Greetings from a glorious, wet, green, Hwange.
So far this season the Park has been blessed with abundant, life-giving rainfall. Many of the pans are full or nearly full. Animals with adorable, diminutive offspring abound and the recovery of the vegetation is spectacular.
Nyamandhlovu pan, which in mid-December was a huge, ugly, gaping hole in the ground, is now as pretty as a picture and is surrounded by fresh green grass. The crocs are once again in residence and hippos can be seen cavorting around in the water. Nyam still needs to rise about another metre to completely cover its banks, but if the rains continue it will soon be brim full!
At Ngweshla both the pumped pan and the natural pan are full, as is Kennedy 1, Kennedy 2, Dom, Livingi, Guvalala, Koashe and Tshebema. Jambile is looking wonderful and the levels at Makwa, Mabuya mabema, Garakamwe and Tshebe tshebe have all risen considerably. Only the Mangas still have some way to go before they too are full.
We have struggled for ages to find a suitable spot for a second borehole at Kennedy 1 pan that doesn’t end up with running sands at the bottom of the hole This renders it impossible to pump water. Finally, late last year, we succeeded. We have also funded a new borehole in the north at Masuma Dam. There are plans to equip both these boreholes with solar powered water pumps in the next few weeks.
The primary focus of FOH is provision of water for the wildlife, but we also support the following initiatives:
- Keeping the Main Camp Clinic well stocked with medical supplies – a lifesaving facility in an otherwise bleak situation, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. This facility supports parks staff from Vic Falls to Tuli.
- Monthly ration packs funded by Friends of Hwange are being distributed to 60+ Park’s rangers throughout the southern section of the Park.
- Assistance for the rescue of snared and injured wild animals.
- Support of anti-poaching initiatives in the form of ranger deployments within the park, and widespread snare sweeps in and around the Dete/Chokomela area. This is not only a hotspot for bushmeat poachers, but also for ivory smugglers.
- In 2021, we hope to help assist the Parks Tracker Dog Unit by facilitating daily transport for early morning deployments of the Unit to follow up on tracks of people illegally entering the Park.
- We promote and support conservation of birds – feathered marvels large and small that are the indicators of a healthy environment. In particular, critically endangered African vulture species badly need our help.
This year we plan to assist Parks by helping with much needed basic maintenance in and around the camps and picnic sites. While parks staff don’t have the resources to improve the general standard of accommodation, it is nevertheless important to provide a pleasing experience for visitors. The aim is to provide functional, comfortable, safe surroundings for everyone. Ongoing support will be vital to achieve this. Find details for contributions at https://friendsofhwange.com/donations/
We are thrilled to advise our American supporters that donations for Friends of Hwange can now be made through Empowers Africa, a registered U.S. public charity under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Empowers Africa has agreed to act as a fiscal sponsor for FOH, and for this we extend grateful thanks. For more information see https://empowersafrica.org/partners/friends-of-hwange-trust/
None of our work can be accomplished without much assistance and support – we are continually amazed and humbled by the generosity and goodwill that people afford us. Please rest assured that every dollar does help to make a difference.
Our thoughts go out to all those in severe lockdown situations, to those that are depressed and ill, to those that have lost loved ones and to those struggling to make ends meet. One day, “this too shall pass”! Until then, stay safe everyone.
The Trustees, Friends of Hwange Trust
All Image Credits: David Dell
As always we are indebted to ZimParks with whom we work very closely.
