The Next Steps | HERD Flood Relief Fund

The heavy rains and flooding that swept across Limpopo in January 2026 have left a deep mark on communities, landscapes, and wildlife across the province. For HERD, the floods were not just a temporary disruption, but a serious test of our resilience.

As the floodwaters recede, our focus has shifted from emergency response to long-term restoration, ensuring that the elephants, the land, and the people who care for them can recover fully and sustainably.

How the Floods Affected HERD

While we are thankful that our staff and elephants are all still safe and healthy, the floods caused widespread damage across the HERD site, including:

• Severe erosion of access and internal roads, limiting the movement of staff, veterinarians, and supplies,
• Damage to water systems, electrical infrastructure, fencing, and elephant homestead, and
• Flooding of staff accommodation and operational facilities.

These disruptions created stress for the elephants and made daily care more complex, costly, and physically demanding for the team.

From emergency repairs to long-term recovery

In the immediate aftermath of the floods, HERD focused on stabilisation:

• Restoring basic access so staff and veterinary teams could reach the elephants safely,
• Securing enclosures and repairing damage that could pose injury risks,
• Ensuring uninterrupted feeding, clean water supply, and medical care, and
• Protecting staff safety and maintaining operational continuity.

With these urgent needs now almost completely addressed, HERD has now entered the longer, quieter phase of recovery, but one that is just as important.

What long-term restoration looks like at herd

Recovery is not only about fixing what broke. It is about rebuilding stronger, safer, and more resilient systems for the future.

Over the coming months, HERD’s restoration efforts will focus on:

Rebuilding and strengthening infrastructure

Damaged roads, drainage systems, power supply, and water infrastructure must be repaired permanently, not just patched. This work ensures:

• Reliable access during future extreme weather,
• Safer working conditions for staff, and
• Stable, low-stress environments for the elephants.

Restoring the land

Due to their nature, elephants put a large strain on the reserve land and it is our responsibility to protect, conserve, and restore the natural environment of the reserve.

Flooding strips soil of nutrients, alters natural drainage, and damages vegetation. HERD is carefully monitoring the land to:

• Assess and repair erosion and habitat damage on the reserve,
• Support natural vegetation recovery through our hollows.
• Enrich the soil through our elephant dung compost, and
• Prevent invasive species from taking hold.

Caring for the carers

Behind every rescued elephant is a dedicated team. Flood recovery places immense physical and emotional strain on staff. Restoring safe accommodation, providing proper equipment, and supporting staff well-being are essential to sustaining HERD’s mission.

Looking ahead

Recovery is not a single moment, but rather it is a journey. While much work still lies ahead, HERD remains committed to restoring not just buildings and roads, but stability, dignity, and hope for the elephants and the people who care for them.

With the support of our community, we will continue to rebuild stronger for the elephants, for the land, and for the future.

You can make a difference

We are grateful for the immense support we received so far. We would not have been able to reach our urgent needs if it were not for you, our loyal supporters.

Thank you for keeping us strong!

If you are inspired to help us with our long-term restoration, please feel free to donate to our flood relief fund directly or by purchasing items from our Wishlist with will help us reach our goals.

✨ Donate to the Flood Relief Fund 

🌿 Support us with crucial Wishlist items – To see our Big Wishes, please use the shop’s Filter.