Friends of Hwange (FOH) is a locally registered NGO that is totally reliant on donor funds to exist.

History of Friends of Hwange

Friends of Hwange was formed on the back of the extreme drought of 2005 that severely affected Hwange National Park. The National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority of Zimbabwe, 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.

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.

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 access roads in the park
  • To maintain and upkeep the road network
  • To assist with all conservation initiatives

Wildlife: a Precious Resource

Hwange National Park is one of Zimbabwe’s most valuable resources. The tourist industry relies heavily on wildlife as a major attraction and revenue earner and provides employment opportunities for local communities.

Preserving a vast natural habitat for wildlife to exist and thrive is priceless. An ever increasing human population is threatening encroachment into natural ecosystems diminishing space for wild animals to exist. To promote their survival, the national park must have an economic value.

What We Do

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.  During the dry season (April – November) the demand for available surface water increases, mainly due to the natural migration and influx of elephants. Solar systems provide sufficient water using eco-friendly, cost effective energy.

In more recent years, as well as water provision for wildlife, FOH has expanded its scope of activities to include:

  • Annual clearance of firebreaks. Initially the area is cleared of rocks, fallen trees, dead wood and general overgrowth after which it is harrowed using a tractor and disc harrow and finally controlled burns take place. There is a limited window of time within which fire guards can be established – too early and the grass is too green and won’t burn, too late and fierce winds and tinder-dry vegetation pose too great a threat of runaway fires.
  • Maintenance of access roads.
  • Upkeep of picnic sites to promote ecotourism.

The People of Friends of Hwange

Dave Dell is the Chairman of the Trust and is responsible for most of the fund-raising. The other trustees are John Brebner, Ken Jenkins, Stuart Danks, Beck Edwards and Barry Wolhuter.

Jason Clarke Friend lives in Main Camp and together with the FOH work team, and Hwange Main Camp Game Water team, carries out the day-to-day work in the park.

The trustees work on a voluntary basis, and are passionate about preserving Zimbabwe’s most precious resources for future generations.