1902
Cecil John Rhodes dies and leaves Inyanga and Matopos as State Parks.
1928
Hwange (formerly Wankie) Game Reserve established, whose boundaries were “….from Gwaai Native Reserve at railway mile peg 1,470½ at Ngamo siding, north to mile peg 1540 and westward to the Bechuanaland Border”
1934
Gonarezhou National Park is established.
1939
Tom Farms, Game sanctuary owned by H. G. Robins bequeathed to the state and incorporated into Hwange National Park.
193*
Sinamatella Farms incorporated into Hwange National Park expanding lands mass to the current 14 651km2 .
1942
Natural Resources Board Established.
1949
National Parks Act. A legislative proclamation for establishing national parks declares Wankie Game Reserve, Robins Game Sanctuary, Kazuma Pan, and Chimanimani Mountains as National Parks.
1950
Ewanrigg Botanical Gardens bequeathed to the state by the late Basil Christian and management assumed by National Parks Department.
1952
Game Department Formed (Separate from National Parks Department) evolving into the Department of Wildlife Conservation in the 1960s – responsible for Operation Noah, problem animal control (quelea and elephants), game and fish surveys. This was the first department to recruit trained scientists into the field of conservation.
1955
Chinhoyi Caves declared National Park.
1956
Commercial Fishing Commences in Lake Chivero.
1958-63
Operation Noah – 4914 including 44 Black Rhino Animals rescued from drowning from the rising waters of Lake Kariba.
1958
Chizarira and Matusadonha National Parks proclaimed.
1959
Ecological Research on wildlife begins.
1960
By this time, there were 12 Square Units, under Thatch and 12 un- plastered rondavels (round hut) with asbestos roofs and two primitive ablution blocks for Tourists at Hwange Main Camp Tourist Rest Camp accommodating 48 Guests There was also a campsite which was an open ground and a primitive ablution. Robins Camp had similar facilities and 24 beds.
1960
First ever use of veterinary drugs to successfully capture and translocate Black Rhino.
1960
Archaeological Dig at Pomongwe Cave, Matopos National Park.
1962
Vumba Botanic Gardens Campsite Opens.
1962
Main Camp Primary School Established.
1962
Nyanga National Park administration offices constructed.
1963
Department of National Parks and Department of Wildlife Conservation merged to form the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management.
1963
Mana Pools, Matusadonha, Chete, Chewore, Lake Kariba.
1964
Sengwa Research Station established as temporary camp for game- tsetse research. – Warthogs were the primary host of Tsetse Fly in the area.
1964
Sinamatella Lodges construction begins.
1964-68
Tsetse Control Programme.
1964
Nyamepi Campsite, Mana Pools National park Established.
1964
Kyle Game Reserve Opens.
1965
6 Search and Reascue operations undertaken for missing persons on Mount Inyanyani.
1965
Guvalala Platform Hwange National Park Constructed2 .
1965
Kyle Recreational Park Lodges Constructed.
1966
Zambezi National Park Lodges Constructed.
1966
Chinhoyi Regional Offices constructed.
1968
Pit structure at Nyanga National Park restored.
1968
Ngezi Tourist accommodation lodges constructed.
1968
Malipati Safari Area, Manjinji pan, Mzingwane Dam proclaimed as Parks Area.
1968
Central Bookings Office established.
1968
Chizarira and Matusadonha National Parks proclaimed.
1969
Ecological Research on wildlife begins.
1969
Waterbucks Head Restaurant opens at Hwange Main Camp.
1970
Work starts on construction of Rhodes Nyanga Lodges.
1970
Swimuwini Rest Camp, Gonarezhou National Park Established.
1972
Umtshibi camp established in Hwange National Park.
1972
Matetsi Safari Area established.
1972
Nyamaneche Sanctuary established.
1972
Mana Pools and Chizarira National Parks Office Blocks and Laboratories completed.
1975
Commercial Kapenta fishing in Kariba begins..
1975
Parks and Wildife Act.
1975
Udu Dam Lodges opens.
1978
Foot and Mouth Disease buffalo herd established at Mushandike.
1981
Elephant Population reaches 50,000 despite culling exercises in 1966 and 1971.
1982
Marongora Game Scouts at Oliver Coltmans Fairwell