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SAFETY
Fire Management
In one of the original reports published on the Highlands Website some years ago, the writer of the report stated as a closing remark, “May the only fires on Highlands be those we make safely and intentionally”.
As everyone at Highlands can remember, in late September and throughout October 2023, the Waterberg region, specifically around Bela-Bela, was gripped by catastrophic veld fires that local authorities described as a major disaster. The inferno, which reportedly began on a farm outside the Mabalingwe Game Reserve, was driven by fierce winds and extreme heat, eventually consuming approximately 9,000 hectares of vital grazing land. The destruction was severe, with 56 privately-owned houses within the reserve razed to the ground and several other structures partially damaged, leaving many residents and holidaymakers in a state of shock. In addition to the massive infrastructure loss, the environmental toll was devastating as "countless" wild animals required urgent veterinary intervention, and two employees sustained injuries while battling the flames.
Video of the Helicopter from Working on Fire (WOF)
Although the Mabalingwe fire did not directly affect Highlands, a second, highly aggressive blaze ignited near the Bela Bela Dam area and swept through the rugged terrain toward Highlands Wilderness. This follow-up fire was particularly difficult to manage due to the "mountainous and inaccessible" nature of the Waterberg foothills, where strong north-westerly winds pushed the flames across dry, dense bushveld.
The impact on Highlands Wilderness was substantial, with the fire consuming large tracts of the farm’s management units, specifically affecting the grazing and browse capacity for the resident game. Although we at Highlands could not escape the catastrophe of this fire, we can be considered as one of the “lucky” areas in that we only lost one house with damage to another.
The veld fire brought together individuals from Highlands, which culminated in a “team” effort to combat the fire over several days and in doing so saved several houses within Highlands from destruction. Our own residents used digital platforms to coordinate emergency responses and track the fire's unpredictable path. Local fire protection associations and groups like Working on Fire (WoF) were instrumental, working alongside our own farm personnel and residents to protect Highlands Wilderness. Was it not for final aerial support (helicopters/spotters), Highlands could have suffered far greater losses.
The Mabalingwe event, as did our own, also led to calls for the region to be officially declared a disaster area, highlighting a desperate need for better aerial support and firebreak enforcement to prevent such a total decimation of the Waterberg in the future.
Please make sure that you read the Highlands fire regulations, be careful when making a fire, adhere to the fire danger index and be safe. Carelessness can cause the loss of lives and property.