The Eastern Highlands, also known as the Manica Highlands, straddles the border of Zimbabwe and Mozambique and features a mountainous area of spectacular natural beauty, rolling hills, green forests, rugged peaks, misty valleys, deep gorges, cascading waterfalls, and sparkling rivers and lakes. The cool, damp climate and lush green landscapes are a contrast to the dry savanna most visitors expect to encounter in Zimbabwe. After leaving Gonarezhou, we drove through the Malilangwe Conservancy, home to Zimbabwe’s Rhino Protection programme. The animals are under heavy surveillance and
24-hour protection by armed scouts, and this programme counts as one of the few rhino conservation success stories in southern Africa. During 1997 to 1998, a total of 12 white rhinos and 28 black rhinos were translocated here from South Africa. After a settling period in bomas, the rhinos were released and their movements and general health monitored, primarily by Malilangwe’s scouts.
Towards the end of 1998, the first black rhino calf was born here, and since then more calves of both species have made this conservancy their home. Both populations have grown incredibly well over the past two decades (532% and 729% for the black and white rhino respectively), to the extent that Malilangwe has been able to supply rhino
