Spending Time with the Lions

“The future of biodiversity conservation will always depend on how much we invest in gathering knowledge about the resources. Simply called research! Without much effort in collecting data, decisions will always be based on abstract and anecdotal observations. These observations will sometimes be correct, but most likely be wrong or biased due the observer’s cognitive biases. For example, we do not know how well our soils conserve the moisture from rainfall. This is a very important question given the aridity that characterises our region.

Our reserve largely depends on underground water from the little rainfall we get annually. Annual average rainfall is about 350mm during a very short rain season between October and March. The rainwater simply infiltrates the soil and gets collected in aquifers, which we then have to locate and drill. To understand more about our water situation and manage it appropriately, it is imperative to start from the basic behaviour of our water in soil. Thus, we need to know our soils better. We have therefore engaged Water and Environmental Engineering graduate students from the Delft University of Technology to help characterise our soil behaviour. Their research is aimed at describing soil properties and chemistry as far as water is concerned. They have only been in the Reserve for two weeks and their impression of the reserve is encouraging. In their own words…

‘’Our stay at the Limpopo-Lipadi Reserve has been an incredible opportunity for us. We’ve gained valuable insight into how the Reserve operates, its conservation efforts and the challenges it faces. We’ve had the privilege of experiencing the stunning wildlife up close, learning from conservation experts, and making connections with the local community. The sense of accomplishment of contributing to conservation efforts, combined with the beauty of the environment, has so far made this an unforgettable experience. Limpopo-Lipadi truly offers an authentic and enriching Botswana safari adventure.’’

In the upcoming weeks it will be exciting to interpret the results of their experiments.

If you would like to support our conservation efforts, have a look on our website: https://limpopo-lipadi.org/donate/. For discreet information on share sales, contact generalmanager@limpopo-lipadi.org. To book a safari, request our rates via reservations@limpopo-lipadi.org or via WhatsApp: (+267) 76770191.