Fire with Purpose: Why We Burn the Bush at Limpopo-Lipadi
By: Limpopo-Lipadi | Date: July 03, 2025 | Reserve
At Limpopo-Lipadi, shaping the landscape isn’t about changing the climate or geology — those are beyond our control. But we can influence how we manage fire and grazing, the two key tools in our conservation toolbox. Together, they form a delicate balance that determines the health and resilience of our ecosystem. Limpopo-Lipadi’s General Manager Sam ponders on this topic below.
When grazing pressure is low and/or the rainy season turns out to be abundant, grass can become moribund and fuel loads build up — creating conditions where fire becomes inevitable, and potentially destructive. On the other hand, a fire-led system without sufficient herbivore impact can stall recovery and reduce plant diversity. The aim is not to suppress either, but to find a functional equilibrium.
Our white rhinos play an essential role in this balance. Their selective grazing encourages resilient, stoloniferous grasses and helps keep the system dynamic. But to support a full spectrum of grasses and forbs, and to prevent bush encroachment, fire must also play its part.
Recently, we conducted a controlled burn under cool, windy conditions — ideal for a safe, low-intensity fire. While the centre of the burn block remained largely untouched due to heavy biomass and low temperatures, we plan to return before the rains to finish the job under warmer, more receptive conditions. The area was surrounded by a firebreak and is just one of several blocks scheduled for treatment this season.
Used with intention, fire helps reset stagnant systems, opens up space for new growth, and improves grazing. But it is not a blunt instrument — it must be paired with herbivory, timing, and ecological insight. That’s the art of bush burning in conservation: knowing when, where, and why to apply fire — not to destroy, but to restore.
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.
