LoleLunga Game Ranch

History was made in 2024 when five cheetahs were reintroduced to Zambia’s 30,000-hectare LoleLunga Game Ranch—donated by Dinokeng and Kuzuko Game Reserves. This landmark translocation marks Zambia’s first successful reintroduction of cheetahs into a fenced reserve, setting the stage for the recovery of Africa’s most endangered big cat in Zambia.

Once a barren landscape, LoleLunga has undergone a remarkable transformation. With the support of the local community and Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife, it has seen social, environmental, and economic upliftment in recent years.. Former wildlife poachers now serve as rangers. Over 50 boreholes provide clean water. Five rural clinics receive medical supplies, and two new secondary schools stand as beacons of hope in nearby communities.

Scientifically assessed by The Metapopulation Initiative (TMI) for its suitability, LoleLunga offers a safe, ecologically rich habitat for cheetahs and a host of other wildlife—some reintroduced, others returning naturally. Species like elephants, hyenas, sitatunga, and Defassa waterbuck now roam where once there was silence.

This reserve is more than a wildlife sanctuary—it’s also a model for responsible tourism and conservation-led development. A five-star safari lodge overlooks the Lunga River, offering visitors the chance to witness tiger fish darting through clear waters and Narina Trogons soaring overhead. A new aerodrome and improved roads ensure easy access to Zambia’s Miombo woodlands and dambos.

Cheetahs once roamed all ten of Zambia’s provinces before colonial-era declines left fewer than 100 individuals in just two remnant populations. With LoleLunga now serving as a fenced stronghold, the long-term goal is to establish a stable, breeding population—and eventually a source for future reintroductions across the region.