Some tree branches had to be trimmed to accommodate the longer pole. Chris’s helper was busy cutting the top branches. Shortly after they left, animals came to eat the leaves they hadn’t been able to reach. When Louise let us know that Chris, the lightning rod guy, was going to spend the better part of a day in our garden extending the existing too-short lightning rod on the property, we were curious as to what this was all about. While he and his helper were working outdoors, I talked to him, asking many questions as to why the extension was necessary.
Lightning rods are important in Marloth Park, South Africa, because the area is prone to intense summer thunderstorms, often accompanied by frequent lightning strikes. Here’s why they’re particularly necessary there:
1. High frequency of lightning in the Lowveld
Marloth Park sits in the Mpumalanga Lowveld, which is one of South Africa’s high-risk lightning zones. Warm, humid summer air colliding with cooler fronts creates powerful thunderstorms, especially between November and March. The combination of open savannah and scattered tall structures (like roofs, trees, and water towers) makes buildings vulnerable to direct strikes.
2. Thatched roofs are standard – and flammable
Many homes in Marloth Park have thatched roofs, which, while beautiful and fitting for the bush aesthetic, are highly flammable. A single lightning strike can ignite a thatch roof almost instantly, and because Marloth Park has no municipal fire brigade in town, response times can be slow, increasing the risk of losing the entire structure.
3. Isolated buildings and tall trees attract strikes
Houses in Marloth Park are often surrounded by open bushveld with few other tall structures nearby. This makes them natural lightning targets, especially if they have tall thatch peaks, metal chimney caps, or nearby large trees.
4. Wildlife and human safety
Lightning can also pose a risk to people and even large animals. A strike on a building or fence could cause injury or death to anyone nearby, including residents, visitors, or animals seeking shelter under a roof or tree during a storm.
5. Insurance requirements
Many South African insurers require lightning protection on thatched-roof properties in high-risk areas like Marloth Park. Without it, claims for fire damage caused by lightning might be denied.
In short, Lightning rods in Marloth Park aren’t just a precaution — they’re a necessity because of the high lightning strike rate, flammable roofing materials, isolated structures, and limited firefighting resources. They act as a safe path for lightning to travel into the ground, protecting both property and lives.
We’d never given lightning rods a thought while here in Marloth Park. However, after a discussion with Chris, he clarified why they are necessary in Marloth Park, as well as in many locations throughout South Africa and other countries.
We’ve decided to dine in tonight after many evenings spent out with friends and activities. It’s a beautiful day to cook on the braai and dine outdoors while our wildlife friends stop by.
As always, the time here has flown by, and one month from today, we head for Spain.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, August 14, 2015: