John Llewellyn's annual Reserve summary...
Notwithstanding the achievements of your Board and the critical role it plays in fulfilling its requirements to sustain a fully functional and operational Share Block through sound governance, compliance and transparency, I summarise at Reserve level, the challenges and achievements made in the field during 2016. There is no order of priority nor any expression of seasonal time lines.
Field:
- An electronic borehole monitoring system was commissioned to better understand long term water
table fluctuations and rate of water volume replenishment. - Analysis of artificial watering points, vulnerability to soil erosion (drought driven) and
closer monitoring of negative impacts to establish a rotational water provision strategy. - Various trials on “best effective” configuration of the electrified Camp Fence to curb
elephant damage & breaches (drought driven). - Construction of hippo fence (post and rail) to protect swimming pool from hippo
inhabitation (drought driven). - Field trial on Wahlberg’s Plain and Serengeti Plains, ripping shallow contours on exposed bare soils
to slow down surface water run-off and trap grasses seed base (drought driven). - Construction of several new stone gabions in identified areas vulnerable to soil & donga erosion
(drought driven).
Infrastructure:
- An appeal from Conservation Staff for all Users to better manage the ash bins placed at
bungalows, deposit ash only please. - Owners of bungalows needing maintenance and repair responded positively to the
requirements identified by the Building Committee. Thank you to all those Members concerned. - Trial basis on Game Viewer “Sibon 2” to electric conversion (green project) did not deliver
the desired result, so the vehicle was restored to its original state. - Garaging (spatial) constraints in the Workshop – an ongoing appeal to Members to remove obsolete
Game Viewers – work in progress. - Three new (imported) fuel dispenser pumps installed at the Forecourt.
- Tennis court refurbished and resurfaced.
- Guineafowl Cottage received a major revamp internally.
- Sibon dining area improved and patio revamped and enlarged (work in progress as and
when maintenance is scheduled in between high occupancy levels). - Sourcing the services of a professional landscaper to assist management with the layout
and plant selection for the grounds around the administration complex. Entrance Gate
and Sibon to follow. - Electrifying a secure area for aircraft on the airstrip apron.
Security and associated fund raising:
- Within Nkorho, adoption of a full time Anti-Poaching & Security Supervisor
(Ntomeni Rangers employee). - Increasing the ranger complement from six to ten rangers.
- Construction of a 2-bedroomed cottage (on Ingwelala) for the security supervisor.
- Integration of the UWCA to participate with Nkorho in security integrity and contract jointly
the services of Ntomeni Rangers. - In the greater landscape, escalate the forum of the original Game Reserves United (GRU)
to the Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Forum (GKEPF), and thereby transform the
private nature reserves from a “Buffer Zone” to an “Integrated Management Area. - Coordinate all security fund raising initiatives into one PROJECT SKY HAWK, launched in the
first quarter, and acquiring a substantial asset in the form of a Savannah aircraft purchased
in the third quarter. - A massive THANK YOU to all those who have generously supported and continue to support
this critical fund raising initiative. - Thank you for sponsoring the staff cycling in organised events, for participating in the
inaugural “Easter Challenge” – planned to be even more challenging in Easter 2017
– and competing in the Water Polo challenge at end December.
by John Llewellyn