We had a very busy month building up to our Financial Year End and making various improvements to infrastructure both in camp and on the reserve.
Highlights from the month included an upgrade at Klipspringer Lookout, upgrading of various road signs in camp, tree wrapping out on the reserve, the completion of the oil containment area at the Workshop and various fire safety improvements and preparations on the reserve and in camp.
Temperatures continued to drop through the month, while wind conditions were unpredictable. Gusts of over 50km/h were experienced on some days. Our Fire Danger Index is currently at the “Dangerous” level and fuel load is extremely high as the veld continues to dry out. We continue to encourage you to be cautious when making fires, and to report any unusual smoke or signs of a fire immediately. As an added reminder, please do not leave fires unattended and ensure that all fires are fully extinguished and adequately covered with a steel drum. It is compulsory to have a steel fire drum at your bungalow. Should your unit not have a steel fire drum, please email Reception to open a Job Card.
Lowest Temp: 4.3°C (Avg: 8.7°C)
Highest Temp: 32.5°C (Avg: 26.6C)
Rainfall for the month: 0.7mm
(Avg: 3.8mm)
Projects of the month:
Klipspringer Lookout Upgraded
Following on from the success of the new roofing structure built at Aloe Ridge during May, the Maintenance team was hard at work this month adding a similar structure at Klipspringer Lookout. With the new roof in place, the lookout now provides lovely shade in the heat of the day and offers more shelter for those that enjoy spending plenty of time soaking up the spectacular views and plentiful sightings the Nhlaralumi River has to offer.
This task took the team only a few days, and the completed structure looks amazing. We would like to thank the Maintenance team for their hard work in this regard - it is greatly appreciated. We hope you enjoy the new structure and many more happy hours of game viewing and sight-seeing at this beautiful location.
Road Sign Upgrades
During the month, Ruan du Preez and the Maintenance team completed the installation of almost all the new road signs in camp - including the new Op Goedehoop cairn and sign at the Op Goedehoop entrance. The new signage installed on the cairns is reflective, allowing for easy visual navigation after dark, and with the new paint work done the signs stand out beautifully along the roadways.
We would like to thank Ruan and the team for their hard work and dedication to this project - it has made a massive difference to the neatness and general aesthetic in camp.
Electric Fence Maintenance and Upgrades
Following the various flooding events this year and the giraffe incursion in March that damaged the power supplying Energiser module, a new, more powerful Energiser was installed that supplies a higher voltage to the fence. The Conservation team has also been hard at work making additional upgrades by increasing the structural support and making provision for a new, fourth electrified strand to be added to the fence.
For added structural support, multiple older and thinner steel support droppers have been replaced with thicker, more substantial steel support beams around the fence - targeting the most urgently required areas first. This is an ongoing project, where we aim to fully replace all thinner droppers on the fence with stronger ones in the coming years. This should improve overall strength and reduce the amount of damage that can be done to the fence by animals such as buffaloes. In addition to this, we will be adding a fourth electrified strand of wire to the fence below the existing electrified wires.
Oil Containment Area Completed
We are happy to share that our new Used Oil Containment Area in the Workshop has officially been completed! This area was specifically designed to be used for used oil storage in a way that focuses on safety for the environment and any wildlife in the area.
With the addition of safety signage and the completed roof structure, as well as the final finishing touches to the enclosing wall at the base of the containers, this area is now complete and in use at the Workshop. We would like to thank all those involved in this project and commend the extra focus on safety in an environment such as this.
Repairs to Guineafowl Cottage’s Roof
With the wet season having drawn to a close, repairs and combing of the thatched roof of Guineafowl Cottage have been completed to reduce potential leaks and maintain the integrity of the thatching.
This was carried out by Chameleon Builders, and we would like to thank them for their assistance with this project.
We would like to thank you for your patience while Guineafowl Cottage was unavailable for the few days that the repairs were underway, and wish you many happy stays at the cottage in the future.
Goedehoop Dam, Argyle Boma and Elephant Pan Hide
Although the veld is drying and thinning out very quickly, with the immense growth of plants following the substantial rains, we have placed extra emphasis on vegetation thinning along the roadways and at various sites across the reserve.
Goedehoop Dam, Argyle Boma, and Elephant Pan Hide underwent extensive trimming, as they had become very dense with vegetation. By thinning the vegetation out in these areas, we have increased visibility in the areas immediately surrounding the viewing hide, boma and parking areas, which allows for increased safety when people are approaching or alighting from their vehicles. Hyena Dam is due to be thinned out where possible as well. Despite the thinning of vegetation, we continue to encourage caution and vigilance when approaching waterholes, viewing sites, bomas and hides, and especially before alighting from your vehicle. A new pump was also installed at Goedehoop Dam.
Tree Wrapping
The Conservation team has once again been hard at work ensuring that trees on the reserve are being protected from potential ring-barking and damage by elephants. This has been an ongoing project and will continue to remain a priority for us on the reserve.
This month, we focused on protecting the larger Knobthorn and Marula trees on Argyle in the regions of Slaughter Loop, Wild Dog Way, Baobab Drive and Elephant Pan Hide.
Wrapping these trees with heavy-duty wire allows us to add an extra layer of protection, hopefully deterring animals from removing the bark of these trees. It is not something that can guarantee protection, but aids with reducing damage to those trees.
Although there are plenty more trees to wrap, we are happy to report that none of the previously wrapped trees are showing any new damage or interference since being wrapped, and none have been pushed over by elephants.
Water Conservation
Water conservation remains a top priority for us and includes the conservation of water in camp and out on the reserve at the various dams, hides and viewing sites.
This month, various water leaks were discovered and repaired in camp, largely thanks to Members who reported them.
We would like to thank the Members who swiftly reported early signs of water leaks, which enabled us to replace or repair the damaged sections before substantial water loss could have occurred! A huge thank you as well to the Members who reported any concerns at any of the bomas, hides or viewing sites.
Reporting in this manner assists us greatly in our efforts to conserve as much water as we can. Please continue to do so.
Our Staff Member of the Month
Manfred joined the Conservation team just over a year ago as a jack-of-all-trades, being a tractor and truck operator, and an all-round Conservation Assistant.
During his time here, Manfred has accumulated more new qualifications than any other staff member in the same time frame, volunteering for Snake Handling, First Aid, Fire-fighting, and Financial Literacy training.
He has also become the official coach of our Ingwelala soccer team!
Congratulations, Manfred, on such incredible skills growth and dedication! We are so proud of you!
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 (major) building projects are listed below:
- Bungalow # 5 Dannhaus Builders, Approved Dec 24, rethatch, internal renovations, new gazebo.
- Bungalow # 70, Dukes Construction, approved Feb 2025, Internal and patio changes.
- Bungalow #49: Chameleon Builders; Approved May 2025. Demolish and rebuild.
- Bungalow # 129, Chameleon Builders; Rethatch, internal renovations and new fire pit.
- Bungalow # 158, Dukes Construction, approved Feb 2025, demolish and rebuild.
Photos of the Month
Notes from the Conservation Team
Thank you to everyone who has joined bush walks over the course of the month! We had some amazing sightings and adventures on foot and truly appreciate the support.
Some highlight sightings included:
- Elephant bulls on Argyle and Buffelsbed
- Buffalo bulls on Argyle and Buffelsbed
- Giraffes on Argyle
- Klipspringers on Buffelsbed
- Saddle-billed Storks on Argyle and Buffelsbed
- Malachite Kingfisher on Buffelsbed
- Tracks of Leopards, Lions, Rhinos, Elephants, Hippos, Wild Dogs, Hyenas, Buffaloes, Giraffes, Zebras, Kudus, Genets, Porcupines, Honey Badgers, Jackals, Southern Ground Hornbills, Red-crested Korhaans, various storks and even Civets.
- One patch of soft sand on Argyle, roughly three-square meters in size, exhibited a tracking extravaganza, with fresh Leopard, Lion, Hyena, Hippo, Elephant, Zebra, Buffalo and Giraffe tracks all criss-crossing over each other from the previous few hours!
As a reminder for anyone wishing to join a bush walk, please book in advance to avoid disappointment. Bookings fill up incredibly quickly - especially during this time of the year.
Please also note that we cannot take more than 8 people at a time, and there are age limits and other regulations in place for safety reasons, which we discuss during each booking.
If you’d like more information, please email
Josh and Tess
Words by Tess Woollgar, images courtesy of Caroline Culbert and Tess Woollgar.