Posted October 10, 2025 in All
Fire is vital for managing South Africa’s grassland and savanna as it clears dead plant matter, stimulates new growth and seed germination, releases nutrients, controls invasive woody species, and promotes biodiversity by creating a mosaic of habitats.
By mimicking natural fire regimes, UmPhafa uses controlled burns as a tool to maintain the health and structure of these fire-dependent ecosystems, which would otherwise shift towards dense woody vegetation or lack the diversity needed for many species to thrive.
UmPhafa has a rotating 3-4 year burn plan depending on the fuel load, burning sections of the Reserve each year and then returning to them a few years later for the next burn.
Our latest Block burn was at the end of September 2025, in total we burnt 604 hectares of our 6000-hectare Reserve, we wanted to do a little more, but weather and windy conditions have delayed the remaining burn until conditions are favourable.
Almost immediately after a burn we always see the animals in the area and having just received our first main rains of Summer, we are looking forward to seeing a carpet of green soon.
