Vast Natural ‘Water Tower’ Gains Global Protection Status

Angola secured international protection for a 53,000 km² highland wetland in 2025, safeguarding a vital water source that feeds major African river systems and sustains rare wildlife and communities.

“It’s like a hidden world,” said Kerllen Costa, Angolan director for the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project.

The newly recognised wetlands store rainfall across lakes, marshes, and peatlands, releasing water into rivers such as the Okavango and Zambezi. Researchers have documented nearly 150 previously unknown species, while camera surveys have confirmed thriving populations of lions, leopards, and cheetahs. The ecosystem, preserved through Indigenous stewardship and limited development, now receives international conservation support to protect biodiversity, water security, and climate resilience across southern Africa.