Zambezi Working Donkey Project

07/08/2026

Meet Ngunduzani 🫏💙

Ngunduzani came to us late last year after suffering a severe injury to his hind leg. The damage left him with a dislocated hip and significant loss of muscle tissue.

Due to the extent of the damage, we made the decision to retire him permanently at Maramba Farm, where he could receive the care and comfort he deserves.

Today, Ngunduzani spends his days grazing with the rescue herd and enjoying a slower pace of life. He's a very handsome donkey with a gentle nature and a curious personality. If you stop by to say hello, he'll usually have a little sniff first before deciding whether to come over for a visit!

30/07/2026

As part of our expanding education programme, made possible through the support of , we are excited to announce the launch of our Community Livestock Officers (CLOs) Programme. 🎉

Throughout July, we met with communities where we have built strong relationships over many years to introduce this new initiative.

Community Livestock Officers are trusted members of their communities who act as local animal welfare champions. They help educate fellow owners, identify welfare concerns between our visits, and provide ongoing support to improve donkey welfare at a community level.

We are excited to move this programme forward and work alongside our CLOs to create lasting change for working donkeys and the communities that rely on them. 💙🐴

21/07/2026

Did you know that community members can visit our workshop to collect new or replacement harnesses for their working donkeys?

Providing access to comfortable, well-designed harnesses is an important part of improving donkey welfare, but it's also about encouraging owners to take an active role in caring for the animals they rely on every day.

Today, we were pleased to provide a community member with a new pair of harnesses, helping keep their donkeys working comfortably and safely. Thank you to our partners Animal Aid Abroad for your continuous support in making this possible!

Every harness makes a difference. 🫏💙

17/07/2026

Our team recently visited Wiketo Village to replace worn harnesses, provide new humane harness fittings, and share practical animal welfare advice with donkey owners.

Thanks to the generous support of Animal Aid Abroad, we're able to provide comfortable harnesses and cart modifications that improve the welfare of working donkeys while supporting the families who depend on them. ❤️

We also met one of the tiniest donkey foals we've ever seen! 🫏 During our visit, we spoke with the owner about giving both mother and foal plenty of rest. Young foals can't keep up with adult working donkeys, and nursing mothers need time to recover and care for their babies, giving them the healthiest possible start.

Every visit helps improve donkey welfare, one community at a time. 💙

14/07/2026

13/07/2026

🦉 We have some new residents at Maramba Farm!

A Spotted Eagle-Owl mum and her two fluffy chicks have made a home in a tree near our Visitor Centre, and they've quickly become a daily highlight.

We're so happy to provide a safe place for them to grow. If you visit us, keep an eye on the trees; you might spot our newest feathered neighbours! 🌿💚

10/07/2026

A huge thank you to the Minor Hotels team for spending Founder's Day with us at Maramba Farm and for their generous donation of retired hotel linens. 💙

These linens will be given a new lease of life as padding for our humane donkey harnesses, helping to reduce injuries and improve the welfare of working donkeys across our communities.

Thank you for your partnership and for helping us create a kinder future for working donkeys. 🫏♻️

03/07/2026

It’s Friday! Happy Friday to everyone from our little foal Princess Sofia!

30/06/2026

Maramba Farm has been extra colourful lately as our rescue donkeys show off their new colour-coded identification collars! 🌈

These collars help our team quickly identify each donkey and their individual needs, making daily care even more effective for our rescues.

And Becky? She seems very proud of her new look… or maybe she just wanted to make sure everyone read the sign! 😂💚

Come and meet Becky and the rest of our rescues at our Visitor Centre — plan your farm visit today!

27/06/2026

Building stronger communities for better animal welfare 🫏

Last week, ZWDP met with 25 traditional leaders in Katapazi Village to discuss animal welfare needs and the provisions of the Animal Health Act. Through open discussions and collaboration, village headpersons pledged their support in helping mobilise communities for mobile clinics, sensitisation meetings, and greater awareness around animal abuse and neglect.

These partnerships with community leaders are an important step toward improving the humane treatment of working animals, especially donkeys, across the region.

A huge thank you to Worldwide Veterinary Service - WVS for supporting this important work and helping us create lasting change for both animals and the communities who depend on them. 💙