Iona National Park protects the northern reaches of the Namib Desert, which stretches across the Namibia/Angola border.

Iona forms the centrepiece of a contiguous 50,000 km² transfrontier conservation area consisting of – from south to north – Namibia’s Skeleton Coast National Park, Iona, and the Namib Partial Reserve.

Iona comprises just less than a third of this TFCA, and has enjoyed gazetted protection since 1937. It was designated a national park in 1964 during the colonial era, but opportunities for conservation and community development were curtailed by the conflicts which preceded and continued beyond Angola’s independence in 1975.

African Parks’ partnership with the government of Angola dates back to 2019, when African Parks was mandated to manage Iona and work towards biodiversity conservation and community development.

Iona remains a vital resource for both wildlife and local communities; achieving an equilibrium between these parallel priorities remains the partnership’s most important goal.

Wildlife numbers are steadily increasing, with species such as Angolan giraffe having been reintroduced as part of a phased plan to restore Iona’s original biodiversity.

Iona’s potential for adventure ecotourism is undeniable; ongoing infrastructure projects promise to unlock this potential and create one of southern Africa’s most alluring wilderness destinations.