Travel Guide Save Valley Conservancy

In terms of landscape, the Sava (pronounced "Sah-vey") Valley Conservancy is beautiful, with rocky and riverine plains, mopane forests, huge baobab trees, and acacia groves, as well as rock art paintings of the San people. In the 1920s, the Sava Valley was filled with cattle farms and a wildlife hunting area. Overexploitation led to a decrease in the fertility of the land and the wildlife was decimated. It was in 1991 that the Save Valley Conservancy was formed by a group of landowners. Their goal was to change the type of exploitation of the area by creating a gigantic private sanctuary for the reintroduction and conservation of wildlife and rhinos in particular. With the support of the international community, the area quickly became a paradise for endangered animals. For their protection, a 330 km electric fence surrounds the 3,200 km² valley (from Birchenough Bridge to Chiredzi). The sanctuary is home to the big five - lions, buffaloes, leopards, elephants and black and white rhinos - as well as African wild dogs, giraffes, zebras, many species of antelopes, jackals, crocodiles, hippos, spotted and brown hyenas, monkeys, 670 species of birds, etc. Already rated the largest private reserve in all of Africa, the Save Conservancy is the most successful rhino reintroduction program on the continent and is considered the most promising protected area for years to come. Unfortunately, all of these achievements were compromised in 2012 when Zanu-PF supporters and army officials obtained hunting permits. It seems that the situation has calmed down a bit, it remains to be seen what the government will decide about the future of this reserve..Several entrances to the park exist and the entrance to take will depend on the lodge booked. For those who have their own vehicle, a 4 x 4 is recommended for safaris. For those without a vehicle, there is no public transport into the park, but the lodges can arrange transfers. Transfers can be arranged from Harare. To save money, go to Birchenough Bridge (for lodges in the north) or Chiredzi (for those in the south). Transfers are also available from the Buffalo Range bush airport between Triangle and Chiredzi.