Innholdsfortegnelse for Autumn 2021 i Kruger Magazine

There are some amazing things to be seen in the Greater Kruger, and from time to time we identify some of these, which become a library of memorable sightings. Some are videos that have gone viral on YouTube, others are readers’ stories and pictures sharing their amazing sightings with us. We have allocated space in our publication to create the opportunity for our readers to share their rare sightings, as well as to document them as part of the KRUGER MAGAZINE collectibles, some of which we are sure, might never be seen again. Pieter Viljoen Jnr tells their story... I feel like the story behind this sighting is as special as the sighting itself! My father, Pieter Viljoen Snr, and I finally got to our Kruger trip at the end…

Selati Game Reserve takes great strides to conserve their elephants AND their biodiversity. In October 2020, 63 mature elephant cows on Selati Game Reserve were given an immunocontraceptive vaccine in an effort to slow the population growth rate over time. This – the first move of many – is a bold step for conservation that prioritises both the reserve’s elephants and its biodiversity; two elements of a natural ecosystem that cannot always exist in harmony. Growing elephant numbers, particularly in closed systems like Selati, greatly threaten the wellbeing of the system, putting immense pressure on the survival of other species of fauna and flora that call the reserve home. It was advised by ecologists that at 135 elephants on 29 000ha, Selati is approaching its recommended carrying capacity and an…

« Nick Zambatis was the former Manager: Biodiversity Conservation in Conservation Management: Kruger National Park. He retired in 2016. His first job in the Kruger was as a research technician based at Skukuza, which he started in 1987. “The  transfer from Pretoria to the Lowveld was ecstasy and the Kruger appointment was a dream come true,” he recalls. He holds an MSc degree on the determinants of grass composition and production in the Kruger National Park, from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The fever tree, Vachellia xanthophloa (koorsboom in Afrikaans, nkelenga in Xitsonga, and munzhelenga in Tshivenda), is a medium to large deciduous tree (up to 25m tall) with a spreading and sparse roundish crown. It typically has a very long, exceptionally smooth, greenish-yellow main trunk. The common name of fever…

« Roger de la Harpe is a freelance photographer based in South Africa. He has long had a passion for conservation, natural history, wild places and indigenous cultures and has plied his trade in various regions of the African continent for 25 years. With his wife, Pat, he has published 27 coffee-table books, the most recent of which, African Icons, celebrates Africa’s  most iconic features and creatures. Two previous books, In Search of the African Wild Dog and In Search of the African Lion, have a strong conservation focus. Roger and Pat also own and manage Africa Imagery, an online database of over 45 000 images of the people, wildlife and landscapes of the African continent. COVID-19 has taken its toll in so many ways and I doubt there is…

« Salomon Joubert (Dr SCJ Joubert) started his conservation career in 1964 as a postgraduate student in the Sabi Sand Wildtuin and was appointed to the Kruger National Park as Junior Ranger at the end of 1964, stationed at the remote Klipkoppies Section on the Mozambique border (due east of Letaba). In 1967, he was granted study leave to do a BSc (Hon) (Wildlife Management) degree at Pretoria University. In November 1967, he was transferred to the Research Section  with responsibility for rare antelope, in particular roan. For his work on the social behaviour of roan, he was awarded an MSc and subsequently a DSc degree on the population ecology of roan. In 1976, he was promoted to Head of Research and was intimately involved in monitoring large mammal populations,…

Is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of nearly two million hectares (20 000km²) in the province of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in the north-east of South Africa. It extends 360km from north to south and 65km from east to west. It became South Africa’s first National Park in 1926. In 1993, fences between Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR) and the Kruger National Park were removed to encourage wildlife migration and the Greater Kruger National Park was born.…

The paradise-flycatcher is one of Africa’s true avian delights. It is a common species, but wherever it occurs it will brighten the moment for anyone who sees it, and it must rank among one of everybody’s favourite birds. The rich, rusty red plumage with contrasting greenish black head and white belly are extremely eye-catching and cheerful. « Dr Ian Whyte is an independent environmental consultant who retired from SANParks in 2007. He was previously engaged in full-time wildlife research in the Kruger National Park from 1970-2007. At the time of retirement, he was responsible for the coordination of all research projects pertaining to  elephant, buffalo and other large herbivores and rare antelope. He is a member of the IUCN’s Species Survival Commission’s African Elephant Specialist Group. He has co-authored two…

This round of our Amateur Photo Competition resulted in some of the most awesome entries, making the executive team’s choice for the TOP 50 extremely challenging. Around the clock approvals were the order of the day and oohs and aahs from within our walls made us all stop what we were doing to also have a look as the entries rolled in! Congratulations to all our entrants and a heartfelt thank you to our sponsors – and a round of applause to our Facebook group members that participated, as the comments and likes on entries help a lot when it comes down to the team’s final choice. A record-number of votes were recorded in the 1st round for the entry by Zaheer Ali, ‘Sometimes, all you need is a hug!’…

Letaba – The most central rest camp of the Kruger National Park In Issue 14 of KRUGER MAGAZINE, we featured the history of Pretoriuskop Camp.  In Issue 15 we look at Letaba Camp’s history. « Joep Stevens is a keen historian who was introduced to the Kruger National Park by his parents in 1966. This ignited his interest in and passion for the Park. Origin of Letaba Approximately midway between the northern and southern boundary of the Park, on the southern bank of the Letaba River, less than 30km from where it joins the mighty Olifants River, lies the picturesque Letaba Camp. It was the first camp to be established north of the Olifants River and its location can largely be attributed to the first game ranger in that area,…

As summer subsides, the African skies are exploding with colour, especially at dawn and sunset – an ideal time for avid photographers to spend time in the Greater Kruger. More than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown forced closure of international borders, and caused threats to livelihoods and sadly for some, the loss of loved ones, Mother Nature’s rhythm is uninterrupted as we move towards recovery in the tourism industry. “Take a week or more and come and breathe the Lowveld’s fresh air.” For those close to nature, the rhythm is soothing and brings with it a sense of stability and the wonderous beauty of each season. We cannot wait to see our lush green world turn into a colourful pallet of yellowy golds and reddish browns. Where butterflies…

Warthogs would surely by anyone’s standards be considered our ugliest mammal. But sometimes there is a certain beauty to be perceived in the ugly, and in my opinion this is certainly true of the warthog. They have their own special appeal, and so perhaps the description ‘pretty ugly’ is not inappropriate! They certainly qualify as one of the animals with a bit of character or personality. This was exploited by the makers of the film The Lion King, with Pumba the Warthog featuring as one of the much-loved main characters. « Dr Ian Whyte is an independent environmental consultant who retired from SANParks in 2007. He was previously engaged in full-time wildlife research in the Kruger National Park from 1970-2007. At the time of retirement, he was responsible for the…

« Ralf Kalwa is an Ecological Consultant at Malelane, a position he has held since December 2001. He established Rhengu Environmental Services in the Malelane area and is trails leader for the Lebombo Eco Trail. Prior to holding this position, Ralf was Manager: IEM: Kruger National Park from 2000-2001 and Senior Section Ranger: Kruger National Park from 1994-2000. “Every ranger in the Kruger gets a Shangaan name, given to him by his staff and fellow field rangers,” says Ralf. “Mine is Mahlometela… the man who sees everything.” The 22 Ranger Sections in the Kruger National Park (KNP) are spread out covering 35 vegetation landscapes. Each section has its own challenges ranging from poaching incidents, threats to biodiversity, disease outbreaks and tourism impacts. Rangers are assigned a section that matches their…

One of the very first private concessions tendered by SANParks, the Mluwati concession, opened for business in late 2003. The previous wilderness zone is situated in the western region of the Kruger National Park (KNP), bordering the northern Sabi Sands and Manyeleti Game Reserves. Extraordinary people – owners of several establishments all over the country, specialising in creating tourist destinations with a very small ecological footprint, and strong conservation, preservation and sustainable ecotourism ethos and outputs – were involved from the beginning in the development of its three lodges within this 10 000-hectare concession. As you enter the lodge, reception opens onto the middle of the area, encompassing a large lounge with beautifully spaced furniture, set in such a way that you can still have privacy even if there are…