How to #StandUpForElephants

We are asking for one million people to #StandUpForElephants to raise awareness of the importance of the Zambezi Valley, and to help protect the elephants that call it home.

Step 1: Watch our #StandUpForElephants video (find this on Zambezi Elephant Fund’s YouTube, Facebook or Instagram)

Step 2: Film yourself saying ‘I am (insert name) and I stand up for elephants!’ on your phone or camera.

Step 3: Post your video to your own social media pages

Step 4: Include the hashtag #StandUpForElephants #onemillion and tag Zambezi Elephant Fund in your post

Step 5: Challenge 3-5 friends to do the same and #StandUpForElephants by tagging them in your post 

Welcome, James and Amy, to the herd!

In the four years since Zambezi Elephant Fund (ZEF) was formed, it has evolved steadily and naturally along with the beautiful, wild landscapes it protects.

With this in mind, and to achieve our stated vision, ZEF’s diversity of skills and knowledge is growing.

Richard Maasdorp, whom many of you will know as ZEF’s founding administrator, is stepping sideways to focus more on visionary and strategic implementation work; to bring to fruition a Lower Zambezi Landscape Plan, to strengthen existing relationships with mainstream conservation organisations and government policy makers, and to help reinforce the effectiveness of our implementing partners.

James Egremont-Lee takes over from Richard in the team management role on a regular, part-time basis and Amy Wolton is committed to focus on project management and proposal writing, also on a regular, part-time basis.

Following a childhood in England, James pursued a life of adventure in Africa with a keen focus on wildlife and conservation. A professional safari guide and environmentalist, he works with corporates and businesses, optimising sustainability, impact investment and promoting protection of habitat.

Amy was born in Zimbabwe and grew up in Australia. After completing her Bachelor of Science, majoring in both conservation biology and zoology, her love for Africa brought Amy back to her birthplace where she spent the last few years working in Zimbabwe’s south-eastern lowveld.

Other members in the core team include John and Nicci Stevens, who are co-founders, Laura Taylor – marketing and branding – who has also been alongside us since the inception of ZEF, Jazzy Shipman – programmes management and lead on this year’s Central Park Run and Richard Calder on accounts.

With these exciting additions to a strong team, ZEF is charting a course for positive growth in an ever-evolving conservation landscape. The thread that weaves us all tightly together is a strong belief in utilizing on-the-ground local skills and talent and the unique and game-changing power of collaboration.

The Zambezi Elephant Fund Calendar Competition

This new competition celebrates the magnificent beauty of the Zambezi Valley and you’re invited to participate!

We are looking for bold, striking photographs taken in the Zambezi Valley that embody our theme for 2020 – “The Power and the Glory”. There are no restrictions on subject – wildlife, birdlife or landscapes.

Winning entries will be featured in Zambezi Elephant Fund’s 2020 calendar; plus, you will have your photograph published in Nzira magazine!

By participating, you will be helping the Zambezi Elephant Fund in its efforts to increase awareness of the Zambezi Valley to a global audience, and effectively strengthening Zambezi Elephant Fund’s support of the vital anti-poaching and conservation work that is being carried out by ZimParks and many on-the-ground implementers.

 You will also be sharing and introducing our audience to the Zambezi Valley, helping them discover the region’s wildlife and habitats.

Tag @zambezi_elephant_fund and #ZEFPowerAndGlory with your entry!

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2020 Calendar Competition: Terms and Conditions

1.      The competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.

2.     Zambezi Elephant Fund is solely responsible for the administration and running of this competition.

3.     The competition runs from 17th June 2019 until 23:59 CAT on Thursday 15th August 2019. Entries will not be considered after this time.

4.     There are no age restrictions on entrants, and entries are welcome from anywhere in the world.

5.     To enter; simply post your photo entry on Instagram, tag @zambezi_elephant_fund and include the hashtag #ZEFPowerAndGlory

6.     Our 3-man judging panel will select winners from those entries judged to be the most visually appealing and original within the framework of the 2020 Zambezi Elephant Fund calendar theme – “The Power and the Glory”.

7.     There will be 13 winning entries – one for each of the twelve monthly pages, plus one top winning entry, which will be the calendar cover image.

8.     Winners will be announced via Instagram and other social media on Friday 30th August 2019. The 13 winning entrants will each receive a copy of the 2020 Zambezi Elephant Fund Calendar before the end of 2019, and Instagram handles promoted on the calendar and in social media. The top winner will also receive specific profile promotion on various social media platforms, as well as in Nzira magazine.

9.     Copyright in all images submitted for this competition remains with the respective entrants. However, in consideration of their participating in the competition, each entrant grants a worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual licence to Zambezi Elephant Fund to feature any or all of the submitted images in any of their marketing platforms, their website and/or in any promotional material connected to this competition.

10.  By participating, and should your entry be considered for inclusion in the Zambezi Elephant Fund 2020 calendar, you grant Zambezi Elephant Fund the right to show your image in a winners’ exhibition and to use your image in any associated publicity and in the Zambezi Elephant Fund 2020 calendar.

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"The Stampede" - a volunteer's perspective of the Mukuvisi March for Elephants

It is not often one can take part in a collective campaign for something good. This opportunity presented itself to me in the inaugural Zambezi Elephant Fund Mukuvisi March for Elephants on Saturday the 17th of November, which was being held in unity with the main event in Central Park, New York that very same day – Saving the Elephants 10km Walk/Run.

Teaming up with the event organiser from the Zambezi Elephant Fund (ZEF), Laura Taylor, I rode shotgun as we whizzed around collecting banners, signs, T-shirts and numerous other supplies for the event. It amazed me how many people were jumping on board to support ZEF in this endeavour to raise both awareness and funds for the conservation of Zimbabwe’s iconic elephants. From local businesses offering generous sponsorship, to individuals carrying out their own crowdfunding (as far as the Netherlands), it was apparent that these beautiful animals are dear to us all. With 2.2K ‘interested’ on Facebook, there was much speculation over how many walkers and runners would turn up on the day. We arranged to have 300 T-shirts printed and given to those who were first to register, courtesy of African Threads. Initial registration at O.G.’s Sports Club on Friday evening saw over half of those T-shirts disappear in less than 3 hours. We were all impressed (and relieved) with the number and diversity of people who had pre-registered, but how many more would skip their Saturday sleep-in and join us at Mukuvisi Woodlands to exercise for our elephants?

Volunteers from left to right - Jane Mackie, Mel Barnes, Gemma Phillis, Laura Taylor, Farai Chapoterera and Beth-Ann Sher

Laura and I pulled into the Mukuvisi nature reserve shortly after the gates opened on Saturday morning and met with our fellow volunteers. A fresh breeze promised to take the edge off another dry, sunny day in the bush. Laura and Rick buzzed around ensuring the final preparations were in place, Mel marched off to signpost the route and marshal the field, Warwick and Tracy prepared the PA and sound systems from the tent, Richard practised his speech, while Gemma, Farai, Jane, Cecilia and I gathered around the registration point with clipboards, forms, pens, swipe machines and coffees at the ready. At 6.30am we had our first Eager Ellies registering and congregating by the starting point. Some people decided to beat the heat or appease their excitable dogs and made an early start. After half an hour of pens, paper, T-shirts and cash flying, we worked out a system for organising and registering the oncoming rush of faces old and young, familiar and new. By 7.30am we were sorry to inform people that we had run out of T-shirts. In a true spirit of generosity, someone graciously exclaimed, ‘That’s super! It means you’ve had even more support than you were expecting!’ As the 8.00am start time grew near we could hear the festivities beginning over in the marquee and still the support kept coming.

“Our truly collaborative Mukuvisi March for Elephants has definitely made some noise that is being heard by those with a less keen sense of hearing. ”

When the elephant trumpet sounded nearly 500 people stormed the start line along with their dogs, prams, kids’ bikes, flags and water bottles. Gemma, Jane and Cecilia joined the herd while Farai and I stayed behind to register the last few stragglers. Bringing up the rear, we eventually made our way through the bush, passing many hot and smiling people returning from their walk or run. Opting for a steady stroll, we wound our way through shady canopies of indigenous woodland and couldn’t help commenting on what makes this country so special. From Arnold at Zimbarista providing the early morning caffeine and refreshing smoothies, to Mukuvisi’s team tirelessly serving up egg and bacon rolls, to the event organisers, sponsors and volunteers, to the hundreds of participants giving their support, we showcased the great importance of these magnificent elephants in our country.

Zimbabwe is home to the second largest elephant population in the world, but due to poverty, corruption and uncertain governance that has paralysed this country over recent years, it have seen numbers severely diminish from 14,000 (2001) to 3,400 (2014) in the Mid-Zambezi landscape alone. However, the strength and resilience of these animals is mirrored by our own determined efforts, which have seen poaching incidents decrease from 100 in 2016 to just 8 known cases across the middle and lower Zambezi this year. Our truly collaborative Mukuvisi March for Elephants has definitely made some noise that is being heard by those with a less keen sense of hearing.

Beth-Ann Sher

Mukuvisi March for Elephants Volunteer

November 2018

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Run/walk for Zimbabwe's elephants in New York City.

 Registration is now open.

We are pleased to announce that registration has now opened for the annual Saving the Elephants 10km Run/Walk in New York on Saturday, November 17th. 

Benefitting the Zambezi Elephant Fund, you can run, jog or walk your way around beautiful Central Park as we unite together to help keep the hope for Zimbabwe’s elephants alive. 

This promises to be a unique and enriching experience for the entire family and we hope to see you there.

Sign up to become a fundraiser and have the chance to win a once-in-lifetime safari to some of Zimbabwe’s top wildlife destinations.

Zambezi Elephant Fund is leading the charge in the fight to save elephants and we need your help in raising $150,000 towards our budget for 2019.

These funds will go directly towards sustainable community development and the continued support for anti-poaching operations of rangers in the ZambeziValley.

Here are the projects we are currently focusing on and need your help in supporting:

• Community welfare project
• Patrolling from the rivers and the skies
• Patrol equipment and infrastructure
• Community-driven informer project

If you are not based in New York and would like to help us spread the word about the Saving the Elephants 10km Run/Walk please kindly forward this link onto your friends and colleagues.