Greetings from a wet, green Hwange National Park.
Happily, the rains during January and February and March 2023 have been prolific resulting in lush, thick vegetation and very tall grass. The rain has eased off now, but conditions remain somewhat soggy although daytime temperatures are hot! Repairs to road damage have been necessary in places as heavy rains coupled with vehicle traffic quickly destroys them. Additional drains to remove standing water and puddles have been cut
The Main Camp water supply has been sporadic and unreliable for years. Recently the situation became untenable with visitors being refused entry to Main Camp accommodation for hygienic reasons due to lack of water. It was a disaster! A solution had to be found.
A borehole yielding plentiful water was drilled early in the year thanks to assistance with funds from Hwange Conservation Society UK.
A new solar array has been erected, a water pump installed, and a trench dug for the piping. Several large water storage tanks have been placed strategically around the camp.
All that remains is for the water to be connected to the Main Camp reticulation system. This water system will supply the Park’s Main Camp staff, all visitors to Main Camp, the restaurant, the shop, and the fuel station. Grateful thanks must be extended to The EverEden Foundation and Wildlife Environment Zimbabwe (WEZ Matabeleland Branch) for their assistance in funding this huge project that would otherwise have been impossible.
A new platform has been built at Kennedy 2 Pan and includes necessary baboon proofing. The platform was organised by WEZ Matabeleland funded by Trish Tunmer on behalf of the Tunmer family of Harare in memory of Mark Tunmer, an ardent conservationist and lover of Hwange National Park. The platform will be a lovely stopping off point for safari-goers. There are plans to include a new trough to serve the wildlife which should also provide some wonderful photo opportunities.
Maintenance work to the platform at Makwa Pan has included baboon proofing. Large troops of these fascinating primates enjoy the vantage point so obligingly provided, but they leave the place in unpleasant disarray! Plans to divert the water to provide a continuous supply to the ablutions Makwa are afoot and should be completed soon.
Despite the hazards and dangers posed by rain and extremely dense vegetation, the DART Anti-poaching Team has carried out daily anti-poaching patrols. Long range vehicle deployments along the 20km stretch of National Park Boundary from the DART APU Base Camp to Chokamela ferry the Anti-poaching Team to various locations from where they walk back to Base Camp looking for snares and signs of other illicit poaching activities. These include illegal cattle grazing and wood cutting as well as animal poachers. Transgressors are arrested, photographed, warned and cautioned. Repeat offenders are prosecuted. The boundary track is in terrible condition and almost impassable in places. The DART Team repairs the road and regularly clears elephant damaged and fallen trees.
Both natural and pumped pans are all holding very good water. The vlei line through Balla Balla, Tshebe Tshebe, Kaoshe, Garakamwe and Mbuya Mabema all the way to White Hills is completely full which bodes well for the dry season ahead. Guvalala, Nyamandlovhu, Dom, Livingi, Sinanga, the Kennedys and Ngweshla are all full to overflowing. The Mangas, Jambile, Dopi and Caterpillar are also all wonderfully full, and Mbiza is exceptional.
On a happy note, we are lucky enough to have for sale a lovely piece of art (700mm x 540mm) depicting Cecil the Lion by talented, young Bulawayo artist Simon Phiri. Many thanks to Liam Hamilton-Potts for this special donation and for his staunch support spanning many years.
The work has been kindly framed pro bono by Fred and Harriet Knott of Wechi framing.
Please email Dave Dell to register a bid:
Friends of Hwange is dependent on the goodwill of benefactors and nature lovers to accomplish the work we do. We appreciate that funds have become tight for many people post Covid and are extremely indebted to those that send regular donations regardless. Every dollar really does help to make a difference.
Friends of Hwange works in close collaboration with ZimParks.
