Angola
In Angola, our work is focused on the highlands around the village of Tempue in Moxico Province, an area known locally as Lisima lya Mwono, or “Source of Life.” This landscape forms the headwaters of the Okavango, Zambezi, and Congo River basins, making its protection vital for water security, biodiversity, and the people downstream.
The Lisima Foundation, part of the Wild Bird Trust family, leads conservation efforts here and locally implements the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project (NGOWP). We work closely with communities, governments, and regional partners to safeguard these highland ecosystems through sustainable land-use planning, ecological restoration, and locally driven conservation strategies.
Collaborations with the National Geographic Society and the Angolan government, supported by the De Beers Corporation through the Okavango Eternal Partnership, allow us to combine scientific research with Traditional Ecological Knowledge to protect the forests, wetlands, and miombo woodlands that feed the Delta.
Through Projecto Lisima, we empower local communities to lead conservation in their own landscape, ensuring that environmental protection supports livelihoods, cultural heritage, and the long-term sustainability of Southern Africa’s water systems.
the water tower of southern africa
An estimated 2.5 trillion gallons of water flow through the Okavango Basin each year—supporting over a million people and sustaining one of the world’s most important inland wetland ecosystems.
The Angolan Highlands Water Tower, located in southeastern Angola, is the primary source of this system. More than 95% of the water that reaches the Okavango Delta begins here, falling as rain over a vast landscape of source lakes, peatlands, rivers, and miombo woodlands.
Parts of this landscape have recently been designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, recognising its critical role in global water security, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.
Rivers such as the Cuito, Cuanavale, Cuando, and Lungue-Bungo carry this water southwards, feeding a complex network of wetlands, streams, and floodplains. This system regulates water flow across the entire basin, making it essential for both ecological health and human livelihoods downstream.
Protecting the Angolan Highlands Water Tower is therefore critical—not only for Angola, but for the future of the Okavango, Kwando, and Zambezi river systems as a whole.
Watch the video: Introducing the Angolan Highlands Water Tower, narrated by Dr Steve Boyes here
The health of this crucially important source of water for wildlife and people is dependent on a system of source lakes and rivers that originate in Angola — waters that currently have no official protections.
- Dr Steve Boyes
We are expanding our research to better understand the role of the Angolan Highlands Water Tower—not only in sustaining the Okavango Delta, but also in supporting the wider Zambezi Basin. This work contributes to a broader effort to understand how Southern Africa’s water towers function as critical sources of resilience in the face of climate change.
Importance of our work
From elephants to termites, every species plays a role in maintaining the health of the Okavango Basin. Protecting biodiversity at its source—in Angola’s highlands—is essential to sustaining ecosystems across the entire region.
BIODIVERSITY
The Okavango Basin is one of the most biodiverse regions in southern Africa. While much attention has focused on the Delta, research in Angola’s highlands is revealing equally important ecosystems upstream.
To date, NGOWP has documented over 50 species new to science, with many more potentially new, highlighting how much of this landscape remains unexplored and unprotected.
BIRDS
The Basin supports hundreds of bird species, including many that are globally threatened. Surveys continue to expand regional knowledge, including new country records, range extensions, and the identification of important breeding populations such as the vulnerable wattled crane.
MAMMALS
Camera trap surveys in Angola’s source lake regions have confirmed the presence of key species including lion, leopard, cheetah, and the critically endangered African wild dog—extending their known ranges significantly.
Evidence also suggests that elephants are returning to these upper catchments. Restoring safe habitats in Angola could help rebalance populations across the wider region and re-establish historic migration routes, while reducing ecological pressures in Botswana.
PLANTS & ECOSYSTEMS
Botanical surveys have uncovered numerous plant species new to science and revealed vast peatland systems around the source lakes. These peatlands act as natural sponges—storing water and carbon, regulating river flow, and helping ecosystems withstand drought.
PEOPLE & COMMUNITIES
The Okavango Basin supports over a million people across Angola, Namibia, and Botswana. In Angola, our work focuses on communities living around the source lakes, where sustainable livelihoods are essential to long-term conservation.
Through Projecto Lisima, we support community-led initiatives including regenerative agriculture, beekeeping, and natural resource management. Investments in social infrastructure, solar power, and local training help ensure that conservation delivers tangible benefits for people, while strengthening stewardship of the landscape.
our work
Our work explores and protects the incredible biodiversity of the Okavango River Basin, safeguarding ecosystems, wildlife, and the communities that depend on them. Your support helps our explorers save threatened species, restore fragile habitats, and empower local communities—all through rigorous research, independent science, and hands-on conservation.
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