Ranger communities live in challenging environments out in the wilds. Rangers’ good health can be supported through many various interventions, not the establishment of a ranger children’s playground and ranger wives’ netball field at Mkanga Field HQ, Chewore South. Especially during COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, these facilities have been put to excellent daily use.

The playground was manufactured by Tashinga Initiative’s team led by Catmore Gidion, and erected on-site in a secure position within the housing complex chosen by Area Manager and his team.

Also funded by a USA donor was a Ranger Canteen with ablutions at the soccer field and an adjacent Storeroom. Both have been providing much-needed food storage facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic for the delivery of Wildlife Ranger Challenge funded foodhampers.

Facemasks and sanitisers were distributed to Rangers across the Lower Zambezi Valley at the beginning of 2021. COVID reared its ugly head once again, and the masks are currently in use. Many Rangers have no lighting at night in their dwellings: solar powered lights were provided to the Rangers living at one field station.