys across Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, integrating tourism with sustainable development.