Save Valley Conservancy - K9 Unit

Save Valley Conservancy is one of the largest private reserves in southern Africa. Here, rangers work tirelessly to protect wildlife—especially rhinos—from poachers. A vital part of this effort is the K9 Unit, led by Bryce Clemence: a team of Belgian Malinois trained to track and apprehend poachers.

The work is extremely demanding. Rangers and dogs live and train together, often under the most basic conditions in the bush. They form a unit that functions only through trust, discipline, and unwavering commitment.

During my stay, I witnessed the work of this unit up close. In an impressive demonstration, a ranger showed how the dog picked up the trail of a “poacher” and pursued it with incredible speed and precision.

It was fascinating to see how closely dog and handler communicate—how instinctively they respond to one another, and how their bond creates an effectiveness that is essential for protecting rhinos.

The K9 Unit is independent and led by Bryce Clemence, but it maintains a close connection with AWARE Trust Zimbabwe. AWARE has trained rangers in handling the dogs and optimizing their effectiveness. In this way, knowledge is shared, and other reserves such as Chipinge have been able to benefit.

A particularly moving moment for me was the encounter with a tiny puppy, just a few weeks old, who was placed on my lap during the visit. Today I can say that I have adopted this very dog. He bears the name Nougat, in memory of our late family dog.

It fills me with joy and gratitude to support the rangers’ work through this adoption—and to make a personal contribution to the protection of rhinos.

The K9 Unit in Save Valley shows how innovative and effective conservation can be when humans and animals act together as one. It stands for dedication, resilience, and hope—and proves that personal commitment, whether through training, support, or donations, can truly make a difference.