Rebuilding hope in Kasungu after fire destroys ranger base

The blaze begins 

For Bamusi, who joined the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) in 2018, Dwangwa wasn’t just a base—it was a home filled with memories. The first whiff of smoke came without warning. “My colleague, Justin Mkute, smelled it first and called out. We both sprang into action,” he says. 

With no time to wait for help, the two battled the inferno alone for over an hour, salvaging a handful of essentials such as uniforms, tents, and patrol rifles. When the flames finally subsided, little remained but ash and charred earth. 

The refurbished camp now includes upgraded ranger houses, clean water infrastructure, bathrooms, and a new control room for coordinated response. With space for 18 rangers, it has been reborn as a Rapid Response Unit, ready to protect wildlife across the park’s challenging terrain. 

“Rangers are our frontline heroes,” Ndadzela adds. “Through our Room to Roam initiative, we’re ensuring they have the resources, shelter, and support needed to defend the landscapes where elephants and other wildlife can move safely and thrive.” 

A new era for Kasungu 

For ranger General Mwale, who has served since 2011, the impact is tangible. “This park is a national treasure,” he says. “With IFAW’s support, we feel empowered and motivated to keep poachers away.” 

Over the past decade, IFAW’s partnership has helped equip Kasungu’s rangers with vehicles, uniforms, training, and food rations—tools that have dramatically boosted morale and effectiveness. 

The results are visible. Poaching incidents have dropped sharply, and wildlife numbers—from elephants to buffalo, zebras, and kudu—are climbing once again. 

“Kasungu is coming back to life,” says Ndadzela. “It’s a living example of how Room to Roam works—by connecting landscapes, empowering people, and giving both wildlife and communities a fighting chance for the future.”