Zimbabwe pitches forests for ecotourism deals

A massive land play just got tossed to investors, as Zimbabwe’s forest authority is basically saying come build money-making eco empires on prime wilderness.

Forest investment pitch across Zimbabwe

• The Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe rolled out a deal-book targeting global and local capital.
• That document dangles timber, eco-lodges, and hybrid real-estate plays near Victoria Falls, Lake Kariba, and Harare.
• Private-sector players are being courted under ESG-aligned, investor-friendly setups.
• Zimbabwe’s Special Economic Zone rules are baked into the pitch.

Ten-asset portfolio breakdown

• The Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe stacked 10 named sites into one mega portfolio.
• Among them are Sijarira Forest, Gwaai Forest, and Mvutu Forest.
• Chirinda Rainforest in Chipinge and Foresthill hardwood project also made the cut.
• Orange Grove Business Park in Harare anchors the urban angle.

Scale and existing infrastructure

• Roughly 150000 hectares of indigenous land sit inside the offering.
• Several parcels already feature lodges, airstrips, and timber-processing facilities.
• Recurring revenue is the stated goal behind packaging these estates.
• Zimbabwe’s investment-promotion frameworks are positioned as leverage.

Gwaai Forest as flagship asset

• The Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe spotlights Gwaai Forest as its crown jewel.
• Covering about 66000 hectares, it ranks the largest in the lineup.
• Wildlife there spans elephant, sable, zebra, and wildebeest.
• Located roughly 83 km from Bulawayo, it remains largely untouched.

Gwaai development blueprint

• Four-track planning drives Gwaai’s roadmap, mixing protection and profit.
• Boundary security and community buy-in top the priority list.
• Selective timber cutting and safari corridors form the revenue spine.
• Graded roads, ranger posts, and limited visitor facilities are slated for phased rollout.

Orange Grove low-carbon revamp

• The Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe is pitching a 32-hectare rethink of its Harare headquarters.
• Joint-venture and long-term lease structures frame the Orange Grove Business Park plan.
• Low-carbon design is marketed as the site’s headline draw.
• Harare’s flagship green-campus concept sits inside the broader forest portfolio.