Approximately 50km north-west of Kafue National Park, Shinganda covers 200km2 of uninhabited wilderness, linked by wildlife habitats to the national park. As an open-ecosystem conservancy site, Shinganda forms an integral part of the conservation network in the Greater Kafue Ecosystem, providing essential habitat for wide-roaming carnivores and herbivores. The team at Shinganda provide monitoring and protection 365 days a year for the wildlife that utilises this area.

Founded in 2001, Shinganda’s primary aim is to ensure the vitally important conservation corridor to Kafue National Park is monitored and protected to enable wildlife to move freely.

To do this, Shinganda have a year-round wildlife conservation monitoring programme through their Shinganda Scout anti-poaching foot patrols, to combat poachers killing wildlife with guns, snares and dogs. Their work over the past two decades has been successful in reducing poaching pressures, resulting in wildlife numbers bouncing back.

Shinganda have also been using trail cameras to monitor the area since 2011. Camera traps enable the team to remain vigilant to potential poacher hotspots and build their knowledge and database of wildlife in the area. This rich habitat is utilised by a stunning diversity of wildlife; with 15 trail cameras in place for a short 40 day survey in 2022, the team recorded 28 mammal species. Species caught on camera include African elephants, lions, leopards, cheetah, painted dogs, sable antelope, kudu, warthogs and baboons.

NatureSpy have been working in partnership with Shinganda since 2019, supporting the project with their trail camera surveys to build knowledge of wildlife presence in the area and monitor potential hotspots for poachers. Our support has included the provision of Browning Recon Force Advantage trail cameras, accessories such as locks for camera security and technical support.

Extreme heat and wildfires in the Zambian wilderness make for a harsh environment for trail cameras. The team create fire breaks to prevent cameras getting caught in wildfires, but even then, the heat of a fire can still melt a PIR sensor! Thankfully that part is replaceable and the cameras can be redeployed once again.