Angola and Botswana Unite to Unlock KAZA Tourism Potential
Angolan President João Lourenço has reaffirmed his country's commitment to tourism development within the Okavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), calling for the ratification of the KAZA treaty during a bilateral meeting with Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko in Luanda on 8 September 2026. Lourenço highlighted Angola's plans to establish Cuando province as the central hub of Angolan ecotourism under the KAZA framework, connecting the country's wildlife corridors to established tourist circuits in Botswana and other member states. He also pointed to the inaugural Angolan Okavango Region Forum as a catalyst for the construction of the country's first commercial tourist accommodations in the basin.
The Okavango Delta's UNESCO World Heritage Site status was cited as a significant driver of international interest, with Lourenço stressing the need for joint state action to protect and leverage the designation. Lourenço also identified investment opportunities for Botswana's private sector in the region's emerging tourism infrastructure. The state visit, which included discussions on mining, agriculture, energy and healthcare cooperation, reflects the broader strategic partnership between the two southern African nations, underpinned by structured consultations at presidential, ministerial and technical levels.
Source: All Africa
