About Us
History of Friends of Hwange
Friends of Hwange was formed on the back of the extreme drought of 2004 that severely affected Hwange National Park. ZimParks, plagued by lack of funding and a decrease in tourist arrivals, did not have the resources to keep enough borehole pumps going. As a result, only a handful of waterholes contained any water and countless animals died
Mission Statement
- To develop and maintain water resources in Hwange National Park for the benefit of its wildlife, in collaboration with the Authorities responsible for the Park
- To develop and maintain opportunities for the conservation of natural resources in the Park both for its intrinsic value and for the enjoyment of future generations
Aims
- To ensure that FOH does everything in its power to prevent animal deaths owing to lack of water
- To maintain a situation where there are sufficient well-distributed waterholes that pump water through eco-friendly, cost-effective means
- To maintain fireguards and manage control burns
- To upkeep the road network in the park
- To preserve intact natural ecosystems
- To assist with Anti-poaching patrols
- To address Human-wildlife conflict mitigation
- To explore opportunities for community engagement and conservation education and awareness
If you can help us to continue reaching our aims click here
What we do
Hwange National Park has very little natural surface water during the dry months of the year (July to November). Most of the water has to be pumped from underground sources to surface pans so that the wildlife can survive.
FOH maintains the boreholes and water pumps for all of the pans covering a large section of the park in and around the Main Camp area. With advancements in solar technology, solar powered systems have proved extremely effective and have replaced the diesel engines and windmills that were used to pump water historically. They are ecofriendly and cost-effective. During the dry season (April – November) the demand for available surface water increases, mainly due to the natural migration and influx of elephants.
Activities within the park
Fire Management
Runaway Fire
Burning Firebreaks
Harrowing Firebreaks
Monitoring Bushfire
As well as water provision for wildlife, FOH has expanded its scope of activities to include:
- Annual clearance of firebreaks to prevent the spread of wildfires
- Assistance with a fire management plan
- Maintenance of access roads
- Antipoaching initiatives
- Human-wildlife conflict mitigation
- Engagement with communities living adjacent to the northern and eastern boundaries of Hwange National Park
- Habitat conservation
Road Maintenance
White Hills Road Before
White Hills Road in Progress
Tractor Grading
Dragging Roads
White Hills Road Completed March 2024
The People of Friends of Hwange
David Dell is the Chairman of the Trust and is responsible for most of the fund-raising. The additional five trustees are John Brebner, Stuart Danks, Beck Edwards, Ken Jenkins and Barry Wolhuter. The trustees work on a voluntary basis and are passionate about preserving Zimbabwe’s precious wildlife resources and natural ecosystems.
Jason Clarke Friend lives in Main Camp and together with a FOH work team numbering five, and the Hwange Main Camp Game Water team, Jason is responsible for managing and carrying out the day-to-day work in the park that includes water provisioning, necessary maintenance of equipment, road networks, fire management and maintenance of firebreaks. He undertakes animal rescue operations when called upon to do so.
Albert Paradzai has joined FOH to establish and manage a team of anti-poaching rangers. This anti-poaching unit undertakes snare sweeps and patrols on and around the north-eastern boundaries of the park. Additionally, Albert engages with the surrounding communities to promote education and conservation awareness, and to implement solutions that help mitigate Human Wildlife Conflict.
Carmen McGregor is responsible for managing the administration and logistics on the ground in Hwange. She produces regular detailed reports by documenting relevant information and assists with social media and fund-raising. Carmen also acts to back up both the FOH Game water and Anti-poaching teams. She collaborates closely with ZimParks as and when requested.
Paula Dell manages the finances, administration and budgeting.
