Devastating drought conditions all through 2024 have meant we’ve faced another extremely tough year. There have been some low points, but there have also been many highs.
The decision to take on Jason Friend late last year as our FOH Operations manager to oversee work in the Park was an inspired choice. Jason has fostered excellent relations and communications with the ZimParks staff, with various operators and conservation organizations in and around the Park, and with the FOH team. He has worked hard to encourage additional financial support which has assisted with the upgrades of boreholes and solar pumps in a year they’ve been most needed.
The results are plain to see:
- At the start of 2024 work was undertaken to upgrade the roads which are showing steady improvement in and around the greater Main Camp area. This is set to continue through 2025.
- The firebreaks were better prepared this year than ever before with plans in the future to open up several old firebreaks that have become badly overgrown.
- The verges on the main road into HNP have been cleared and mowed which greatly improves visibility to safeguard both humans and wildlife.
- Our Main Camp Office base has been radically tidied up, the garden established and a cottage built to house Jason.
- Vehicles and implements have undergone extensive, essential maintenance including our two trusty older tractors that have both been overhauled.
- On the tourist front, the Guvalala and Makwa platforms have been re-furbished with upgraded ablutions, hot shower facilities and an enclosed space for overnight campers. Both platforms have been freshly re-painted.
Water Provision for Wildlife
Asides from the work mentioned above, our main focus remains centered around provision of adequate water for wildlife. This year efforts to keep up with high elephant pressure started as early as June. We were on the back foot from the start of the dry season because rainfall was not adequate to fill up the pans.
- 48 boreholes at 31 pumped pans have been constantly monitored and maintained all through the season.
- Ten new battery systems have been installed enabling night-time pumping to augment water supplies with 3 more battery installations planned in the coming weeks. These systems have proved highly successful as they enable elephants to drink at night when it’s cool, as is their historical preference, allowing other species a chance to snatch a drink during the day.
- Four boreholes have been flushed in efforts to improve their yield.
- At Kennedy 2 pan, that has long been of major concern, a new borehole has been successfully drilled. Whilst busy with this exercise, “The King” sauntered by to check up on things…….
Despite the ravaging drought and immense elephant pressure, water in the pans has held up reasonably well. However, with very little rainfall to date, many elephants have been unable to disperse from the pumped pans in search of adequate food. Temperatures are scorching placing great stress on animals that are already weak and malnourished. There has been an increase in elephant mortality over the past month, especially young animals, but as far as we can tell, nowhere near the numbers that were expected. This could easily change unless meaningful rain falls soon to kickstart the growth of grass and the flush of edible vegetation.
Sincere appreciation must go to Jason whose energy and passion have been uplifting and to both Forster Irrigation and Chombe Drilling for their assistance. The FOH and Main Camp Game Water teams must be commended for their steadfast commitment.
Steve Alexander and the FOH scout team have continued to deploy and patrol outside the boundaries of the Park investigating wildlife snaring, illegal wood cutting and infiltration of livestock. Inroads were made to protect the area outside the northern boundary close to Dete town – a hotspot for human wildlife conflict and poaching. Protecting the Park from human encroachment is key to safeguarding its wildlife habitat.
Steve’s knowledge, insight and experience over the past year have been invaluable and are very much appreciated. This work, and the facilities and provisioning to support it, were funded by the Bright Light Foundation, facilitated by Frank Zindel.
None of the work undertaken by FOH would be possible without the generosity of many donors.
- We pay tribute to the late Michael Maltas who left a substantial legacy to Friends of Hwange this year. Michael took great care to ensure this was handled correctly – he is sadly missed.
- We are hugely indebted to the Darcy and Robert Gillespie Charity Foundation that funded vehicles for both Jason and Steve’s work. The importance of these vehicles cannot be overemphasized – they are indispensable workhorses.
We acknowledge, with humble gratitude, all our supporters. Every contribution, no matter the amount, is guaranteed to help make a difference. We cannot list everyone, but special mention is made of the following for their outstanding donations.
Listed in alphabetical order:
- Alan and Patricia Koval Foundation
- Animal Survival International facilitated by Taryn Slabbert
- Biddulphs International facilitated by Andrew Gibbons
- Benoit Dupin
- Bright Light Foundation and Hornligrat Stifting facilitated by Frank Zindel
- Darcy and Robert Gillespie Charity Foundation
- Diana Sutter and associated friends
- Empowered by Light facilitated by Moira Hanes
- EverEden Foundation facilitated by Duncan Owen and Izelle le Roux-Owen
- Fuchs Lubricants
- Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa facilitated by Taryn Gillson
- Hwange Conservation Society, UK
- Intraf Services (Machinery Exchange) facilitated by Geoff Reilly
- Martin Strydom and Paul Turner
- Michael Maltas facilitated by Empowers Africa
- Pattee Foundation
- Saving Endangered Wildlife facilitated by Wolfgang Hennig
- Sawpower Harare, facilitated by Ralph and Greg Stead
- Simon Isherwood
- TexColour ZW– Paul and Tracey Howard
- The Taberer family
- Tibbits AG in Switzerland facilitated by Melanie Bigler and Simply Africa
- Wildlife and Environment Zimbabwe (WEZ), Matabeleland Branch
Appreciation is extended to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), the Director General, Dr Fulton Mangwanya, the various Area Managers and in particular the Main Camp staff and Game Water Department with whom we work very closely.
It remains to wish everyone a fun, festive holiday season, filled with peace and prosperity. May the New Year be wild, wet and wonderful
“Africa is a land of extremes, of scorching heat and bone-chilling cold, of life-giving rains and devastating droughts. It is a land that tests a man’s spirit, but it also rewards him with experiences beyond compare.”- Author Unknown
Image Credits: David Dell
