Picture the map of Africa redrawn: great swathes of land are linked to re-establish ancient wildlife ranges. A huge corridor sweeps southwards connecting the Great Lakes, from Lake Albert in the Democratic all the way down to Lake Malawi, a second runs down the length of the Great Rift Valley. With scarcely a gap, another even larger tract of land brings together Zambia's Kafue National Park, the Zambezi Valley and the Okavango Delta, then extends westwards to Namibia's Skeleton Coast. This brave (almost incredible) vision is shared by a growing number of conservationists and politicians throughout Africa.

Transfrontier conservation, the consolidation of large-scale protected areas that span two or more countries to create so called "Peace Parks", has been working in other parts of the world for many years. In Africa, it represents a radical departure from existing conservation models. At the heart of theconcept is the re-establishment of game stocks and traditional migration trails by opening borders and creating Transfrontier Conservation Areas. While the preservation of wildlife and land is the focus for conservationists, politicians are seeking to use the concept to build bridges between nations - hence the name Peace Parks. They are also not slow to spot the enormous economic potential, derived from job creation and attracting an increased share of the growing global tourism market.

The process is highly complex. It requires the unscrambling of the legacy of frontiers drawn on maps by acquisitive colonial powers, often with no regard for natural topographic features, tribal territories or the movements of wildlife. This must take place against a backdrop of distrust engendered by the many post-colonial conflicts throughout the continent.

In the simplest case, forming a Transfrontier park can mean bringing together two existing National Parks under a joint management agreement. This was the case for the first African Peace Park to be gazetted, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which was formally opened by President Mogae of Botswana and President Mbeki of South Africa in May 2000. Visitors to the park now clear immigration formalities at one of the entrances and are then as free as the wildlife to move anywhere in the park regardless ofwhich country they happen to be in at a particular moment.

Other cases are far more complicated, linking parcels of land under different land management regimes which might include National Parks, private game reserves, farms, game ranches, hunting areas and communal lands. The intention is to manage them for the benefit of all through the medium of wildlife conservation. The policy thus becomes one of empowerment not eviction. Local communities are no longer to be fenced out of their traditional hunting, foraging and pastoral territory to make way for wildlife, but included as stakeholders with a vested financial interest in the success of the scheme.

The cause of Transfrontier conservation was launched in Africa by the Peace Parks Foundation, set up by wildlife philanthropist Dr Anton Rupert. The banner has now been taken up by a variety of other conservation organisations including Conservation International. There are a number of hugely exciting projects under negotiation.

Two of the proposed Peace Parks each span more than 100,000km2. The scale is bewildering. For those species such as cheetahs and wild dogs that are in danger of being squeezed out of existence by their reduced range, Transfrontier conservation represents a very real ray of hope. For Africa it reaches far beyond pure conservation into the realms of economic prosperity, employment and unity - surely goals worth pursuing.

By John Warburton-Lee

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Established April 1999. A 3,600,000ha amalgamation of the adjacent South African and Botswanan Gemsbok NPs. One of the world's largest reserves (twice the size of Kruger).

Semi-desert savannah and scanty sweetveld grasslands amongst oxide-tinged 20m sand dunes. Cut by the dry beds of the Auob and Nossob Rivers. Wildlife depends on waterholes, the tsamma melon and wild cucumbers for moisture. The area is accessible to standard cars but 4x4 is advised. Camelthorn, acacias and other hardy trees dot the hot, dry landscape. A variety of annuals flower with the first rains.

Famed for desert-adapted gemsbok, large herds of springbok and wildebeest, and huge, black-maned Kalahari lions. More than 215 bird species, including raptors, Lappet-faced vulture, Namaqua sandgrouse, Kalahari robin and large communal-nesting Sociable weaver colonies.

Game concentrations along riverbeds between February and May; occasional mass treks of game; 3-day 260km Gemsbok 4x4 Wilderness Trail.

Three separate camps each with fully-equipped cottages, some air con. Caravan and camping sites, restaurants, shop, bar and swimming pool at Twee Rivieren camp. Nearby farmhouse accommodation and a lodge with organised tours.

Published in Travel Africa Edition Fifteen: Spring 2001 Text is subject to Worldwide Copyright (c)