Farmers and park teams help contain Marakele wildfire
Smoke from the wildfire rises above the bushveld, as seen from the road to Marakele National Park.
Platinum Bushvelder newspaper | Thabazimbi – Neighbouring farmers joined Marakele National Park staff to fight a wildfire that swept into the reserve and flared up again after rain had put out the flames.
The fire started on private property next to the park on Monday, 2 November 2026, before spreading across the boundary.
By Tuesday morning, rain had extinguished the active flames, giving crews a brief reprieve.
As temperatures rose that afternoon, hot spots reignited and the fire crossed the railway line on the eastern side of the park.
With the blaze threatening to spread deeper into the reserve, park management carried out a controlled back-burn around the affected area. The operation burned vegetation ahead of the advancing flames, cutting off their fuel and helping crews contain the fire.
Marakele conservation manager Tshifhiwa Mauda said the back-burn had stopped the wildfire from spreading further into the park. He thanked the neighbouring farmers and everyone who helped bring the blaze under control.
