Maintenance · Hot water is often by solar power; each tent must be equipped with its own 200-litre geyser and two solar panels. The positioning of the panels is seasonal and must

– WildlifeCampus – Game Lodge Management Course

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reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus

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Lodge Maintenance © Copyright

Water & lights

Maintenance for generators

Daily check diesel level and engine oil level.

Every week check 12V-starter and battery water level.

To be replaced monthly:

Oil filter

Diesel filter

In-line diesel filter

Engine oil

Air filter

Module # 5 – Component # 3

Lodge

Maintenance

©Wilderness Safaris




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Every 12 months remove the diesel tank and clean inside.

Keep the generator room clean and tidy.

Maintenance for invertors

Battery water levels must be maintained.

A qualified electrician must service inverter once a year.

Inverter room must be kept clean and tidy.

Maintenance for diesel water pumps

Check oil level and diesel daily.

Once a month replace oil and clean oil filter.

Once a month remove and wash the air filter.

Once every 6 months remove head and de-coke.





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Maintenance for petrol water pumps

Check oil level and petrol daily.

When starting, switch on at the “on-off” switch. If cold, flip back choke lever switch

before starting.

Once a month replace oil.

Once a month check the valve gap with a feeler gauge (0.10). Also, tighten the

rocker studs inside the valve cover.

Once a month remove and wash the air filter.

Replace spark plugs as required.

If the water pump is still not running smoothly, strip and clean carburettor.





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When first installing a water pump, open the air vent on the centrifugal pump and fill

with water. If ever the pump runs dry, find the problem and repeat this process before

re-starting pump. Make sure there is a spring loaded Non-return valve on the inlet pipe

from the well point.

Maintenance for solar panels and 12v batteries

Camp hand to clean solar panels once a week.

Geysers to be bled for airlocks once a week.

Check solar panel has sufficient water.

Check current flow weekly and battery water where applicable.

Keep battery boxes clean.





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Herringbone Septic Systems

Septic tank systems are the most common forms of sanitation for lodges due to their

remote locations. Several different systems are available, we examine the most

popular type. All wastewater runs from toilets, basins and showers into a septic tank.

The septic tank will decompose all waste products. PLEASE note that everything going

into the septic tank MUST be biodegradable. There are Septic Tank Friendly products

available. Generally, light detergents such as shampoos and body soaps do not overly

tax the system, but any ammonia or bleach-based products may not be used. The

processed waste from the septic tank then flows by gravity into a herringbone. If the

gradient is not suitable, a conservancy tank and sludge pump are required, to pump

the water to the herringbone. In other words, the processed waste will run at a slight

gradient from the septic tank into a conservancy tank and then pumped out. The

Herringbone consists of round pipes with holes in them and covered with Biddem cloth,

laid in shallow trenches in the ground. The cloth is to protect the pipe from roots

growing into them as well as soil clogging up the holes in the pipes. The pipes are laid

about 400mm underground, or as shallow as possible to allow for evaporation and

transpiration. Inspection caps are fitted every few meters above the ground. This

enables you to check whether the wastewater is flowing through properly.

In case of a blockage:

Check your septic tank first at the inspection cap attached to the tank.

Then follow through to your next inspection caps along the herringbone.





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General plumbing

Piping from the water to endpoints must be 50mm, thereafter reducing to 20mm

for the actual connections.

Polycop connections must be used for all underground joints, and copper above

ground.

All raw sewerage must go through a calcamite tank before the soiled water is

filtered to a soakaway.

There is a new product on the market for septic tanks and French drains called

MIGHTY MIGHTY/DYNA DRAIN. It works like a bomb and is very effective for smelly

tanks and drains.

Tap and wastewater must lead directly into the soak-away, by-passing the

calcamite tanks. Calcamite tanks must be properly constructed with a solid roof.

Treated mopane trees or gum poles with a covering of corrugated iron or bidden

(waterproof material) will suffice. Throw a light covering of soil over the corrugated

iron to disguise it.

Toilet cistern interior parts must be made of brass (applicable camps).





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Only hand-made ceramic/pottery wash hand basins should be used.

No plumbing pipes must be visible in the bathrooms, i.e. under the wash hand

basins.

Hot water is often by solar power; each tent must be equipped with its own 200-

litre geyser and two solar panels. The positioning of the panels is seasonal and must

be checked.

The geysers must be as close as possible to the tents without being obtrusive.

Open-air showers must be installed in all new camps and existing camps where

possible. This is in addition to the standard bathroom shower.

If toilet cistern does not fill properly, check the inlet valve in the cistern for any

debris that may be blocking it.

If taps leak, replace washers. Be sure to switch the water mains off first.





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Watercraft - (where applicable)

Boat maintenance

The boat must be cleaned daily, all seats and engine covers.

Check fuel and oil levels daily.

Check for water in the boat and drain.

No fishing tackle, raincoats or poncho’s to be left in boats.

Inspect propellers regularly.

Check drain plug is secured.

When putting the boat in reverse gear, make sure you engage neutral first and let

the revs of the motor go down before engaging reverse gear.





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Maintenance for outboard motors (every 3 months)

Drain and clean carburettors - (Get a suitably qualified person to do this)

Replace spark plugs.

Clean fuel filter.

Replace water separation filter when necessary - (When the boat starts misfiring at

high revs)

Check fuel lines have no holes.

Change gearbox oil.

Change impeller if necessary.

Check all electrical connections.

Check and set idling.

Grease all nipples.

Remove propeller and grease prop shaft.

Ensure the motor is securely attached to the transom.

Maintenance for fishing tackle

Rods and reels to be kept clean and in good working order and stored in the office

or tackle room.

Check reels have enough line on them, change line when necessary.

DO NOT send a guest out with a reel that is not working properly.

Please make sure that you use barbless fishing hooks, or otherwise file the barbs

down.





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Swimming pools

All camps with ten beds or more should have a swimming pool which is powered

by the generator.

All pools must have some type of vacuum machinery to clean the pool, which

must be removed when not in use, and when guests are in camp.

PH testing must be done daily, however, chemicals must only be added during

the afternoon activity when the generator is running, and guests are not around.

REMEMBER to mix the chlorine with water before adding to the pool.

Make sure the chlorine is kept out of the sun and rain.

All camps must have adequate pool towels that should be located as near as

possible to the pool.

Sun loungers must be available at the pool.

If no natural shade exists, the camp must have two large parasol umbrellas.

Ashtrays at the pool should be deep to stop the wind from blowing ash away.





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Swimming pool maintenance

PH testing must be done daily.

Add chlorine and acid when necessary. (DO NOT mix chlorine and acid in the

same bucket).

Clean leaf-trap baskets every day. One trap is in the filter inlet in the pool, the other

is at the pool pump.

Vacuum and backwash pool every second day or as required.

Backwash procedure

Switch motor off.

Move spider selector to “backwash” position.

Run motor for 1 minute.

Switch motor off.

Move spider selector to “rinse”

Run motor for 1 minute.

Switch motor off.

Move spider selector to “filter”

Run motor as normal

Always ensure the water level is high enough before going through the backwash

procedure





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DO NOT:

Add raw chlorine to pool, but dissolve in a bucket of water, this may discolour the

Marbelite or fibreglass finish

Allow the water level to drop below the intake.

Urinate in any type of pool (salt or chlorine)

Saltwater swimming pools

Check PH levels.

Empty leaf-trap baskets daily. Make sure the pool pump is off before opening or

else you will lose your watch.

Vacuum pool when necessary.

Salinator - Should be checked and cleaned every two weeks in summer and once

a month in winter.

Backwash pool once a month following the backwash procedure.

If necessary, empty and drain pool once a year. Then add 50kg of coarse salt.





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Airstrip maintenance (where applicable)

Bush strips must be well maintained and always in a serviceable condition. They must

be watered and dragged with old tyres per the runway maintenance schedule to

smooth the runway surface. Tie old tyres together lying in a flat triangle, tow behind a

4 x 4 every so often to scuff the high spots from the surface and deposit this material in

minor depressions and animal tracks, which will harden up next time you water the

strip. The better you look after the strip, the longer life you will get from it before you

must reconstruct the strip completely. Prop blast does the damage to bush strips, by

blowing away the top material off the strip. To minimize this, you need to dampen the

surface two or three times a week, preferably late afternoon, when no more planes

are landing. Maintain the strip in a convex cross-section shape to allow proper draining

of rainwater and sprinkler water. Make sure no pools of water can stand on the surface

as the water will soak in and form a soft muddy spot that will weaken the runway at

that point and splash out as the aircraft wheels’ speed through it. Indentations can be

filled and compacted by hand with calcrete. Dig shallow V drains to lead the water

pooling along the side of the runway. No vehicle traffic should be allowed to use the

runway as a road.





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Pilots must be made aware to slowly power up and gather speed rather than to BLAST

OFF at full power. Planes should only turn around at the turning points provided at the

end of the runway. There must always be a minimum of 2 fire extinguishers, fire buckets,

a spinal board, crowbar, an axe, dustbin as well as a first-aid box near the waiting

area. The camp name must be marked off on the side of the runway 3m x 3m and

painted white. The sides of the runway must have markers on both sides 100m apart

and 18m across. Corrugated sheets pegged down in the ground and painted white.

The sides of the runway must be cleared of bushes and trees 30m from the centre to

each side. The strip must be watered for 1 hour, twice a week in the late afternoon (to

avoid too much evaporation). The end of the runway must have 3 markers, 1m apart

indicating the end of the runway. The overshoot must also be cleared at either end of

the runway, in case of emergencies.





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Fires

Fighting Fires - There are three different types of fire extinguishers:

1. Powder

Used inside for electrical, wood, solids and thatch. These are the most versatile and

are highly recommended.

2. Water

Used inside or outside for wood and thatch, NOT electrical fires.

3. Foam

Used inside or outside for wood, thatch, and liquid, NOT electrical fires.

Oxygen, fuel and heat feed fires. Before picking up an extinguisher make sure you are

using the right kind of extinguisher for the fire you are going to put out and make sure

the PIN is IN.





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Take the extinguisher, pull out the pin and put it in your pocket.

Remove the hose from the base plug. Make sure you hold the hose firmly in your

hand.

Squeeze the lever in your hand and aim for the source of the fire.

Other elements you can use to fight fires are:

Sand - Fine to use for electrical fires

Water - Best for thatch fires





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Gas fires

Gas oven fires are probably the most common fires occurring in camps

Every kitchen must have a fire blanket

First, turn off the gas.

Pull the fire blanket from the red plastic holder by the two straps dangling out the

bottom.

Open the fire blanket and hold it up in front of you. Walk to the gas stove and lay

the blanket over the fire DO NOT throw it.

Thatch fires - use water and spray above the fire.

Fires on decks - you can use water or sand.

Oil or paraffin fires - use foam or a fire blanket.

All camps must have adequate firefighting equipment outside the following areas:





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Dry Powder extinguishers

2 Kitchen

2 Main Unit

2 Workshop

2 Airstrip

2 fuel depot

2 Bar

Sand-filled fire buckets

2 Between each tent

Fire extinguishers maintenance

All fire extinguishers must be serviced once a year.

All fire extinguishers must be kept clean and free of mud wasps.

Every 2 weeks turn them upside down and give them a shake.

When the sand in the buckets gets hard, replace with new sand.

It is important that the extinguishers are placed outside the building, and not kept

inside where you cannot get to them when there is a fire in the building.





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General maintenance

The camp must be decorated with carvings, baskets, logs, dry grasses, driftwood,

feathers etc. To create a more “homely” atmosphere.

Camp pathways must be checked regularly for roots, overhanging branches and

any other obstructions. Holes in camp pathways should be filled to prevent guest

accidents.

All wood must be painted with four coats of Woodoc 55, and thereafter with one

or two coats every 6 months.

All items sent into your head office must be well labelled and include who the item

is to, who it is from, and what is wrong with it.

Equipment sent between camps must include all parts. The chainsaw, for example,

is useless without a chain and lubricant. Return borrowed equipment in a better

condition than you received it in.

Clean the inside of all light covers.

All camps should have an adequate sprinkler or watering system and if needed

some sort of a lawnmower/petrol weed eater for keeping the grass neat.

Camps with three or more vehicles must have their own compressor.

Paint all silver solar panel edges in an eco-friendly colour to camouflage them a

little.

Varnish all new grass mats, carpets and baskets before use, with heavy exterior

polyurethane clear matt varnish.

Use proper clamps for all plumbing pipe connections. Wire clamps work well if

properly tightened, but very few people can do this properly.





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Thatching and roofing

All thatching work must be at least at a 45-degree pitch, and 8 inches thick.

PVC roofing must be the most suitably available colour to blend into the natural

surroundings.

The same applies to canvas roofing, which must be made of D400 ripstop canvas.

The roof must have a steep pitch.

Chainsaw operating procedures

Mix 2 capfuls of 2-stroke oil with petrol in the tank of the chainsaw. (Capful using

the petrol cap of the chainsaw).

Make sure the chain guard is on before using the chainsaw.

Make sure lubricant is always full before use.

Check the tension of the chain.

Mind your toes.





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Mosquitoes and flies

In the months when mosquitoes are most active and therefore the incidence of

malaria is at its most prevalent, lodges should spray everything everywhere at your

lodge minimum once a month with an appropriate mosquito insecticide. In months

when mosquitoes are not that active, spraying every two or three months is sufficient.

BathroidTM and ResponsarTM should be sprayed at regular intervals in all areas where

mosquitoes or flies prevail. This includes kitchens, offices, public areas and all

accommodation for both guests and staff. Flytraps should also be placed in areas,

which cannot be seen by guests. Always give your camp hand a mask to wear when

spraying. Issue the appropriate mask depending on whether the user is working with

gas and vapours or dust.





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Rodents

Rats and mice cause thousands of Rand’s worth of damage to lodges every year. They

damage tents, guest luggage, equipment, get into food stores and kitchens, and

generally cause havoc everywhere. They also transmit diseases such as Salmonellosis,

typhus, and rat-bite fever. The best way to get rid of rats and mice is to destroy their

breeding sites. This is very difficult in most lodges and you are unlikely to get rid of them

permanently. However, you can be relatively successful in controlling their numbers.

Mechanical control of rodents

The best trap to use is the bigger rat-catching cage trap. This cage has a trap door

that let rats into the cage, but not out. You can catch up to ten rats in a trap in one

night. Put a few of these cages in your kitchen, kitchen store and one behind every

tent, out of sight from guests. Peanut butter on brown bread is the best lure for both

rats and mice.





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Chemical control of rodents

For chemical control of rodents, Racumin is recommended by the Endangered Wildlife

Trust. Racumin is an anti-coagulant poison and has minimal adverse effects on people

and wildlife. Rodents are creatures of habit and will use the same paths repeatedly.

Place the block bait on or as near the path as possible. Replace blocks as soon as they

are finished and continue to do so until no more bait is taken. A recommended

practice is to cover up the block or put it in a covered box with two small holes on

either side as a precautionary measure to prevent other non-target animals from

gaining access to the blocks.

Other control methods

Store all food in rodent-proof containers.

Remove leftover food daily and dispose of properly, where rodents do not have

access to it.

Store all wood, bricks and other materials off the ground and clear the area from

debris.

Clear areas around kitchen and housing from bushes and undergrowth.


Documents

Maintenance · Hot water is often by solar power; each tent must be equipped with its own 200-litre geyser and two solar panels. The positioning of the panels is seasonal and must