Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit September 2026 Update

This has been a month of ups and downs. The landscape has changed drastically as temperatures begin to climb and the bush has thinned out immensely. This signals the busy season for anti-poaching. Animals congregate around dwindling resources and become and easier target for poachers.

Sadly, this has proved true over the last month with the unit recording several incursions as well as the loss of animal life to poachers. However, we have reacted well and managed to make some significant arrests. Bringing those that would cause our animals harm, to justice.

We take all losses personally, and continually strive to keep that the number at zero. However, we are also conscious of that fact there will always be a threat, as long as people and animals live in close proximity, poaching will remain.

With that said, we are proud of what has been achieved over the last 12 months or so. The threat is down, and animals are abundant within the wildlife corridors of our Wild City. Long may this be the case!

None of this would be possible without the incredible support and contributions we get from a wide range of supporters. This is what keeps the wheels turning and the boots on the ground. Without this, we would not exist and there would be far fewer animals to share our home with. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Of special note is the 24^th annual Anti-Poaching Golf Day which occurred on the 18^th September in Harare. This incredible annual event is a major fundraiser of ours, with this year being bigger and better than ever.

A massive thank you goes out to Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and the entire Victoria Falls Safari Collection team for being the founders/organisers and host of this amazing event.

For those that may not know. Victoria Falls Safari Lodge is a part founder of the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit. They invested in the team’s first 3 rangers back in 1999. For over 27 years, they have been contribution each and every month to the vital protection work underway in our City. We thank you and are deeply appreciative of you.

STATISTICS

It was a busier month than what we have been accustomed to with multiple incursions and threats detected across the 114 patrols conducted. However, with the drying out bush and congregating of animals. This is to be expected. What is of note, is that of the incursions detected, we secured arrests for a good number of these threats. One win having been in the works for over a year.

The vast majority of these snares where 56 small wire traps set by a single individual attempting to catch small prey such as rabbits and guinea fowl. Thankfully, this individual has been arrested and convicted and will not be causing any harm to our animals anytime soon.

The remainder of the snares recovered were larger, targeting bigger game in the form of impala, kudu and buffalo. Fortunately, none of these snares were set, and had been stashed by the poachers for use at a later stage. Most were old, having been previously covered by vegetation, but now exposed with the bush having thinned out.

A bit of a strange rescue this past month. Rangers reacted to a male bushbuck that can got tangled in a wire fence. The team reacted quickly with the intention of untangling the animal and setting it free.

However, on arrival, it became clear that this animal also had a snare around its chest. The snare was old, and the skin had mostly grown over the tight wire.

The vets were quickly called and after a bit of field surgery, the snare was safely removed. This must have been incredibly painful and uncomfortable for this poor animal. Living with this restriction around its chest for several months.

The rescue was a success and the animal is expected to make a full recovery. However, the incident is a stark reminder of just how awful snares can be.

Carcasses Discovered:          1 adult kudu

                                                1 adult buffalo

                                                2 adult warthogs

Both the kudu and the buffalo perished to predators. Lion and Wild Dog being the culprits.

Sadly, both of the warthog lost their lives due to human interference. The first incident saw the unfortunate warthog get hit by a car on the road to the Zambian border. It was early morning and visibility was not great and a big reason for this unnecessary loss of life.

The second warthog was caught and killed by poachers.

One of our cameras triggered just before midnight. Showing two individuals, laden with backpacks carrying spears.

It took us about 20 minutes to mobilize a unit and get to the scene. Sadly, the poachers were on their way out already and managed to escape in a vehicle before we could get there.

At first light, the team picked up the spoor and back tracked to understand what the poachers had been up to. At this stage we were not aware they had killed a warthog.

However, the experienced trackers quickly found the disturbing scene. There were actually 3 sets of footprints as well as those of several dogs. (it is common for poachers to travel with dogs). The team found a burrow where the warthog was obviously sleeping, blood and significant disturbance around the hole proved that this was the scene of the crime.

A sad and unnecessary loss but a sharp reminder of the ever present threat that our wildlife face. Whilst we did not affect the arrest this time, we will. It’s only a matter of time.

We did however make some significant arrests during the month.

Our first major win for the period is one that is particularly rewarding for us. We became aware of a gang of poachers travelling from the community near the airport, through the forest and ultimately quite deep into Chamabonda. Specifically over the full moon period. Their target is impala, kudu, warthog and other similar species and their primary weapons are dogs, spears and snares.

Whilst there is no evidence to prove it, there have been a number of animals discovered with snares on them that we believe are a result of this gangs antics.

Apprehending such poachers is very challenging. The dogs more often than not give away our position, giving the suspects a chance to flee. But their method of hunting is also very unpredictable. Once in the bush, their movement vary greatly depending on what animals are in the area at the time.

We had many reactions where we missed them. Some were close, others we didn’t even see them. Each time we missed, we learnt a little bit more.

Eventually, piecing all these bits of information together we were able to come up with a plan that worked. Having detected that the poachers had entered the bush, the team set up ambushes along several known routes. In the early hours of the morning, the gang appeared, oblivious to our presence. A pursuit ensued which resulted in the capture of one of the two suspects. The second has not been located and presumed to have fled the area.

After such a long time, the sense of achievement within the team was evident. Many late nights in uncomfortable ambushes had led to this great win. It was also an incredible reminder that patience and dedication pays off and that each miss leaves clues that help us get closer to the suspects.

The second arrest was also quite satisfying. A poacher caught setting snares. The main target being small animals, but each trap having the potential to cause untold horror on many species. The satisfying part of the arrest is who it was, we will call him James.

We had a flurry of arrests last month, most relating to the poaching of guinea fowl. One such arrest of a young man yielded information that he had bought the bird from someone else, James. James was questioned, but without any real evidence he was acquitted of any charges. Whilst we all believed him to be the actual poacher, without any evidence, there is not much we can do.

Fast forward to September. The team find a snare line. Small traps, but a lot of them. A near 5 day ambush commenced. 5 days is a long time for someone to not check their snares. Any animal caught in the first day or two will go rotten of not checked frequently. We were about to abandon the operation and remove the snares.

During the early evening of the final day, a suspect appeared. Unaware of our presence he began to set even more snares. Sadly, with the bush quite thin, he saw us as we began to make our move out of hiding. With a slight head start, he made a dash for it. A foot chase ensued involving electric fences and river crossings, but ultimately he was not match to the athleticism of the team and was arrested. None other than James!

56 snares were ultimately recovered as well as evidence of multiple successful kills of guinea fowl. James is currently serving a prison sentence for his crime.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit had a bit of a milestone this past period.

Firstly, our work has been recognised in the prestigious Africa Conservation Awards. We have been shortlisted as one of three finalist for the Best Ranger Team in Africa. Up against an incredible team from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who patrol huge tracts of land to protect animals. And an amazing ocean based team from Mozambique who are dedicated to the preservation and protection of coral reefs and the greater marine ecosystem.

We are truly humbled by the recognition and achievement and wish the best of luck to the other finalists.

In addition to this, VFAPU Rangers took part in their very first Wildlife Ranger Challenge in September 2026. Launched during Covid to shine a light on anti-poaching and the need for protection, this challenge has become a continent wide celebration. https://wildliferangerchallenge.org/

Over 125 Ranger Teams from across Africa have spent the last few month competing in a series of challenges. The final challenge being a gruelling 21km run carrying a whopping 22kgs on your back.

A true test of strength and endurance. Well done to all the teams that completed, and special mention to the four tough young men who represented VFAPU, you have done us proud!

Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit July 2026 Update

It’s been an odd sort of month in July. The bush has been relatively peaceful with little threat detected. However, we have been kept rather busy within the community, reacting to information relating to the sale of bush meat. This means one of two things. Either poaching is happening within our midst and we just aren’t detecting it, or it is happening further afield with the meat shipped to Vic Falls to be sold. Whilst we are our own biggest critics, and immediately look within, I tend to think it’s the latter.

As always, a big indicator of ours of the poaching threat is the number of animals that require rescuing. When snaring is the primary method of hunting, there will inevitably be those animals which manage to break free. Escaping certain death anchored to a tree, but left with a tight restriction that causes long term pain and suffering. These animals just aren’t there when they used to be before. Key to this, is that such distressed wildlife is more often than not detected by a Good Samaritan, someone who just happens to see it and report it in. Thankfully, this is not a common occurrence!

Information gained from people that have been arrested also suggests that the meat is being sourced outside of our traditional patrol areas. Whilst this is a good thing, and testament to the pressure we have been able to apply in Vic Falls

STATISTICS

A big drop in the number of snares recovered this month. 7 of these snares came from one incident involving two poached guinea fowl. The team questioned a suspicious person exiting the bush with a backpack. This is always a cause for concern.

Upon searching, they found nothing of note other than a few guinea fowl feathers at the bottom of the bag.

Trained in interrogation, the team pressed for a reason. The accused, who did not want any trouble advised that the bag was not his, but would take us to the owner.

Long story short, and 3 people later, two arrests were made. Recovering two guinea fowl carcasses and 7 snares set in the bush, poised take the life of another innocent victim.

We are always happy to see a zero in this statistic column. No animals detected this month in need of rescue.

Carcasses Discovered:            18

Cause of Death:                       13 Guinea Fowl killed by poachers

                                                Buffalo meat recovered in two incidents

1 Adult Male Buffalo hit by the train

1 Sub-Adult Male Kudu died of natural causes.

1 Python- cause of death unknown.

Sadly, the carcass discovered stat is incredibly high for the month. The bulk of the carcasses discovered were for guinea fowl. These iconic birds have been a major target over the last few months. The incredible rains received have caused a boom for seed eaters, with guinea fowl in particular doing very well.

Besides the two carcasses mentioned above, a further 11 were recovered during one of our bigger arrests of the month. For almost 3 weeks, the team had been gathering information about guinea fowl meat being sold on mass. It is believed that twice a week, a 50kg sack of dressed birds was making its way to Vic Falls and being sold. This is an estimated 80-100 birds a week!

When information was received that the suspect was now selling, the team pounced. As a testament to how much game meat is in demand, when the arrest took place, only 11 birds were left. The accused having sold the bulk of the meat in the 2 hours previously.

Regardless, it was a good win and sent a strong message!

Sadly, one of the most under discussed threats facing our wildlife is deaths caused by road and rail. Daily, our transportation industry accounts for significant loss of animal life.

This was on full display in July with an adult male buffalo being hit and killed by the train on the outskirts of Victoria Falls.

At the time of discovery by our team, the carcass was now several days old. There was clear evidence that humans had cut at the remains, obviously hoping to find the meat still usable. Sadly, the level of decay was too much, the carcass was abandoned to the scavengers.

Firewood continues to dominate our arrests statistic, and July saw a significant increase. The winter cold made its major appearance during the month and as such, the increase is to be expected.

Of great concern is the number of arrests made where live trees have been chopped down. Usually, this means the timber is required for something other than firewood. However, we are now of the opinion that the firewood demand has exceeded the natural dead wood being produced by the ecosystem. This is a big worry, as the felling of live trees for firewood will cause significant damage to our landscape and the forests that surround the City. We are actively engaging with the authorities to get on top of this issue.

With relative peace in the bush, our teams have spent much of the month infiltrating the community to understand the supply of wildlife products. This strategy is to further understand the challenge we face and how better to address it.

As mentioned above, bush meat continues to be a major commodity supplied within the community. However, we are confident that the majority of this is being sourced outside of Victoria Falls.

Four separate operations were conducted during the month which targeted individuals in possession of bush meat. Guinea Fowl dominated the species targeted and two of the arrests saw suspects apprehended for their crimes. The remaining two operations found suspects in possession of buffalo meat. The first had 28 bundles of dried meat and the second had 21 bundles. Apportioned out into $1 quantities and actively being sold.

Again, whilst we are confident that these animals were killed outside of Victoria Falls, the sale of the meat in our City fuels the demand. As with all poaching, it is the demand that determines the level of threat. When the product is sought after, then the threat is greater.

Removing the source of the meat, and disrupting the illegal channels, helps greatly in combating the ultimate poaching. Much work has already been done over the years to target kitchens and butcheries, many of who have opted out of selling bush meat. This has forced the seller to do it on an individual basis at a greater risk to themselves.

Each win like this further hinders the supply chain, and makes it harder for the meat to reach the market. Whilst we continue to enjoy a relatively peaceful period in Vic Falls, it is evident that animals are being poached on a large scale outside of our main operational areas. Our hope is to greatly expand our team, and thus expand the footprint we have, and the protection that is offered. We will not rest until all of our precious wildlife is safe!

Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit June 2026 Update

The poaching threat continues to rear its ugly head in our beautiful Victoria Falls landscape.

The bush is drying out fast and with it comes the annual movement of animals closer to town and within reach of the permanent water sources on offer. This congregation makes them an easier target for poachers who use this time of year to capitalise on the increased wildlife.

Whilst we have had a relatively peaceful month within our primary focal areas, poachers have been active further afield. This is an unfortunate inevitability. With better protection in one area, poachers simply move to another area and target the wildlife there. This is a constant battle we face as an anti-poaching unit, deciding where to patrol and focus our efforts.

In an ideal world we would love to increase the size of our team and with it the area under our protection. However, until such a time that we can achieve this, we need to predict the movements of the poachers and expand our reach without leaving too much of a hole behind us. 

This has become a priority of ours this month after dealing with several cases of animals in need of rescue who have come into our focal area, but picked up the snares deeper into the Park.

One particular case saw the discovery of a buffalo bull with a tight wire snare around its face. In a fantastic show of unity, members of Zim Parks, VFAPU, Vic Falls Wildlife Trust, Impi Horse Mounted Unit and professional guides rallied together to help this poor animal.

He was successfully darted and the snare removed, but it was clear that he had been carrying this burden for some time. The wound was deep, with significant scar tissue implying that he had picked it up a while ago, but has only been discovered recently as he moves closer to town with the shifting seasons.

With that said, we continue to be blessed with abundant wildlife within the corridors of our City. Elephants are starting to make an appearance within the streets and the warthogs have descended onto the lush green verges of our neighbourhoods. This is an asset that we MUST preserve!

STATISTICS

Still a significantly number of snares recovered this month. The vast majority of these targeting guinea fowl and other small animals. These are generally set up in bulk so as to maximise the chances of a successful catch.

With that said, we have also recovered a number of older snares that have been stashed in the bush. With the vegetation thinning out and visibility getting easier, these snares get exposed. Whilst they do not pose a major threat when they are hidden, it does tell a story of the intention of those that put them there. A reminder that poaching will always be a threat to our wildlife.

For the second month in a row, we have reacted to animals in need of rescue.

The first, an old buffalo bull mention above. Found by VFAPU Rangers on a routine patrol, but ultimately rescued by an incredible display of unity of purpose to save our wildlife.

Whilst his injuries were bad, he is expected to make a full recovery.

Carcasses Discovered:            2

Cause of Death:                       1 Lioness, caught and killed by a snare.

1 juvenile male impala, died of natural causes..

The second rescue does not have a happy ending.

VFAPU Rangers assisted to an alert of a female lion with a snare around her neck, dragging the cable. Following the lead of the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, our team assisted with trying to locate her and aid in the rescue.

As darkness fell, she was spotted close to the road in the company of a male, with the snare clearly visible. The Wildlife Trust jumped into action and she was successfully darted.

Fortunately, the snare, whilst tight, had not broken the skin. However, she was dragging about 2 meters of cable which would have inevitably become tangled and potentially fatal. The Wildlife Trust Research team used the opportunity to fit a GPS tracking collar to further their understanding of her movements and activities.

We rejoiced as she woke up from the anaesthetic, free from her burden and able to continue with her life. Sadly, this was short lived. Thanks to the GPS tracking collar the Wildlife Trust team reacted to an immobility alert just 3 days later. Sadly, she had succumbed to another snare. This time unable to snap it off the tree, dying in the most horrific way possible.

This is not just any lioness, this is the last remaining daughter of the famous hippo creek lioness that was slaughtered by poachers in March 2025. Her sister, killed in December 2025 and now her. The end of a bloodline, wiped out by snares. A tragic loss and a significant blow to conservation.

The big win for us this month came from an intelligence led bust of an individual caught in possession of pangolin scales. Following his arrest, a second suspect was picked up in connection with the case. This is still an active case with further investigations underway.

However, it does highlight the underworld dealing and trafficking of wildlife parts. This is a major threat to our animals, with pangolins in particular considered the most trafficked animal in the world. It is a great concern of ours that Victoria Falls with its porous land borders and international airport could be a hub for the sale and distribution of these illegally obtained contraband.

This win further shines a light on how important intelligence is in countering this illegal trade. The length and breadths that suspects go to conceal their products and their crimes is immense, and only with robust intelligence can we hope to be a force for good against this threat.

Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit April – May 2026 Update

After a period of relative peace, the last two months have seen a drastic increase in the threat to our wildlife in Victoria Falls. A stark reminder that poaching is everpresent and our work in the bush is vital in ensuring that the wildlife we share our home with are protected.

This increase is not completely unexpected. Dry season is traditionally a higher poaching period than the wet months. Animals congregate around dwindling resources and make them an easier target. History has shown that this threat will only continue to increase in the months ahead.  

What has been of interest is the targeted species. Thanks to a fantastic rainy season, the guinea fowl and and other game bird populations have boomed. A quick look at the many flocks that live around us show a multitude of near adult chicks. Thriving off the abundant food and water that comes with a bumper season. Much of the threat we have mitigated over the period have targeted these animals.

Warthog continue to feature highly on the target list. They have begun their seasonal movement into the City, with more regular sightings of them on the streets. Sadly, we lost two warthogs to poachers in the last two months.

In addition to the animals targeted above, we have seen an increase in the arrests made for firewood, in particular those apprehended for cutting down live trees. As the winter cold begins to bite the demand on this fuel source is increasing.

Whilst it has been a busy period, the response from the team has been excellent. The losses are hard but the wins help to make up for it. Arrests not only remove a known culprit from the system for a while, but send a strong message to other poachers.

We remain extremely grateful for the incredible support that we receive. The threat pressure has been low, but the sharp increase in April and May highlights the constant pressure our wildlife is under. The dry season kicking in, coupled with challenging economic conditions suggest place our animals at greater risk. Your help is needed now more than ever!

STATISTICS

A significant increase in the number of snares recovered and incursions detected this month. The vast majority of snares recovered however, came from a single incident.

On a routine patrol, the team came across fresh poacher spoor. Upon investigation they discovered a cluster of small snares, set amongst the pathways within the area. Soon it became apparent that there were several such clusters spaced over nearly 1 kilometre.  Immediately backup was called due to the expanse of the area. A plan was hatched and ambushing began in the hopes of catching the culprit.

For four days the teams remained motionless, staking out the snares. Unusual for a poacher not to check his snares more regularly, we had lost hope that he would return and believed our operation to have compromised. Then, just when we were about to abandon the ambush and retrieve the snares, he appeared. The team lay motionless waiting for the right moment. The suspect, unaware of our presence began setting additional snares. The team pounced and he was apprehended. A full sweep of the area was done where a total of 148 snares were recovered.

In addition, the team found evidence of at least 4 guinea fowl and 1 francolin that had been caught in these traps. Whilst the target species is smaller animals, each one of these deadly traps has the potential of causing immense suffering for a wide range of animals. This proved to be true with the discovery of not 1, but 3 baboons in distress caused by snares wrapped around some part of their body.

This further highlights the unselective nature of these deadly traps and how much devastation they can cause within the landscape.

We have very proudly recorded zero in this statistic category for several months. However, like a wave, we have been hit with multiple threats. With great appreciation to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, an adult male baboon was successfully darted and rescued with a snare tightly constricted around his neck. Set for small prey and undoubtedly picked up on one of his foraging forays.

Sadly, he is the lucky one. In the last 2 months we have received reports of no less than 5 other animals that have been seen with snares on them. 2 additional baboons, 1 impala, 1 giraffe and 1 zebra. Other than the baboons, the other animals are deeper into the Park and outside of our primary operation area, but highlights the wide range threat that our animals face.

Carcasses Discovered: 6

Cause of Death:          2 Warthog- Caught and killed by Poachers.

2 Buffalo- Caught and killed by poachers    

2 Elephant- Died of Natural Causes.

1 Kudu- Killed in the Township.

Multiple Guinea Fowl and Francolin- killed by Poachers

It is always a bitter pill to swallow discovering animals that have been caught and killed by poachers and this period has been particularly tough. Whilst the majority of the threat has been focused on smaller animals, we have reacted to 3 large mammal poaching incidents during the last 2 months.

The first, as the discovery of the fresh remains of an animal not far from the Victoria Falls rainforest entrance. Further investigation discovered that a warthog had been caught and killed whilst making its way to a well used wallowing puddle. It is clear that the movements of this animal were known by the culprit, who used the quiet of the early morning to lay his trap and commit this crime.

Full moon presents a challenging time for our team. With the significant light given off, poachers use this to their advantage to hunt animals. Over just a few nights we lost a warthog out of a drainage line within the suburbs of Victoria Falls, as well as two buffalo less than 1 kilometer into the Park. Evidence on the ground showed that the buffalo were killed using the “herding” method of poaching where snares are set and the animals are chased into them. Signs suggested that the poachers attempted at least 3 times to catch these animals, and finally found success ensnaring not 1 but 2 in a single hunt.

Sadly, with the boom of game birds, the vast majority of the animals poached were guinea fowl and francolin. Our teams discovered no less than 11 of these birds caught and killed by poachers. Some still trapped, and others in follow up investigations after arrests had been made.

Again, whilst these small animals may be the intended target, the methods used in which to catch them have significant implications for a wide range of other animals.

On another sad note, the team reacted to 2 vulture reports. The first was deep into the Park and the second was within the City limits of the new Masuwe development area. In both instances elephant carcasses were found. Investigations did not reveal any obvious cause of death with ivory intact and no indications of poaching. Both cases were of adult male elephants and samples were taken by the Wildlife Trust Vets to assertain a cause of death. At this stage they have been deemed natural.

Whilst the threat has certainly increased over the last couple of months, the team has responded well and had some good wins. Sadly, all of the bush meat arrests were made after the loss of animal life. Whilst this is sad, it does drastically add evidence to the case and help with better convictions.

The major arrests for us came rather unexpectadly. Following reports of a buffalo carcass discovered, the team went to the scene to further investigate the method used to snare the buffalo. Understanding if the “herding” method was used or if it was the more traditional set a snare and wait method. Understanding this helps with developing a suspect base.

We quickly came onto the distinct trail of a buffalo herd running through the bush. This, together with other signs clearly highlighted that the “herding” method had been used.

We followed the clear trail which led in the direction of where the carcass was discovered. As we were about to reach the scene, two individuals were discovered crouched down in the bush. They saw us just as we spotted them and they fled. Thanks to the athletasism of the Rangers, one individual was apprehended. A follow up of where they had been crouched down revealed some unravelled cable snares.

Signs on the ground showed that these had been hidden in a sack at the base of a tree. The snares also showed signs of having been successful in catching something recently. Our belief is that these snares had been used to kill the buffalo several days earlier, and the poachers had now returned to retrieve them and possibly use them to cause further distruction.

Regardless, it was a good win for conservation.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

The major highlight of the period for us has been how we have reacted to the greatly increased threat. Sadly, losses will happen and poaching will never truly be eliminated. All we can do is try our best to mitigate the threat as best we can.

Poaching has increased, but the majority of culprits have not gotten away with it. Days of ambush, stealth and surveillence and sheer grit and determination have enabled the team to bring many of those that are intent on casuing harm to our animals to justice. This effort, combined with a fantastic working relationship with the Authorties has led to some decent convictions and penalties.

Of the arrests made during this period, all but one have been finalised at the courts with an accumulated 54 months of prison time being issued across the accused persons. This sends a string message to all who would seek to do harm to our wildlife. We will catch you, and you will be punished for your crimes!

Bhejane Water For Wildlife Update December 2025-March 2026

The wet season is our quite period in the year. Mother Nature takes over the responsibility of ensuring that there is ample drinking water for the animals. And wow, what a season it has been!

The 2025/2026 rainy season has been one of the best in recent years, with much of the landscape having received an average 800mm of rain. Not only has the volume been great, but the regularity and consistency has meant that the vegetation has thrived. Thick green trees and towering grass dominate much of the landscape now, and signifies excellent grazing for the season.

With the torrential storms, flooding rivers and inaccessible roads there is not a lot of work that can be done. As such, the teams have taken their hard earned annual leave, resting up after a busy period, and recuperating in preparation for the inevitable dry season ahead of us.

At the time of writing this update, the rains seem to have subsided and there is a notable shift in the seasons. Whilst all signs point to a relatively low pressure year, our water for wildlife work remains just as important as the bush dries out and the herds descend into the landscape.

KAZUMA NATIONAL PARK

Kazuma has received the bulk of the rain this season, with some estimates suggesting over 1000mm falling. The depression is pretty much flooded, with two hippo taking up semi-permanent residence in the middle of the vlei. The game has scattered and the grass towers above your vehicle.

Bar a few roads, the park has been pretty inaccessible at the moment, with much of the black cotton soil soaked and slippery. Parks have done a fantastic job attending to particularly bad patches, filling them with rocks and allowing a bit more access. Already talk is shifting to fire protection. With the abundant vegetation, this will be a very real threat in the months ahead and planning has begun.

Thanks to Kazuma Stakeholders, corner pan is now the proud owner of a day visitor platform. Set away from the overnight hide, and designed to decongest traffic, and give opportunity to more people to experience the wonder of the depression.

From a water for wildlife point of view, there is really very little that we have been able to do the last few months. Access to several of our systems has been impossible and all pans are near 100% capacity. As the land begins its annual dry out, and access gets easier, our work begins in earnest. Over the next few weeks, the teams will access all of our systems and ensure that they are pumping at capacity, to maintain the already swollen pans.

ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK – CHAMABONDA

Zambezi National Park is in much the same position as Kazuma. Excellent rainfall has filled the pans and grown the bush. Despite our best efforts over the years to make the roads all weather, with the amount of rainfall, there are some sticky patches and we have had difficulties in fully accessing the area.

The team has started their annual clearing program. Slashing the overgrown grass around the solar panels and borehole infrastructure. Not only does this make it easier to access, but greatly reduces the risk of fires and other faults occurring when choked with vegetation.

Chamabonda 3 platform took a bit of damage at some point over the festive season. Campers trying to avoid the rain brought their braai onto the platform. Unfortunately, the heat and coals burnt a hole in the platform. Very lucky to have not caused a serious fire. This has since been prepared.

Timots platform has also had a bit of work done to it over the course of the last few months. Some doors needed repairing, and the furniture needed a new coat of varnish. Whilst our work is focused on water, maintaining this key infrastructure is just as important.

All the water infrastructure is performing well and all the pans are full. One would expect the wildlife sightings to have reduced significantly with the abundant resources around. This has been far from the case. Whilst every drive is different, we have been blessed with some excellent experiences.

The first was the discovery of nearly 500 elephants, spread across a kilometre or so, but all focused on muddy puddles. Our assumption is that these natural depressions are mineral deposits that are being exposed by the rain. Quite a spectacle to witness.

We were stunned to come across a hippo within the Chamabonda, between Timots platform and Borehole 1. Whilst not in a pan, this large mammal had half submerged itself in a large puddle with its head hiding in some bushes. Sadly it has not been seen again on the vlei, and in all likelihood a young male dispersing to new areas.

HWANGE NATIONAL PARK – ROBINS & SINAMATELLA

Just like Kazuma, This has been our most inaccessible area for the last few months. Several of our systems have not been checked since the rains began. We simply cannot get there. Particularly the back areas of Robins where black cotton soil dominates the landscape and becomes very sticky when wet.

However, with the fantastic rainy season, all the pans are full to the brim. As it dries out, April will see the teams venturing further as we begin checking on the systems, ensuring that all is functioning for the up-coming dry months.

The bush is thriving and very thick, however we have been blessed with some incredible sightings. A pangolin tops them off. These shy and secretive animals are seldom seen, so coming across one ambling over the road is special indeed.

Whilst all the pans are full, the violent storms did take their toll on the landscape. We lost Inyatue Dam wall. With years of elephant traffic over the earth wall, furrows have been cut. For the first time in a long time, the dam filled, and sadly breached over one of these furrows.

It will be a project of ours this year, but unfortunately we cannot rely on this large water source to hold the season.

The Masuma pipeline also took a pounding this season. Crossing a river bed, this pipe gets exposed and damaged when the river flows. With the rains we had this year, this happened quite a bit over the last few months. Whilst the team will continue to conduct the repairs needed, the long term plan is to redirect the pipeline to stop this from happening.

The big news coming out of Hwange over the last few months have been some exciting growth and developments around our water for wildlife work.

First and foremost, Bhejane was the very proud recipient of an upgraded vehicle. As mentioned previously, our old land rovers are now very tired, and spend more time off the road than on it.

Our teams travel into areas seldom frequented by the everyday traveller. Having a reliable vehicle is imperative, and ensures that we are able to the job required.

A massive Thank You to SAE Institute of Germany for the incredible donation of this vehicle. It’s been deployed a couple of months now and has already been a massive help in the field. Bringing confidence in their tools to the team, and allowing greater accessibility, even on the wet roads.

The good news doesn’t stop there. Bhejane has been awarded a grant from the Beit Trust. An organisation with deep roots in charitable work across the continent.

The focus of this grant is to increase the yield of water being supplied within the black rhino IPZ in Sinamatella.

As previously mentioned, we have consolidated our water for wildlife work, with the focus shifting from creating more pans, to improving the water delivery at existing pans. We do this through the installation of batteries to existing systems. Solar alone is great, but powered by the suns intensity, it only gives us about 8 hours of pumping a day. Adding battery power to the system allows pumping to be extended.

The Beit Trust have awarded us a grant to install battery systems on not one, not two, but four boreholes within the Sinamatella landscape. Effectively extending the pumping hours from 8 to 18. Drastically increasing the volume of water supplied, and ensuring the sustainability of these key waterholes.

Whilst the rain has delayed the installation of these systems, the next two months or so will see these amazing additions begin contributing to our water for wildlife work.

Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit March 2026 Update

The last month or so has seen a definite shift in the seasons. Whilst there was still some decent storms in March, the bush has started to change. Flashes of orange, amber and brown now grace the landscape as the vegetation begins its annual die off for the season.

This has improved visibility and made patrolling a little easier. Sadly, this also aids those who wish to cause our animals harm. Whilst we continue to enjoy a relatively low pressure period, the threat is ever present, and we have seen an increase in poaching activity in March.

One thing we are very proud of is the work we have put in to better understanding our core operational area. Not a lot is missed by the team, and we are confident that at least 90% of poacher activity is identified, during the actual act, or within 24 hours of it happening.

This is largely due to our expansion of surveillence equipment with a rapid response team and a focused patrol plan and effort. A massive area of growth for us is our intimate understanding of our key operational area.

In comparison to previous years, we continue to be blessed with relatively low poaching pressure. Testiment to the teams efforts and perseverance, and ultimately striving towards the goal of mitigating the poaching threat to our beloved Victoria Falls.

STATISTICS

March represents the quietest month in several years in terms of snares recovered. Compared to the 37 in the same month last year. Having said that, the poaching method has changed quite a bit over the period, largely due to the pressure applied by our team. Poachers have shifted towards carrying the snares with them, rather than leave them hidden in the bush. The previous successes we have had ambushing these snares has forced this change.

Whilst this does make it a little harder to detect poaching attempts, it does put the poacher at risk of being caught in possession, which in itself is a crime.

Sadly, 4 of the 6 snares recovered were for warthog, an animal this under constant threat due to its habits of sleeping in burrows. We are aware of this, and much of our focused efforts aim to mitigate this.

This is our favourite statistic, primarily because it is the best independent “check” we have of our work. Inevitably, a percentage of animals trapped by snares will break free from the tree, but run away with a tight piece of wire around them. In our operational area, and the method used by the poachers, this statistic can be has high as 30-40%.

Historically, the vast majority of animals in need of rescue have been identified by the general public of Vic Falls and reported in. The fact that these reports have not been coming in is a good reflection of the poaching threat. With zero animals rescued from snares for several months now, logic would suggest that the threat is low.

Carcasses Discovered: 5

Cause of Death:         

1 warthog euthanized due to probable electrocution whilst foraging

2 impalas, 1 young kudu and 1 white tailed mongoose. All victims of road traffic accidents.

A second month in a row where we did not discover any animal loss due to poaching. However, its been a bad period of road traffic accidents.

The Kazangula road, and the Park Way road past Elephant Hills continue to be a major threat to our animals. We reacted to no less than 4 incidents this month alone. We know of another 2 outside of Victoria Falls. Our work seeks to protect animals, which ultimately leads to an increase in their numbers. This combined with a rapidly growing human population will see more and more incidents. Our desperate appeal is for caution and respect when driving through our wild areas. Not only is the cost of a collision expensive, but life threatening to the animal and the person.

In a bizzare situation, we responded to a warthog that was not in a good way. Alive, but pretty immobile with a wound on its back. Unfortuantely, the animal was humanely euthanized due to its condition. Close inspection suggested the wound was a burn mark, and the probable cause was coming into contact with a live wire somewhere within the urban area. This is the second electrocution in 2 months.

There has been an uptick of the illegal harvesting of live trees within our landscape. In most cases, this timber is destined for the curio market trade, where specific hardwoods are targeted.

This is massively distructive to the natural environment, destroying a live tree that has taken decades to grow, and contributing significantly to the habitat around us.

The team also had a good win with the arrest of some quarry poachers. Illegally digging up the groud to harvest the stone used for building. Again, the long term implications on the ecosystem are vast. This “pits” become death traps for small animals, and the resultant degredation causes erosion.

The team reacted to 2 separate pieces of information regarding the illegal trade in bush meat. One implied that the poachers were returning from the field. A house was identified and the team conducted a stakeout. Whilst the occupants did indeed pitch up. They were empty handed, and further information suggests that their hunt was not successful.

In the second instance. Intelligence led us to a vehicle that is suspected of ferrying meat to various outlets. This vehicle has been under surveillance for a couple of weeks now, and whilst its movements are consistent with the information, there has been no indication of meat.

In both cases, no arrest was actioned so as to maintain the element of surprise and ensure that the culprits are intercepted red handed, with evidnece that will strengthen a conviction. However, valuable information has gained adding new “people of interest” to our list and furthering our understanding of the market.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

The effectiveness of our surveillance technology and the resultant quick reaction has really been highlighted this month. Whilst no arrests were affected disrupting the threat was achieved. In both cases, the suspect was not free to go about his business unhindered.

In both cases, our intervention prevented loss of animal life.

However, the major reflection point this month centres on our conservation education efforts. In partnership with the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, VFAPU contributes to weekly activities seeking to foster a love and passion for wildlife within the youth of our communities.

This vital work address many of the wildlife challenges at a grass routes level, imparting knowledge of how interconnected our ecosystems are inspiring the next generation of wildlife protectors.

Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit February 2026 Update

February has shown the dark side of living side by side with animals. Victoria Falls has been devistated by the death of two individuals due to the wildlife that we share our home with. Our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the victims, our Thoughts and Prayers are with you.

The co-existence we have in our beloved City is something we can always be proud of. But we have maintained that it is not perfect. Our day to day job focuses on the human conflict on the environment, namely poaching. However, the element of animals conflicting with humans is very real. Every wildlife incursion into our streets has the potential of turning nasty. Fortunately, our City embraces its wild nature, and the vast majority of encounters are peaceful and without incident.

From a conservation point of view, there are no winners in a conflict situation. Human life and livelihoods are lost, resulting in a lower tolerance for the animals and increased persecution. With an active conservation effort and a growing human population, we must be constantly evolving our conflict mitigation methods to maintain our strong co-existence.

STATISTICS

13 of these snares were recovered during a raid on a house and were not active.

Of concern was the discovery of 2 warthog traps and a heavy-duty cable wrapped around a log. Designed to be placed over the entrance of the burrow whilst the poachers attempt to extract the warthog from their hole. As they bolt out, the first one snares the snare, and runs off dragging a large forked log. This very quickly gets stuck in surrounding bushes and restrains the poor animal whilst the poachers rush in to dispatch it with a spear.

We ambushed two such traps hidden in trees for over 2 weeks, but unfortunately the suspects did not return and we recovered them.

We are always pleased when this statistic is low. The more animals in need of rescue, the higher the poaching threat. This statistic echoes our low snare recovery and further supports a low-pressure period.

We have however seen a marked increase in the number of animal incursions into the City. This has primarily been elephants, with almost nightly reports. This is not uncommon for this time of year. The smorgasbord of delicacies on offer at the moment is irresistible to these intelligent creatures. Fruit trees are laden with ripe delights, and almost every vacant piece of land within the City is abundant with maize and a variety of other vegetables.

Sadly, due to recent tragedies, there is a heightened sense of fear with these animals around making our reaction and monitoring of these incursions that much more important.

Carcasses Discovered: 5

Cause of Death:         

1 Impala and 1 bushbuck killed by predators

1 Giraffe electrocuted.

2 Elephants euthanized due to Human/Animal Conflict.

Whilst no loss of animals life due to poaching was discovered, there was still loss of animal life found.

The leopard activity within the wildlife corridor continues to be prevelant with 2 kill sites discovered over the month. Sightings are difficult with the bush so thick, but sign on the ground suggest the regular presence of at least 1 male and 1 female.

Sadly, the inevitable euthanasia of the conflict elephants also took place this month. As mentioned above, there are no winners in a conflict situation with this month recording significant loss of life.

The very unfortunate one for us was the discovery of an adult giraffe. Killed by electrocution. With all the rain and the moist ground, a pole partially collapsed in a more remote area. Before it could be discovered and rectified, a giraffe fell victim to the low hanging live cable. A sad and unnecessary loss.

With the thick bush, and the enhanced fear we have seen a reduction in the number of firewood poaching contacts.

There was one firewood incursion in the month that triggered a substantial reaction from several players in the protection space.

Late afternoon we received a report of 5-6 people seen jumping across a road and entering the bush. Firewood poachers are not known for their anti-tracking efforts, and the description received suggested a larger poaching threat.

An extensive team was quickly mobilized including National Parks Rangers, Take Action K9’s and VFAPU Rangers. We quickly picked up on the trail where signs on the ground showed that these people were trying to cover their tracks. With the aid of the dog we were able to catch up quite quickly to the suspects. It turned out to be 6 ladies who were gathering firewood. The reaction far outweighed the threat as we suspected to come across a bush meat syndicate, either trapping animals or harvesting already caught prey.

Needless to say, the shocked looks on their faces at the extensive team come in to apprehend them told a story, and we hope that word has got out a bit!

Our big arrest for the month was an extensive operation and aptly our highlight for the period.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

We are extremely pleased to report a very successful operation resulting in the arrest of 2 individuals for various crimes. Working with the ZRP Minerals Flora and Fauna Unit, as well as the National Parks Investigations Team this success is another feather in the cap for our intelligence work.

Information was received of an individual intending to sell Pangolin scales. An extensive sting operation was initiated which involved a full day of survellience work. Once we were confident that the suspect had the product in hand, we pounced and successfully arrested him.

This individual, a Zambian National, has since been charged and sentenced to the mandatory 9 year prison sentence for his crime. Further investigation into this case led to a second operation which saw us raid a house near Dete town on the outskirts of Hwange National Park. A team of VFAPU Rangers and Police left Vic Falls at 1am, collecting Parks Investigation officers in Hwange Town and joining up with the Conservation Wildlife Fund K9 detection unit for the raid.

Whilst we did not find the product we were after, we did recover 13 wire snares as well as other contraband. A suspect was arrested and has since been charged with nearly a year in prison. This suspect is known to us having previously been arrested by our team for attempting to trade serval skins, and previous cases involving the illegal trade in wildlife parts.

It is a big win for the team, and conservation in general. It also furthers our understanding of the connected network within the criminal syndicates. This arrest has taken out some important players in the system, and aids in disrupting the supply chain.

A massive thak you and congratulations to the various wildlife authorities and stakeholders who took part in this big win.

HUMAN WILDLIFE CONFLICT

This has certainly been a month of conflict and loss and. Besides the tragic loss of human and elephant life, we also lost a giraffe, needlessly succumbing to a fault in human infrastructure.

A strange report was also received and surely entirely unique to Vic Falls.

A pack of painted dogs has been frequenting the wildlife corridor over the last few months. Coming in like a tornado to prey on the kudu, impala and bushbuck that frequent the area. One such hunt brought the dogs right to the edge of the City, observed as they attempted to bring down an impala.

All of a sudden, a domestic dog was in the mix, running with the pack engrossed in the ancient instinct to hunt. Quickly the wild dogs turned on the newcomer which sent him scampering back to his handler who had been taking him for a walk.

Whilst no animal was hurt, this could have ended much worse and did result in a failed hunt for the wild dogs.

Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching January 2026 Update

First and foremost, a very Happy New Year and all the best for 2026.

This update comes as a complete contrast to my previous few reports. We had a fantastic arrest and conviction year in 2025 with a 209% increase on 2024. The result of this is that we have a pretty low pressure second half of the year. Traditionally the dry season is when poaching peaks, but our teams recorded just 2 poaching incidents between August and December last year.

 Until the 30^th December.

 On the 30^th, VFAPU Rangers reacted to vultures which led us to a poaching scene. A warthog, caught and killed during the night whilst taking refuge in a drainage line. Since then, the team has discovered a further 5 losses due to poaching.

We have put this down to a combination of a few things.

Firstly, the Christmas and New Year periods are traditionally high pressure times. People are looking for some extra money for the festive season, and then again in the new year as annual expenses kick in. Sadly, these financially expensive

The second reason is the release of previously convicted poachers having served their time behind bars. The average bush meat poacher gets anything from 9-24 months in prison. At least 2 of those we arrested at the beginning of 2025 have been released from prison. Notorious poachers inevitably go back to poaching, it can be lucrative and it’s what they know.

 The final reason is the time of year. The bush is bursting with new life, babies have been born, and the pool of animals to target has grown with the annual calving season. This particularly affects warthog and impala.

The pressure is well and truly on as we enter the New Year. Already the team have had a great win and we remain completely dedicated to the preservation and protection of this incredible landscape.

 We absolutely could not have achieved what we did in 2025 and continue to do in 2026, without the amazing contributions of our friends and donors. We are deeply appreciative of your support, and humbled to be serving our wildlife on a daily basis. Thank you for sharing the vision, and for fueling the cause.

STATISTICS FOR THE MONTH

The vast majority of snares recovered make up two snare lines.

The first, discovered just before Christmas were freshly set in the National Park, not far from the boundary with the City. The VFAPU-IMPI Horse Mounted Unit discovered them on a routine patrol.

 Immediately an operation was initiated and saw a rotation of teams take up ambush positions for a solid 96 hour period. The ambush was called off after day 4. Generally, poachers who set snare lines will check them well before 96 hours. The fact that he had not turned up meant we were either compromised, or he had abandoned them for one reason or another. The final sweep yielding 14 snares set to catch smaller antelope such as impala.

The second was an operation conducted deep within the National Park. With our close working relationship with the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, we were alerted to the discovery of a lion collar, off the lion, with evidence of tampering. We deployed to the last known location of the collar to conduct a thorough sweep. Whilst we did not locate any evidence relating to the lion, we did come across a fresh poacher base, the remains of a poached kudu and impala as well as 9 active snares. The balance of the snares collected were bits and pieces from the landscape. One was a warthog trap, designed to catch these poor animals out of their nightly burrows.

 The design is simple, a heavy duty cable snare, tied securely to a large log. The log generally has a large V shape designed to hook onto bushes when the animal flees. Restraining it long enough for the poachers to dispatch it with a spear.

VFAPU Rangers assisted with the rescue of two animals during the period. Neither of them the traditional animal caught in a snare scenario.

 The first came after some prolonged, heavy rains. After a particularly large storm early in December, and crocodile had found its way into the swimming pool at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. Initially thought to be quite small, this prehistoric reptile measured over 6 foot, and certainly not something you want to encounter on your morning swim. VFAPU teamed up with Victoria Falls Crocodiles and the Wildlife Authorities to remove this unique, but unwanted guest!

The second rescue was just as strange. A report came in of a buffalo calf on the side of the road opposite Palm River Hotel. Knowing the buffalo have been in the area, we reacted expecting to find the mother poached and the calf now looking for comfort. On arrival, we quickly realised that the calf was very young, a week old at most. It was not afraid of people, and was approaching vehicles with ease.

The team immediately began conducting a 360 degree sweep around the area where the buffalo was found, expecting to find a poaching scene. Instead, we found the buffalo herd less than 500m from the calf. After some consultation, it was agreed to try and integrate the calf back to the herd. Perhaps it was lost, and the mother just needed to find it again. A daring mission was initiated where VFAPU rangers attempted to walk the calf in as close to the herd as possible. Buffalo are renowned for defending their own against a threat, and with the calf’s bellowing, we feared that we would be the recipient of this defensive behaviour.

 We crept the calf in to about 50m of the resting herd and made our quick our retreat. The calf began to bellow when left alone. We returned 30 minutes later to find fresh adult spoor where we had left he calf, and no sign of the distressed baby. We continued to monitor the herd for 3 days after, and are confident that this youngster was successfully reunited with it’s mom. A win for the next generation of buffalo.

Was a tough period for the animals in December and January. Of the 9 mortalities we discovered, two were a result of predation, 1 caused by a vehicle collision on the Kazangula road, and 6 identified as poached.

The warthog mentioned above was the first discovery made where the cause was human related. The hyena death followed not long after. A tragic loss of a clan member who has taken up residence not far from the Kazangula road. This individual unlucky to be struck by the very present threat of vehicles.

The forey deep into the Park, and the discovery of freshly poached impala and kudu add to the number of poached animals. Their remains suggesting that all the meat had been harvested, leaving the worthless prices of skin and bone.

The final contribution was of 3 impala killed in a single day within the Big Tree wildlife corridor. Two killed by suspects who where later arrested, and one killed by a snare that was abandoned after we reacted and disturbed the poachers in the act.

Cause of Death:         

1 Kudu, 1 Impala killed by predators

1 Hyena killed by a vehicle  

4 Impala, 1 kudu, 1 warthog killed by poachers.

With a busier poacher period, so too are our arrest statistics up. The firewood culprits are a continual battle, however, emphasis has been put on those who are felling live trees. This is a serious offence, and causes significant damage to the ecosystem.

We also picked up two fishing poachers during the period, both notorious culprits who have ignored previous warnings.

Our intelligence work played a big part in apprehending 4 individuals, caught in possession of animal meat. All were apprehended and charged for their crime.

The big arrest for us came towards the end of January when a routine patrol bumped two individuals carrying the freshly killed carcass of an impala. After an athletic chase and quick maneuvering, the team apprehended one of the two individuals. A known poachers to us and someone we have been after for a while, caught red handed. The poachers were discovered as they were moving the carcass from the point of killing, to a secluded point close to the road. Private enough to butcher the carcass, and close enough to be uplifted by a vehicle.

A second carcass was discovered the next day, also stashed away, ready to be collected. This case is still in the courts, and we hope for the maximum sentence for this poacher.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

The biggest highlight for the period came just before Christmas. Intelligence led us to an individual attempting to sell ivory in Hwange. Immediately the VFAPU team mobalised to assist in a sting operation.

 The first attempt failed, with the suspect not showing up, but fortunately, just two days later he committed to a sale. Undercover, the VFAPU team traveled to Hwange and successfully conducted the operation. Arresting an individual in possession of two pieces of ivory.

This is a massive win for the unit, taking another illegal wildlife trader off the streets. The mandatory sentence is 9 years for possession of ivory, and this individual will not be a threat to our wild spaces for some time.

Bhejane Water For Wildlife Update September to October 2025

Much has happened on the Water for Wildlife front since our update in August. With temperatures souring well above 40 degrees Celsius, our teams have been extremely active ensuring that life giving water keeps flowing for the many animals that depend on it.

Game counts, system upgrades and the inevitable repairs and maintenance dominated our efforts over this period. The biggest news however is the return of the rains. We have been blessed with some early storms across the landscape and the change in the bush is rapid and dramatic. Forecasts suggest that these are not anomalies, and indeed the season has started, with rain expected for the foreseeable future now.

This is always a momentous occasion for us as it signifies another successful season of providing vital Water for Wildlife. The shear relief on show by the animals is something to behold, rejoicing after months of challenge. The land responds almost instantly, with the bare mopane trees sprouting new green leaves almost overnight and bursts of colour return to the dusty arid landscape.

The herds too have already started to move off. A recent trip through Hwange yielding less than 10 elephants over 3 days and almost 200 kilometres. Compared to the drought of last year, this year has felt like a breeze and we remain hopeful for another year of fantastic rain.

KAZUMA NATIONAL PARK

Some big news coming out of Kazuma recently. Roan pan is now the very proud owner of a viewing platform! A massive thank you to Andrew Brown, Trevor Lane, Colin Wilson and Nigel Theison for this incredible addition to the Park.

It’s been a weird season for Kazuma this year. Whilst game viewing during the dry months is always exceptional, it has been a little quieter compared to previous years. We have put this largely down to the great rains that we had in the 2024/2025 season and the abundant natural water that remained almost the entire season. The reduction in animal sightings may also have something to do with regular visits by a pack of wild dogs. Chaos descends on the depression when these guys are around and spook a lot of the plains game into the trees.

The Bhejane annual game count on the 6th of September further represents a quieter year for Kazuma. 2024 (a drought year) saw a grand total of 3070 mammals counted across 32 different species. 2025 recorded 1396 mammals counted across 26 different species, the second lowest count in humble 5 years. A very vivid example of the effect that the amount of rain has within the wild landscapes, and the movement of animals.

A massive thank you to all the counters and we are very pleased to say that this is the first year that we have had all pans counted. This data is hugely helpful in understanding the pressure that the waterholes come under during the dry months.

With only a couple of minor repairs required at Roan Pan, our water infrastructure has held up well. With the rains now upon us, we can safely say that we have made it through the dry season unscathed.

ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK – CHAMABONDA

In complete contrast to Kazuma Pan National Park, the Chamabonda has been teeming with wildlife over the last couple of months. With little natural water in this area, our pumped pans are the only source for animals to drink. This has made for exceptional game viewing with herds of elephant and buffalo a daily occurrence.

The roan that appeared a couple of months ago seem to have moved off and haven’t been sighted recently. However, we are very happy to report a decent herd of eland frequenting the vlei, a good 30 strong!

The 2025 annual Bhejane Game Count further reflected the incredible wildlife haven that the Chamabonda has become over the last decade or so. 2025 counted a total of 2998 mammals across 24 species, up about 150 from last year, and the largest number of mammals counted to date.

Again, a massive thank you to all the counters, with every pan in the Chamabonda and Kalisosa Vlei ecosystems counted this year.

The last couple of months have seen some work being done to the roads within the Chamabonda. Our great desire is to have access to the vlei all year round. Whilst this has mostly been the case, the terrific storms of last rainy season certainly did a number on the roads in. Mike Karassellos, came to the party and has done wonders on the access road in from the Chamabonda gate. In return for his being allowed to cut and bail the grass on the vlei, his grader has been hard at work ensuring the roads remain accessible.

From a water for wildlife point of view it’s been a great couple of months for us. One of the systems at Chamabonda 1 had a breakdown. Sadly it was the better performing of the two systems there. With it not providing water for just under a week, combined with the significant drinking pressure this pan gets, the level of the dropped significantly. Whilst we attended to the problem quickly and had everything back up and running, we have struggled to get the pan to fill.

However, with a couple of decent storms in late October, the pan is looking good again, and the drinking pressure has reduced drastically. Other than that, all our other water points have held up well and managed to deliver more water than was being consumed. Pans remained at healthy levels, and the herds descended day after day to quench their thirst.

The Chamabonda has become a prime wildlife ecosystem over the years, a living testament to how important water is and the life that it brings to an area. Each year we continue to see changes with animals shifting further up the vlei, and sightings of new species. Over the next few years we hope to boast herds of Roan, Tsessebe and even the odd ostrich!

HWANGE NATIONAL PARK – ROBINS & SINAMATELLA

Game viewing in Hwange has been nothing less than spectacular during the last couple of months. The Robins area in particular has offered some incredible sightings with lions almost at every waterhole, cheetah being seen regularly around salt pans. Even leopard and Wild Dog have been making a regular appearance.

With the fantastic grazing available as a result of good rains last year, the plains game have done very well. This dry season in particular is far milder than previous years. Long may it continue! It’s been a busy couple of months for our Water for Wildlife teams in Hwange with some necessary upgrades being made to several systems and the constant repairs and maintenance work that comes with the season.

We reported on the return of the elephant herds towards the end of August. This continued in earnest throughout September. Whilst it is a little later than expected, and largely thanks to the late rain we had, their return was inevitable. With it, came the increased drinking pressure as well as the tampering of our pipelines.

Our teams attended to no less than 6 pipe breaks  that had been fiddled with by these massive pachyderms. No matter how deep we  put them, or how much protection we give them, the elephants always manage to  find them. It just one of the challenges we face when pumping significant  amounts of water!

Mashambo took the brunt of the issues. Being one of the first systems we installed the panels are directly above the borehole. This is logical from a cost effectiveness point of view as we use less cable. But if the elephants decide they like the smell of the water at the top of the borehole, a flimsy solar panel won’t stop them. This is exactly what happened at Mashambo. Fortunately, the system is still working, but we have it on our program for next year to put the panels a little further away from the pipeline.

Despite the renovation of an additional borehole, and ample water going into Mafas pan, the elephants still decided that they preferred water directly from the pipe. Fortunately, they tampering didn’t affect the actual system itself, and we managed to replace the 50 odd meters of pipe they pulled up. Always fun games when the Jumbo are around!

The team spent a fair bit of time in the back area of Robins over the last few months. With Manzibhovu and Mahaboti both having received battery systems this year we have been tinkering with a few things and monitoring their performance to ensure maximum delivery of water to these vital pans.

Mahaboti got a brand new set of solar panels. The current ones were pretty old, and with the rapid advancements in solar technology, we were able to replace the same number of panels, but almost double the power generation. This was necessary given the extended pumping time thanks to the battery system. The team spent a few days camping at the site and reported that there was not a single moment where they did not witness at least one elephant at the pan. A significant example of how important this water is for animals in these rugged back areas.  

Manzibomvu also had a bit of an upgrade. We weren’t happy with the amount of water that it was producing. Our data collection and stats suggest that this hole can deliver a lot more water than it actually was.

We opted to upgrade the entire underground system and put a bigger pump and motor down the hole. At the same time we replaced the entire length of rising main pipe as it had been repaired many times before. Each join becoming a weak spot and a potential place for the pipe to burst. It’s no small feat hauling a pump and motor up from over 100 meters underground but the team did a sterling job and successfully installed the new piping, complete with a new pump and motor.

We are very pleased to say that these upgrades combined with the battery system is producing some excellent water to this hugely important pan.

Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit September – October 2025 Update

The last two months have been busy and I must start this update with an apology. Between being in the field and out of town, I did not manage to write a September update. As such, the below represents two months’ worth of effort for the Unit.

It’s been a bumper couple of months with fundraising golf days, award nominations, joint patrols in Hwange and Zambezi Parks and the growth of our intelligence as we continue to work towards mitigating the ever present poaching threat.

The 22^nd annual Victoria Falls Safari Collection Golf Day kicked off in September. Taking place at the amazing Borrowdale Brooke Golf Course in Harare, it is a massive day for our Unit. An event that has been supporting our work for 22 years and besides being our biggest fundraiser in the year it is also an opportunity for us to showcase our work to a greater audience.

A massive thank you to the amazing Victoria Falls Safari Collection for yet another incredible event!

It is our great desire to have multiple golf events happening in unison across many destinations on the same day. All in support of anti-poaching and raising funds for our work. 2025 saw the start of the dream being realised with the 1^st annual Victoria Falls Golf Day. Organised and hosted by Round Table 7- Victoria Falls, the inaugural event kicked off in style with 20 teams taking to the fairways (sometimes) and swinging for conservation.

A massive thank you to Round Table 7-Victoria Falls for sharing our vision and taking charge of a Vic Falls Golf Day. We look forward to this becoming an annual event!

October saw the nomination of our Founder, Charles Brightman, for the prestigious World Wide Vets Gold Star Award for his work in conservation. With VFAPU about to complete its 26^th year of operation, Charles has dedicated much of his life to protecting our wildlife and the natural spaces around us. His work is one of the main reasons that animals are found in abundance within the Victoria Falls landscape and this award would represent a small recognition of his work.

STATISTICS FOR THE MONTH

The dry season is traditionally a busier period for us, and this year has been no different. With animals congregating around limited resources they are easier to target for poachers. Sadly, and despite our best efforts, September and October saw several attempts on our wildlife.

Almost half of the snares recovered in this period have come from outside of our traditional patrol areas. VFAPU sent a team to the Sinamatella area of Hwange National Park during September to boost manpower resources. This vast area is under a constant poaching threat and being able to unite our efforts against this is exactly why the Wildlife Conservation Coalition was formed.

Similarly, VFAPU Rangers joined forces with National Parks, Matetsi Unit 7 and Zambezi Park Support Foundation to sweep along the river front. There has been an increase in cross border incursions targeting our wildlife and our united team of 29 strong sought to mitigate this threat through a show of force.

Just the one animal in need of rescue during the last 2 months. We are extremely happy to report that this statistic is significantly down from the same period last year. 5 in 2025 compared to 23 in 2024. This is largely due to the significant arrests that have been made this year with some of the major culprits currently behind bars.

This rescue was a little different to the norm. A report came of a buffalo with a tin can stuck over its back right hoof. Most certainly an accident, but another man made incident that needed to be addressed. Working closely with the IMPI Horse mounted Unit and the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, our teams rushed to the scene to assist the animal. It was an adult female and part of a herd of about 50 who had all just come from a mud wallow. Covered in mud, it was nearly impossible to see a can. Eventually the herd began to move off, and right in front of us was an adult female limping badly on her back leg.

The VFWT Vet immediately got a dart into her and we backed off to let the drug take effect. Once she was asleep, the team moved in to aid the distressed animal. We quickly determined that there was no can on the foot! Worried we had darted the wrong animal we immediately began washing the mud off to get a better look and determine the cause of the limp.

A fresh wound was found near her hock and believed to be the cause of her discomfort. It was cleaned and treated and the animal was reversed. With the rest of the herd watching over us from close by, we were able to get a good look at the rest of them and determined that this indeed was the right animal, and she must have managed to dislodge the can on her own. Regardless, the wound was undoubtedly caused by the foreign object she had picked up and needed to be cleaned out.

We continue to report all carcasses found, including the inevitable deaths by natural causes. Sadly we discovered 4 animal remains where the cause of death was deemed to be natural with no sign or evidence of foul play.

A rather large crocodile was discovered on a routine patrol. It was alive, but considering its proximity to the Safari Lodge water hole and the river, we didn’t think much of it. Over the next few days, we saw it regularly, not moving much out of the vicinity.

Sadly, on our next visit we found that it had passed away. With no obvious sign of fighting and nothing conclusive in the tests, it has been deemed a natural death. One of the stranger ones for our team to encounter.

Animals lost to poaching is always a bitter pill to swallow. Whilst such losses are unfortunately part of the job we have chosen to do, we take it personally and cant help but feel that we have failed these animals. Sadly, we lost 3 animals that we know of in the last two months due to poaching.

The first was an adult hyena. Discovered trapped in a wire snare. The destruction of the earth round the scene told a story of struggle and suffering. What makes this worse, is that we believe the snare to have belonged to a poacher we arrested in August for killing a kudu. Whilst we swept the area around the kudu scene we failed to detect two other snares not too far away. It was one of these snares that caught and killed the hyena. A senseless, unnecessary loss!

Upon further investigation we found a second buffalo carcass less than 20 meters away. Caught and killed just days before, with much of its meat having been taken. Whilst loses like this are tough, there is always information to be gained. These buffalo have alerted us to a new gang that seems to be operating.

The area in which the animals were poached is close to a construction site, and we have already begun surveillance and intelligence gathering around the area. Key to understanding and predicting poacher motives.

Causes of Death:         

1 Crocodile, 1 Impala, 1 Buffalo Calf, 1 Elephant died of natural causes

1 Hyena, 2 Buffalo killed by Poachers.

We continue to see a reduction on the firewood poaching front. We believe this is a combination of the cold weather now having gone, and a new tactic we have been deploying to further deter this type of poaching.

We expect to see the demand on wood begin to climb again, as people start to stockpile before the rains well and truly descend. But will continue to mitigate this threat as best we can. Our big win, which came in October was the arrest of 4 individuals for attempting to sell a live pangolin in another part of the country. Whilst VFAPU was not directly involved with the arrest, the information gathered and the resources used to effect the arrest came from VFAPU and our growing informer network. This is a massive win for us, and probably the furthest afield that an arrest has been made thanks to our efforts.

We extend our deepest appreciation to the Law Enforcement agencies who enacted the arrest.

This is still an active case, and as such details have been withheld. This success is another step in our desire to mitigate the illegal trade of wildlife across the region!