Fire guards at Gwango

Aug 13, 2026

Every year, as part of preparing for the dry season, there is a lot of work that has to happen to prevent uncontrolled wildfires. Across Hwange, fire guards are cleared and maintained as part of the ongoing effort to reduce the risk of these fires spreading through the bush and surrounding areas. In Zimbabwe, fire protection is a shared responsibility, with the Forestry Commission playing an important role in coordinating and supporting fire prevention and management across the country. Operators, landowners and communities all have a part to play in reducing the risk of fires getting out of control.

At Gwango, this means carrying out our fire guard activities every year. Specific areas usually have to be cleared to create breaks between sections of vegetation, helping to slow or stop a fire should one start burning through the area. There is also fire control and prevention training that takes place, as well as inspection of equipment used to fight and control fires. These are preparations that may go largely unnoticed throughout the year but become particularly important during the months leading into the dry season, when the risk of wildfires increases.

There are different ways of creating these breaks. Some operators use graders to clear vegetation, while others rely on controlled burning. Both methods have proved to be effective, but they can also have an impact on the environment when not carefully managed. Clearing large areas with machinery can disturb the ground and vegetation, while burning can affect insects, small animals and habitats that provide shelter and food.

The aim is always to reduce the risk while causing as little unnecessary disturbance as possible. At Gwango especially, where wildlife and the natural environment are such a big part of everyday life, that balance is even more important. This is one of the biggest reasons we take this exercise very seriously and constantly work with the community to share knowledge, discuss the different approaches and find the best ways to protect our shared environment.

The consequences of uncontrolled fires are devastating and the level of destruction can usually be seen and felt immediately. Reports provided by the Forestry Commission do normally show the number of animals affected or lost in major fires later on, but the impact of the fires is usually instant. Beyond the larger animals that are easier to count, there are also countless smaller creatures, nests, insects and plant species that are affected by the heat and smoke. Many of these animals may be forced to leave their habitats before they are ready to migrate, which can cause further disruption to the ecosystem.

For us, preparing the fire guards is therefore simply another part of looking after our shared home. It is work that happens every year, alongside all the other maintenance and preparation that keeps Gwango safe and ready for guests. So, in case you happen to be driving through Gwango and notice the cleared strips running through the vegetation, that’s what they are ... fire breaks that are protecting the estate, its wildlife and the many caretakers of the land.