Greetings and compliments of the New Year to you all. Apologies for the very long delay in sending out a current newsletter. The lack of news does not mean we have been inactive – in fact the opposite is true!
Picking up from where we left off in March 2022 Gary was very busy clearing firebreaks from April to July. Never easy, firebreaks are a labor-intensive job but getting them done is vital to safeguard the park from run-away fires during the dry season. Prolific rains had resulted in excessive overgrowth necessitating constant use of the Stihl chainsaws kindly supplied and maintained by Sawpower in Harare. Our fabulous new tractor and disc-harrow greatly facilitated clearing the ground and was very thorough. In problem areas, where fires often jump into the park because the grass is short and burns very hot, just one cut with the new disc-harrow proved effective. Usually, these areas must be run three times.
Much work was done in 2022 as regards water provision. A new battery system funded by FOH at Masuma Dam to pump water 24/7 using solar power has been a huge success. Never has the pan been so full throughout the year, especially through the tough, dry months. This serves as a great legacy to the late Carolyn Rountree, who made it possible. Her wonderful support for the park spanned many years
The battery system at Masuma proved so successful that we decided to replicate it at Kennedy 2 Pan which reached crisis levels at the height of the dry season in 2022 due to sustained heat and immense elephant pressure. K2 was the first ever solar installation undertaken in Hwange as it is such an important pan. Solar technology has come a long way since then. The solar panels on the “twin towers” stand were upgraded and the battery system has enabled pumping of water day and night. Consequently, the situation at K2 has improved dramatically, helped by some decent rainfall over the past few months. The piping needs to be replaced and the water outlet modified to accommodate the increased volume of water going into the pan, then hopefully we won’t look back.
Secheche is another important pan further south that has been problematic. One of the boreholes collapsed which meant sinking a new one. The drillers were not the only presence on site and were spurred on by a pride of interested “onlookers” enjoying the shade close by! We were able to utilize the existing solar array and pipes to equip the new hole and both boreholes at the pan are once again producing plentiful water. Appreciation must go to Hwange Conservation Society, UK for their assistance and support.
A reliable water supply at Main Camp has been a headache for years. Although a solar pump system is already in place to assist to some degree, the capacity is insufficient to supply adequate water for tourists and staff. Water from the national supply is dependent on electricity which has been erratic and non-existent for weeks at a time. We are pleased to advise plans afoot to sink another borehole and equip it to pump sufficient water for Main Camp’s needs. This is a massive job that requires a lot of funding so contributions would be welcome.
In 2022, Friends of Hwange assisted the Dete Animal Welfare Trust (DART) establish an anti-poaching base on the north-eastern boundary of the park. This is a poaching hotspot. Funds were sought for a new borehole, solar pump, water tank and stand to supply water to the base camp. The overflow feeds into a dam to benefit wildlife in the area. Sincere thanks to the Heidi Goetzi Foundation and to Wolfgang Hennig of Saving Endangered Wildlife that made this possible. The DART scouts, patrol the Dete/Mbanje boundary collecting wire snares, while herdsmen illegally grazing cattle inside the National Park are warned and cautioned. Illegal wood poaching, tree cutting, and charcoal operations made by felling huge Cathedral Mopane trees have been eliminated. This anti-poaching operation requires ongoing support.
In May 2022 we were involved once again in the Taylor’s Africa Classic Car Safari. Events like this help raise funds for the work we do in the park and create awareness and huge goodwill. The attention to detail of the Taylor’s Africa Team, not forgetting Godfrey Walsh and his team of magic mechanics, ensured that the Rally was a great success.
RAM Petroleum has built a new fuel station at Main Camp. This is proving very popular with tourists, NGO’s and the private lodges. It’s a relief to have a guaranteed source of diesel and petrol available.
Ongoing road maintenance by Gary and his team towards the end of last year and the beginning of 2023 has greatly improved the route from Main Camp to Ngweshla. Next up is the main road to Sinamatella which badly needs grading. The Parks grader is operational, but assistance is required to pay for the fuel. If cash donations are not possible, corporates can assist with payments to Ram petroleum against a tax invoice. Please contact Dave Dell to facilitate this: Mobile phone number +263712630152
On the tourist front we have contracted some assistance to erect shelters, donated by Agristructures, for day visitors at Kennedy 1 and Ngweshla picnic sites. Necessary maintenance work will also be affected. WEZ Matabeleland has undertaken to improve facilities at the Makwa and Guvalala platforms and has plans to construct a new platform at Kennedy 2 pan.
Contrary to mis-leading information, we’d like to reassure our donors and the public at large that most of the boreholes working in the park have been equipped with solar powered pumps supplied by FOH and Bhejane Trust. The private lodges have assisted with water supplies within their respective areas.
In conclusion, the park is looking wonderful – it’s the season of plenty. Migrant birds including bee-eaters, fly catchers, rollers, Amur falcons, waders, and Big Brown Birds (Yellow-billed and Black Kites, Steppe, Lesser-spotted, Wahlberg’s, Tawny and Brown-snake Eagles) are all out en masse, as are the hornbills, starlings, storks and cranes.
The bush is green, lush, and thick after some widespread rain and grass is abundant. Both pumped and natural pans are full. Wildebeest and impala have dropped their gangly legged calves that can run like the wind just hours after birth. Elephants, zebra, kudu, sable, giraffe other plains game has dispersed. The atmosphere is relaxed – all is as should be.
We are indebted to all donors for vital support to keep FOH operational throughout the year. As mentioned at the start of this missive, 2022 was very busy and 2023 looks to be no different. Our most grateful thanks to you all
