Conservation & Community

Explore some of the initiatives making a difference at The Hide and in the communities around us…

Our Impact

Where does our work create change?

Being part of Hwange means being part of something much bigger than The Hide itself. The wildlife, landscapes and communities around us are all connected and over the years this has shaped many of the choices we make about how we operate.

As a member of The Long Run, we look at our impact through four interconnected areas: Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce. Rather than making broad promises about sustainability, we believe it is more useful to share what we are actually doing… what is working, what we are learning and where there is still more work to do.

Here are some of the ways that work comes to life at The Hide…

Reducing and managing our waste
Every day, waste generated at The Hide is sorted, weighed and recorded, giving us information we can use to understand where waste is coming from and where we can reduce, reuse or recycle more effectively.Food waste is composted on site, including through our worm farm, and the resulting compost is used in our vegetable and herb garden. We are also working to reduce the amount of plastic we use and increase the amount we recover and recycle. Refillable glass water bottles are provided for guests throughout their stay, helping us reduce reliance on single-use drinking-water bottles.We are now using the environmental data collected between 2024 and 2026 to establish a clear baseline from which we can set and measure future reduction targets.
Giving glass another use
Glass used at The Hide is collected and crushed rather than discarded. Some of the crushed glass is already being incorporated into building and maintenance materials around camp.The next stage of the project is a dedicated glass shed, where the aim is to explore making beads and other items from recovered glass. We hope this may eventually create an employment opportunity for someone from the local community and give guests of all ages the chance to see and perhaps take part in the process.
Growing closer to home
The Hide has a small vegetable and herb garden in camp, supplying some fresh produce to the kitchen when conditions allow.Growing food alongside wildlife has its challenges – monkeys and hornbills are enthusiastic visitors – and the garden is not able to supply all of the camp's needs. We are continuing to explore ways of making it more productive, while continuing to source fresh produce locally where possible.
Understanding our energy use
The camp has been recording its energy and fuel use over the past three years, giving us a clearer picture of where and how energy is being used and where reductions can be made. Solar energy is already used for water heating in some back-of-house areas, including the laundry and staff accommodation, while The Hide's Harare office has used solar electricity since 2019.We will continue to measure the camp’s energy and fuel consumption and identify practical opportunities to reduce generator and grid reliance and increase the use of renewable electricity.
Growing indigenous trees
More than 1,000 indigenous trees are currently being grown by The Hide guides in the camp’s tree nursery. As the trees become established, many are planted within the camp boundary and guests are invited to participate in tree planting if they wish. Our longer-term ambition is to extend the planting programme further afield, including within the guides' own home communities nearby.
Reusable sanitary pads = more days at school
Through The Hide Community Trust, local women and girls have been trained to sew reusable sanitary pads, with 502 pads made and 422 distributed to date (as at August 2026).Pads have been provided to girls at Dete Secondary School, as well as young women and girls elsewhere in the community, including those living with disabilities and vulnerable students supported through CAMFED.Feedback from the school tells us that the impact goes beyond meeting a practical need. Teachers have reported improved attendance and greater confidence among girls participating in sport and everyday school life during menstruation.
Taking the classroom to Hwange
Each year, The Hide works with local schools to give children the opportunity to experience Hwange and its wildlife for themselves through game drives.We hope to continue the programme, helping young people living alongside Hwange National Park to experience, understand and connect with the wildlife and landscapes on their doorstep.
Supporting students
Through the generosity of The Hide’s guests, two students at Dete Secondary School are currently being sponsored, helping to support their education while keeping them close to home.Previous guest sponsorship has also shown where an opportunity like this can lead. Former sponsored student, Forgett Ncube, went on to join The Hide team and has since progressed to become a learner guide.
Conservation has always been part of our story
The Hide is a founding member of the Conservation & Wildlife Fund (CWF), established to support collaborative conservation across the wider Hwange landscape. We continue to support conservation work alongside CWF, as well as Friends of Hwange and other partners working to protect the wildlife and ecosystems on which this special place depends.Our guides and guests also contribute observations from the field, helping connect everyday safari experiences with a deeper understanding of the landscape and the wildlife within it.