August was a hot, windy and busy month at Ingwelala. Another successful board meeting was held on the reserve, and efforts in the field were focused on veld rehabilitation, and erosion control.
Sightings were monitored throughout the month. Repairs at the main causeway on Argyle Road were completed as well as repairs and renovations at the conservation office and storage units.
Weather conditions changed drastically throughout the month, with a sharp increase in temperatures mid-month, unpredictable wind gusts experienced, and some rain. The veld continues to dry rapidly, however, biomass remains high and as such fire safety continues to be of top priority. Please report any signs of smoke or a fire to management immediately.
We urge you to be extremely cautious when making any fires at designated braai sites and ensure that all fires are adequately extinguished and fully covered with a steel fire drum before leaving them unattended. It is highly recommended each game viewer is equipped with an appropriate size serviced fire extinguisher. With the high grass biomass, hot vehicle exhausts are capable of igniting grass fires when pulling over to allow other vehicles to pass. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this regard.
For your interest, a summary of our climactic figures from the month is below.
Lowest Temp: 3.2°C (Avg: 9.2°C)
Highest Temp: 34.6°C (Avg: 26.9°C)
Rainfall for the month: 10.0mm
(Avg: 4.0mm)
Year-to-date (July to June): 10.00mm
Fire Danger Index: Dangerous*
*FDI: With exceedingly high biomass following the heavy rains, and unpredictable wind gusts, the Fire Danger Index remains dangerous. Please remain extremely cautious.
Images courtesy of Tess WoollgarAugust Board Meeting
Another successful board meeting was held during the month, and we once again thank our dedicated Board Members for their continued commitment and efforts. Thank you to all involved in the logistical arrangements and preparations for another successful board meeting weekend
Repairs and renovations at the conservation office and storage units
Repairs and renovations are underway at the conservation office and Member storage units. The individual storage facilities of this building are used as rentable storage units, available to Members carrying out construction at bungalows, and the building is used as the main conservation office space. Renovations include the installation of new roofing, internal and external re-painting, and repairs to the fencing. We are excited to re-open these storage units to Members as soon as possible. For storage unit booking enquiries, please contact the conservation team via
Images courtesy of Tess Woollgar
River crossing and road maintenance
Continued road, river crossing, and boundary road maintenance has been underway throughout the month, with large-scale repairs to Giraffe Crossing being the most notable. With assistance from the TLB, Giraffe Crossing is now open and traversable. Various other roads and river crossings have been repaired. Upcoming long-term repairs will include Wahlberg Crossing and Farmhouse Crossing, and efforts are due to begin at Tamboti Crossing in September.
Other erosion control and fire safety efforts included grading and clearing of boundary roads, general maintenance and upkeep of roads on the reserve and in camp, and the installation of various new mitre drains and humps both in camp and on the reserve. New gabion baskets are due to be installed at various river crossings and drainage lines.
Images courtesy of Tess Woollgar and Josh Hibbett
Elephant Pan Hide: Re-opening highlights
With the recent re-opening of the newly renovated Elephant Pan Hide, and the reinstallation of the water supply line following it’s untimely removal by elephants, here are some highlight sightings from the hide during the past month:
- Regular sightings of a Western Osprey flying over and perched in the trees
- A pair of Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl’s perched in the trees next to the pan
- A pair of African Hawk-Eagles, with a juvenile, flying over the pan
- The return of regular elephant sightings at the pan
- A leopard seen resting on the opposite side of the pan from the hide
- A leopard being chased from the pan by a herd of elephants
- Multiple lion sightings at the hide and in the riverbed next to the hide
- A herd of buffaloes visiting the pan
- A sighting of a Grey Heron and a terrapin competing over a frog in a “tug-of-war”
Thank you to all for the valuable feedback received regarding the renovated facility! Wishing all Members many happy sightings and experiences at Elephant Pan Hide.
Images courtesy of Tess Woollgar
Repairs completed at the main causeway
Repairs of the main causeway on the tar road have been completed, and the causeway is once again fully traversable and open. It is encouraged to use caution when making use of the causeway, especially on the western side, where a new drainage design has been installed with deeper drains on the road verge. Thank you to all involved in this process.
Images courtesy of Tess Woollgar.
Staff member of the month
This month, our staff member of the month is Leon Khoza.
Leon is Ingwelala’s dedicated water bailiff, and a core member of the conservation team. During the dry winter months, water provisioning can present unique challenges on the reserve, and Leon has been kept busy ensuring all runs smoothly and well. In this photo, he is re-installing a pipe pulled out by elephants at the reservoir.
In his usual spirit, Leon has shown dedication, perserverance and leadership in his daily roles and responsibilities.
Thank you, Leon, for all you do!
Notes from the conservation team
Thank you to all Members who have reported trees pushed over the roads by elephants. Please continue to do so, either via radio or at Reception. As the team continues with erosion control preparation in anticipation of the historic wet season, we will continue to remove branches and debris from road surfaces and verges. Should there be a tree blocking the road, please report it via the radio or at Reception, with an accurate location, for the tree to be removed and the road to be re-opened as quickly as possible.
Thank you as well to all who have enquired about or joined a bush walk this month. Should you wish to enquire about bush walks or availability, please email conservation at
Finally, a reminder to please take note of the new Fire Danger Index (FDI) sign at the Ingwelala entrance gate when visiting, particularly as the veld continues to dry out and wind conditions remain unstable. This signboard displays daily fire safety information and any restrictions on braai fires for the day. Daily FDI updates and any changes are also announced via radio announcements.
Thank you for your cooperation in this regard.
Images courtesy of Tess Woollgar.Building Projects
John Llewellyn, represents the Building Committee at reserve level regarding all building related issues to members bungalows. Members are welcome to call Reception ahead of their visits to enquire what building related disturbances may be encountered in the vicinity of their bungalows.
Current building projects are listed below:
- #16: Thatch repairs.
- #125: Comb and patch thatching.
- #139: Demolish and rebuild.
- #178: Internal renovations.
- #196: Thatch repairs.
- #207: Re-thatch and internal renovations.
Words by Tess Woollgar. Images courtesy of Frank Hurst, and as noted on individual photos or sets of photos.