Zimbabwe Fail to Disclose Illegitimate Developments within Victoria Falls World Heritage Site to UNESCO

Keep Victoria Falls Wild, 27th January 2026.

 As with other recent reports the new 2025 Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya State of Conservation Report fails to disclose recent developments which have already been agreed, constructed or implemented within the south-bank section of the WHS, including the significant redevelopment of the Wild Horizons Lookout Cafe, launch of an Abseil activity within the Rainforest, tours to Cataract Island (launched by Zambezi Crescent in 2022), the development of the Baines Restaurant (opened in mid-2023), the rapidly expanding National Park Rock Pool development, the proposed Six Senses riverside lodge development, the recent redevelopment of the Zambezi National Park lodges and take-over by Zambezi Crescent (rebranded as the Malachite Suites), significant expansion of the Zambezi Crescent operated upstream Victoria Falls River Lodge since it was first established and proposed development neighbouring of Kandahar Camp - all of which have yet to be formally disclosed by the State Parties. All these developments are located within the World Heritage Site 'Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone' (HESZ) which prevents all new infrastructure developments (with the exception of infrastructure essential to the management of the site).

It should be noted that the Committee’s 2024  request specifically included reference tourism developments within the Zimbabwean area of the WHS HESZ - the Baines Restaurant and launch of tours to Cataract Island (and for which an ESIA had already been explicitly requested by the Committee (World Heritage Committee, 2017)).

“Requests the States Parties to provide information on all developments proposed in the Property, its Buffer Zone, and wider setting, including on a permit for two commercial tourism development sites within the Zimbabwean component of the property recognised as highly sensitive zones according to the previous J.I.M.P.” (World Heritage Committee, 2024)

Instead of disclosing the extent of this wave of illegitimate development within the WHS HESZ the State Parties have decided to yet again to keep UNESCO and the World Heritage Committee in the dark and simply report that there have been no 'new' development proposals. 

The controversial Baines Restaurant development overlooking the river immediately above the Victoria Falls. The Restaurant is located within the World Heritage Site Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone which prevents all new infrastructure developments (with the exception of infrastructure essential to the management of the site).

The Report also fails to disclose developments within the Buffer Zone which supposedly surrounds the World Heritage Site. Recent developments within this area include the construction of the new Zambezi Helipad overlooking the gorges downstream of the Falls and development of the upstream Big Tree Curio Market area, together with the proposed Victoria Falls Resort riverside development, the mysterious Stand 1815 development (land sold by Council for development in 2024, development not identified in Council Master Plan) and the significant Masuwe Development Zone proposal (all on the south bank). There are also concerns over several tourism development sites identified in the 2024 Victoria Falls City Council Master Plan (Victoria Falls City Council, 2024) and identified under the 1975 Outline Plan as ‘restricted permanently’ from all new development (Rhodesia Ministry of Local Government and Housing, 1975).

See also: Zambia and Zimbabwe Present Incomplete Joint Management Plan for Victoria Falls World Heritage Site - https://vicfallsbitsnblogs.blogspot.com/2026/01/zambia-and-zimbabwe-present-updated.html

Read more on our reaction to the new 2025 Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya State of Conservation Report  and Draft 2025-230 Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya Joint Integrated Management Plan on our website, together with full background details on all these controversial developments - https://www.keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/victoriafalls/2025jointplan.html

#KeepVictoriaFallsWild #UNESCO #WorldHeritage