The conservation area in which Matesi is set incorporates Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park in the south and Botswana's Chobe wilderness area to the west. It forms the single biggest rangeland for Africa's surviving herds of elephants, and is a rarity in that it is an open wildlife system rather than the more common pockets of fenced-off protected wilderness.

Matetsi Game Lodges are located in the heart of one of the world's prime wildlife and natural heritage areas and is well positioned to explore the Victoria Falls area. An upland plateau of some 1 000 metres above sea level dominates the immediate vicinity. This plateau is bisected by the Zambezi River, which forms the northern boundary of the reserve, and Zimbabwe's border with Zambia.

Kudu, impala, warthog, buffalo and African elephant are the most conspicuous mammals. The conservation area in which Matetsi is set forms the single biggest rangeland for Africa's surviving elephants.

When the marshes or vleis around Matetsi are dry, they attract a variety of grazing animals such as sable antelope, topi (tsessebe), reedbuck and the ubiquitous African elephant and buffalo. Warthog and baboon are also found here. Large herbivores occurring in the woodlands include the rare roan antelope, sable antelope, Burchell's zebra and the nocturnal aardvark and aardwolf. Lion, spotted hyena, leopard and cheetah, and occasionally wild dog, find conditions along river valleys to their liking. The almost completely nocturnal caracal, serval and African wild cat may be spotted at Matetsi. The Cape clawless otter feed on the abundant fish in the Zambezi.
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African Fish Eagle, African Darter, Pied Kingfisher and African Finfoot are just some of the fish-eating birds of the Zambezi River. No African waterway is complete without the majestic African Fish Eagle, perched on the tops of tall trees and keeping a watch for fish breaking the water surface. This eagle's well-known and evocative cry is often made in duet by a pair, with the male having a slightly higher-pitched voice.

Where shelves of rock interrupt the Zambezi's flow, small rapids exist and these are favoured sites for birds such as Greenbacked Heron, Rock Pratincole and Pied Wagtail. Various small islands in the Zambezi River support Schalow's Lourie and Pel's Fishing Owl.

Birds around Matetsi Water Lodge include Bluegrey Flycatcher, Eastern Bearded Robin, Crested Barbet, Blue Waxbill, Blackeyed Bulbul and Yellowbellied Bulbul.
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The Zambezi is home to the largest and most dangerous of African reptiles - the Nile Crocodile. It has an awesome reputation as a powerful killer and its diet includes large mammals. Less well-known is the crocodile's tender parental care. Once the eggs have hatched and the tiny, finger-sized young emerge, they begin yelping and the caring mother carefully takes each one into her mouth. Packed into their mother's gular pouch, the youngsters are safe until she releases them at the water's edge.

Some 80 species of fish can be found in the Upper Zambezi, and a good proportion of these occur at Matetsi. Among the more significant are the Tigerfish, Sharptoothed Catfish (Barbel), Upper Zambezi Yellowfish and Redbreasted Tilapia. This diverse fish population feeds upon algae, detritus, invertebrates, and each other, and is a major component of the aquatic food chain.

Frogs are especially common on the floodplain, with the Plain Grass Frog, Guttural Toad and Painted Reed Frog among the most abundant.

Matetsi Water Lodge is sheltered by huge, water-loving trees like the Zambezi Waterberry and shrubby Wild Willow, River Bean and Barotse Croton. A little further out grow Sausage Trees, Jackalberry, African Mangosteen and Bird Plum. Among the many interesting aquatic plants are the floating Zambezi Pondweed, Water Gentian, Water Chestnut, and the invasive Kariba Weed - an alien, mat-forming fern. At the water's edge, stands of Phragmites Reed and Papyrus are conspicuous. The low-lying flats adjacent to the Zambezi River are covered in short grass for most of the year.

Still further out on alluvial soils, the Rain Tree, Leadwood, Knob Thorn and Floodplain Acacia are dominant. Scrambling plants such as Grape Strychnos, Woolly Caperbush and Shavingbrush Combretum abound.

The Zambezi Teak is the dominant tree in the woodlands. Msasa, Mufuti, Machibi, Munondo, White Syringa, Manketti, Peelingbark Ochna and Kalahari Podberry are also conspicuous.

Habitats include Kalahari (or teak) woodland, Mopane woodland, or scrub and riverine woodland and thickets. The southern parts of Matetsi are characterised by deep sands typical of the Kalahari and support extensive teak woodlands. Mopane woodland grows on the poorly drained basalt-derived soils. Areas of mixed bushveld and dense thickets are also to be found. The Zambezi River itself is fringed with tall evergreen trees. A number of seasonal marshes add to the habitat diversity.

After a 70-year history of exhaustive exploitation in the area - varying from teak logging and cattle ranching to trophy hunting - it is truly remarkable what CC Africa's presence at Matetsi has achieved in just four short years.