About the Author

Simon Smit

Guest contributor

Simon boasts almost five years of guiding, two of them at Londolozi. His photographic work was already catching the eye of the team here for a long time before he joined the reserve, and he was asked to contribute to the blog literally ...

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12 Comments

on Raging Fire, Contained.

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Chris and his teams did a great job fighting the fires. We were thinking of all of you on Thursday. With the soft rain falling now the bush will recover quickly.

Jill Grady
Guest

How terrifying! I’m so sorry to hear of this terrible fire and very relieved everyone is safe at Londolozi and the surrounding area. Once again the amazing people at Londolozi have shown what a great team you all are….what an astounding team effort you all gave to work together to contain the fire! I also hope that all the animals came through this safely as well.

Brian C
Guest

Thank you all for your efforts. I can’t think of much worse than a raging wild fire. It is so dangerous and unpredictable when wind is a factor. Glad no one was injured and the camps were spared. Some of my favorite leopards and lions call the North of Londolozi home and I’m hoping they pull through too!

Excellent teamwork from everyone at Londolozi. It was a day we’ll never forget!

Evette Hartig
Guest

We live in Arizona where our greatest threat is fire, and know how dangerous fighting these brush fires can be as we lost a team of 19 professional hot shots a couple years ago when the winds shifted and they were caught with no escape. Stay safe, we are thankful it turned out well and hope the animals survived this force of nature.

Wendy MacNicol
Guest

Hi there.. Well done to you all! I have also, in my younger days, (I am now 76) fought bush fires on my aunt’s farm in the Waterberg. I remember becoming separated and wandering around in the dark in the hills on burnt ground. It looked unreal – like Dante’s Inferno – clouds of smoke covering the stars and small flames still burning around me – otherwise just smoky blackness. Did you know that Afrikander cattle will circle around a fire and stand on burnt ground while dairy cows like Friesland and Jerseys won’t and just get burnt unless they are rescued? Not sure how many wild animals have this instinct. So enjoy the articles from Londolozi! Highlight of my day. We are pensioners now and cannot get to the bush very easily these days. Wendy.

James T
Guest

Great article Si. Chris Goodman, you were a hero bud, well done to you and your team!!

Cherry Owens
Guest

Well done Simon – it must have been terrible to go through all of that – also great work to the Londos team !

Gill Barrows
Guest

It must have been terrifying for everyone involved. Glad to know that no one was hurt. Just goes to show what the team at Londolozi can do under extreme circumstances. Well done everyone!!!!

Well written Simon and Dave, you could feel the intensity from beginning
to end. It goes to show that the love of the bush and the team work to
help protect it has no boundaries.
Brilliant team work by every one, Hats off to all of you with great admiration!!!

Andre Du Toit
Guest

Thank you for sharing such an intense experience and congratulations to a very brave and and together team on the ground!

Master Tracker

I was one of Simon’s guests that day. The smoke was that bad that when we finished the drive, my eyes were crying with the irritation. The most amazing thing was that after all the fire fighting, the following morning at 5.30 Simon was very smartly turned out, shaved, and with a crisp , almost military pressed shirt. You would have tough the had just come back from a week’s leave and not spent the night fire fighting.

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