Wild Horizons & Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust

Harnessing Biogas Technology to Combat Deforestation & Promote Renewable Energy

Victoria Falls lies within the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), the world's largest transboundary conservation landscape, spanning five nations where 2.7 million people share space with elephants, predators, and rhino. In this setting, most households still rely on wood for cooking, a practice that accelerates deforestation, drives smoke-related illness, and increases human-wildlife conflict as trees vanish from critical corridors.

To address these challenges, Wild Horizons and the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust (VFWT) have introduced biogas digesters to rural households. By converting a mix of water and domestic animal waste into clean, burnable gas, each digester provides enough energy to cook food for up to 20 people at a time. This practical technology reduces the need for firewood, preserves habitats, cuts harmful emissions, and offers a safe, dignified alternative for families.

About the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust (VFWT)

VFWT is a leading conservation and community-impact organisation based near Victoria Falls. Pairing cutting-edge wildlife forensics and animal rescue with rural sustainability initiatives, the Trust works to reduce pressure on ecosystems while supporting healthier, more resilient communities. Their household biogas scheme is just one example of how they combine scientific expertise with practical solutions to safeguard biodiversity and improve human wellbeing.

Go2Africa's Partnership With Wild Horizons & the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust

Go2Africa is proud to support VFWT's work through our biogas initiative. For every trip booked that includes a stay at one of our selected Victoria Falls partner lodges*, we contribute $10 toward the installation of biogas digesters in local communities. Our goal is to fund at least one new digester each month, a direct contribution to rural livelihoods, forest protection, and the integrity of KAZA's wildlife corridors.

Since the start of this partnership, Go2Africa funding has supported the installation of 29 biogas digesters, now serving 58 families (approximately 580 people). Together, these systems save an estimated 3,277 trees each year and reduce carbon emissions by 71.75 tonnes CO₂e annually. Beyond protecting forests, they also improve health outcomes by cutting smoke inhalation from open cooking fires and easing the daily burden of collecting firewood.

Looking ahead to 2026, with an indicative budget of US$80,000, we will work with VFWT to expand this impact, whether by scaling additional digesters or addressing other high-priority sustainability needs identified in the community. This collaboration enables us to regenerate natural capital, unlock economic opportunity, and strengthen climate resilience for people and ecosystems alike.