Happy Spring! We hope your first month of the flowering season was a pleasant one.
We experienced a windy month, with unpredictable weather, but enjoyed seeing flushes of colour returning to the bush. Our month was filled with activities including malaria spraying of all infrastructure, continued upgrades at the entrance gate, neatening and maintenance of various infrastructure and the annual game census.
Temperatures continued to climb, although days of overcast and cooler weather were experienced throughout the month. Wind conditions remained unpredictable and extreme, with some of the month averaging wind speeds of above 35km/h for long periods at a time. As a result, our Fire Danger Index fluctuated throughout the month, from “Extremely Dangerous” to “Moderate”, where we are now.
We continue to urge extreme caution when you are making fires and to report any signs of smoke or a fire to Management immediately. Please ensure that all fires are adequately extinguished and completely covered with a steel drum before leaving them unattended.
Lowest Temp: 11.1°C (Avg:16.1°C)
Highest Temp: 40.9°C (Avg: 31C)
Rainfall for the month: 8mm
(Avg: 9.7mm)
Projects of the month:
Malaria spraying
As we approach the wet season it is crucial to ensure that we have sprayed all infrastructure in anticipation of an increasing mosquito population. Our second malaria spray of the year has been completed, during which all bungalows, the Members Area and associated facilities, offices, staff accommodations, bomas, hides and viewing sites were sprayed during the month.
Although this is a process we do multiple times a year, the frequency and period of spraying is dependent on weather conditions, annual rainfall and the occupancy rates at various times of the year. We would like to thank all Members for their patience as we conducted our spraying and urge you to remain cautious for the presence of mosquitoes when you are on site.
Continued upgrades at the entrance gate
Continuing with the theme of continual upgrades of all infrastructure and following on from the completion of the new paving and garden beds at the entrance gate, we have installed a new earth mat for the electrified fence at the exit gate. This earth mat acts as the negative or grounding force for that section of the electrified fence, allowing for better overall efficiency and optimum power in the positive or live strands of the fence. The entrance and exit gates have been used by elephants to gain access to the camp before, and the addition of this new earth mat will be a helpful deterrent for any elephants wishing to try their luck.
Although we have not had any elephant incursions in recent months, in terms of efficacy, if an elephant stands on the earth mat while touching the live wires, the electrified strands will deliver a more powerful voltage and as such will hopefully deter elephants more effectively. We would like to thank Ruan for constructing and installing this new earth mat.
Maintenance of infrastructure
During the month, the maintenance and upkeep of various infrastructural assets has been a top priority for the Maintenance team. This is something that is done periodically and is essential for the long-term preservation of our infrastructure across the reserve, forming a vital part of the long-term sustainability of Ingwelala’s assets.
During this process, the Ingwelala board room’s interior and exterior has been repainted, while the back-of-house offices underwent internal re-painting and touch-ups. The Maintenance and Workshop offices’ exterior has also been repainted, along with some external neatening and modernisations, including the removal of old wire mesh and the opening up of the space between the two offices.
Upcoming projects in the Maintenance and Infrastructure departments include annual servicing of the airconditioning units in the Member’s Area, annual servicing of all fire extinguishers in camp and on the reserve, and some further work on the maintenance and upkeep of various other infrastructure in camp and on the reserve.
We would like to thank the Maintenance team for their extensive efforts in this regard and look forward to the ongoing progress with other infrastructural maintenance in the coming months.
Our Staff Member of the Month
This month we celebrate Tessa Woollgar as our Staff Member of the Month.
Tessa joined us as the Conservation Manager two years ago, and has special interests in invasive plant control, habitat conservation and wildlife monitoring.
Although normally keeping herself busy on the reserve, in the gardens or behind the computer, Tessa is always ready and excited to interact with Members and keep everybody up to date.
Thank you, Tessa, for your dedication towards Ingwelala and our conservation department!
Editor's Note: Tess would never brag about herself, so we’ve done the bragging for her.
She’s currently hiding under her desk about it.
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 # 49: Chameleon Builders; Approved May 2025. Demolish and rebuild.
- Bungalow # 70: Dukes Construction; Approved February 2025. Internal and patio changes.
- Bungalow # 133, Chameleon Builders; Approved July 2025. Internal renovations and re-thatch.
- Bungalow # 134, Own project; Approved July 2025. Internal renovations.
- Bungalow # 158, Dukes Construction, approved Feb 2025, demolish and rebuild.
- Bungalow # 172, Hoffmans Construction. Full re-thatch.
Notes from the Conservation Team
We would once again like to thank everyone who has joined us in the field or on a bush walk, has reported sightings or interesting observations, asked questions or simply welcomed us so warmly over the past two years. We are deeply appreciative of the interest in the smaller things and the will to learn about, and get involved with, some of the conservation projects on the reserve, and to assist us in any way you can.
There has been an overwhelming interest from Members, whether via questions, volunteering, joining us on a walk, reporting interesting sightings or observations, submitting interesting photos or videos, or generally wanting to know more about what we do. Thank you so much!
If you would like to get involved in any way, have any questions, wish to submit any interesting sightings or observations, or want to book a bush walk, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly via email at
Included are some photos taken by Caroline Culbert on a recent bush walk. Thank you for sharing them with us!
Words by Tess Woollgar & Dile Seitz, images courtesy of Caroline Culbert, Ruan du Preez, Wimpie Pretorius, Josh Hibbett and Tess Woollgar.