Transfrontier Conservation Areas

Eleven countries in the Southern African Development Community have created 14 Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) across their country borders. These TFCAs involve 943 000 Square Kilometers, around 10% of SADC land. The SADC TFCA programme hopes to reconnect natural landscapes by improving transboundary conservation, supporting sustainable rural development and building climate change resilience in the region. The TFCA programme contributes to SADC's vision of regional integration.

The TFCA Network

The SADC TFCA Network is a community of practice that brings together professionals working in Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) across a wide range of sectors contributing to SADC's regional sustainable rural development programme.

Recognising the shared challenges faced by TFCAs and aligned with the SADC TFCA vision, the Network was established on 25–26 September 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa, by TFCA coordinators, representatives from international NGOs, and practitioners from the SADC Member States.

The Network aims to address several key common challenges, including:

  • Strengthening governance through improved policies, legislation, and institutional frameworks
  • Developing sustainable financing mechanisms for TFCAs
  • Demonstrating the value of TFCAs at local, national, and regional levels—for example, by enhancing community benefits and supporting capacity development.
More
Become a member of the TFCA Network and join a vibrant community of like-minded professionals. Click here to join now!

Gallery

2024 TFCA Network Annual Meeting: GLTFCA and LIMCOM at the Annual meeting

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Visit a TransFrontier Conservation Area today

If you're interested in visiting one of the Transfrontier conservation areas, here are some great links to help you on your journey:
TOURISM in TFCAs  
TOURISM in KAZA  

News

SOUTH AFRICA HOSTS SADC TRANSFRONTIER CONSERVATION AREAS NETWORK MEETING IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Steven Collins / 10 November 2026
9 NOVEMBER 2026 South Africa will host the 2026 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) Annual Network Meeting from 10 - 12 November 2026 at the Nombolo Mdhluli Conference Centre in Skukuza Rest Camp, within the Kruger National Park. The meeting is held under the theme, “Investing in People, Nature and Partnerships: Scaling Impact Across SADC TFCAs”, the meeting will bring together representatives from SADC Member States, TFCA management structures, regional and international conservation partners, civil society organisations and local community...

Regenerative Tourism: Investing in Nature and Local Economies across KAZA
Rorly Sherwen / 9 October 2026
24 September 2026 marked the official launch of the Joint Action on Regenerative Nature-Based Tourism (R-NBT) in the Kavango Zambezi Trans Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) - a new chapter in a long-standing journey of supporting biodiversity conservation, regional cooperation and sustainable development in Southern Africa. Supported by the German Government and the European Union and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in partnership with the KAZA Secretariat and SADC Secretariat, the initiative aims to strengthen regenerative, inclusive...

SADC Advances Tourism-Friendly Border Initiative to Transform Visitor Experience Across Southern Africa
Rorly Sherwen / 6 August 2026
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe | 29 July 2026 The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has taken a significant step towards making travel across Southern Africa more seamless, welcoming and efficient following the successful Joint Consultative Workshop on Tourism-Friendly Border Posts and Customer Service Training for Border Officials, held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on 28–29 July 2026. Convened by the SADC Secretariat through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, with support from the German Government and the European Union (EU), the workshop...

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Want to see your news here?

Click here to add your news to the TFCA website.

Visit a TransFrontier Conservation Area today

If you're interested in visiting one of the Transfrontier conservation areas, here are some great links to help you on your journey:
TOURISM in TFCAs  
TOURISM in KAZA  

The TFCA Network

The SADC TFCA Network is a community of practice that brings together professionals working in Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) across a wide range of sectors contributing to SADC's regional sustainable rural development programme.

Recognising the shared challenges faced by TFCAs and aligned with the SADC TFCA vision, the Network was established on 25–26 September 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa, by TFCA coordinators, representatives from international NGOs, and practitioners from the SADC Member States.

The Network aims to address several key common challenges, including:

  • Strengthening governance through improved policies, legislation, and institutional frameworks
  • Developing sustainable financing mechanisms for TFCAs
  • Demonstrating the value of TFCAs at local, national, and regional levels—for example, by enhancing community benefits and supporting capacity development.
More
Become a member of the TFCA Network and join a vibrant community of like-minded professionals. Click here to join now!

News

SOUTH AFRICA HOSTS SADC TRANSFRONTIER CONSERVATION AREAS NETWORK MEETING IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Steven Collins / 10 November 2026
9 NOVEMBER 2026 South Africa will host the 2026 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) Annual Network Meeting from 10 - 12 November 2026 at the Nombolo Mdhluli Conference Centre in Skukuza Rest Camp, within the Kruger National Park. The meeting is held under the theme, “Investing in People, Nature and Partnerships: Scaling Impact Across SADC TFCAs”, the meeting will bring together representatives from SADC Member States, TFCA management structures, regional and international conservation partners, civil society organisations and local community...

Regenerative Tourism: Investing in Nature and Local Economies across KAZA
Rorly Sherwen / 9 October 2026
24 September 2026 marked the official launch of the Joint Action on Regenerative Nature-Based Tourism (R-NBT) in the Kavango Zambezi Trans Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) - a new chapter in a long-standing journey of supporting biodiversity conservation, regional cooperation and sustainable development in Southern Africa. Supported by the German Government and the European Union and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in partnership with the KAZA Secretariat and SADC Secretariat, the initiative aims to strengthen regenerative, inclusive...

SADC Advances Tourism-Friendly Border Initiative to Transform Visitor Experience Across Southern Africa
Rorly Sherwen / 6 August 2026
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe | 29 July 2026 The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has taken a significant step towards making travel across Southern Africa more seamless, welcoming and efficient following the successful Joint Consultative Workshop on Tourism-Friendly Border Posts and Customer Service Training for Border Officials, held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on 28–29 July 2026. Convened by the SADC Secretariat through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, with support from the German Government and the European Union (EU), the workshop...

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