Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2024 i Kruger Magazine

SEVEN DAYS, SEVEN CAMPS In 1948 my aunt decided to visit the Kruger in her 1941 Chevy and invited a sister, an office friend, my elder brother, his friend and myself to join her during our winter holidays. Six people? Yes! In those days an American car could fit three in the front and three in the back quite comfortably for a long trip. Highways did not exist then, and it took almost all day from Pretoria to Malelane where we were to stay the first night. The roads near the Park went through farmlands and we stopped for a picnic lunch on the way. Our stay lasted a week, and we experienced the seven main camps from Malelane in the south to Punda Maria in the north. “If the…

Duke, one of the Kruger National Park's most beloved tusker elephants, died on 1 October 2011. The reconstruction of Duke's skeleton with both full tusks created a conservation legacy. His story reflects both the threats elephants face and the Park's successful conservation efforts. The Decline and Rise of Big Tuskers In the 1970s, a mass die-off of elephants in Africa due to poaching for ivory sparked global concern. The Kruger National Park (KNP), however, emerged as a success story. By the 1980s, ‘Big Tuskers’ with impressive tusks, like the ‘Magnificent Seven’, were a source of national pride. Sadly, most died by 1985. The legendary elephant bull, Duke, known for his calm demeanour and love for attention, became a popular sight in the 1980s. He remained a favourite even after losing…

« 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. General description Many visitors to the Kruger have no doubt wondered what type of trees are growing along many of the watercourses in the northern half of the Park, often in dense groves or clusters, and have leaves broadly resembling those of a mulberry tree in shape and size.…

Situated in the picturesque Leopard Rock Nature Reserve on the R526, about 5km off the R40 between Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa, the Leopard Rock Guest Lodge is fully equipped, easy-flowing and comfortable in all regards. The lodge offers an intimate bush get-away surrounded by wildlife and is on the doorstep of the Kruger National Park, in the heart of the Kruger Lowveld. The atmosphere is charming and diverse with a choice of many outdoor areas, ideal for relaxing or entertaining – the perfect space to make yourself at home. Bookings offer a choice of self-catering, bed & breakfast or dinner, bed & breakfast. The lodge boasts two fully equipped kitchens for either an intimate getaway for a couple or a small family of four with a private kitchen or the use…

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.…

« 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 three field guides to the birds of the Kruger National Park and in 2020, released his latest book about his life and work in the KNP. In the previous edition of KRUGER MAGAZINE (Issue 27 – Autumn 2024), we dealt with the six ‘yellow’ weavers that occur in the Kruger National Park (KNP), and that are all members…

« Dr Ian Whyte is an independent environmental consultant who retired from SANParks in 2007. He was previously engaged in fulltime 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 three field guides to the birds of the Kruger National Park and in 2020, released his book about his life and work in the KNP. WATCH THIS! Scan the QR code or visit tinyurl.com/mr2afwsw to watch the video: ‘The IUCN Red List: A Barometer of Life’. Published by IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature. In much the same…

THEME PREDATORS, RAPTORS & REPTILES The PREDATORS, RAPTORS & REPTILES theme presents a thrilling challenge, as it inspires photographers to capture the intensity of a hunt or the elegance of a predator in action. The anticipation of capturing that winning shot adds to the excitement, knowing it could be a standout among the entries. We are consistently amazed by the submissions we receive, recognising the fortunate timing and skill required to seize such moments. Selecting the top 50 and top 10 entries was no easy task, but congratulations are in order for all participants. We extend our gratitude to our sponsors for their continued support. Our next quarterly theme will focus on GRAZERS & BROWSERS, an annual favourite. Prepare your images as the competition commences in the second half of June.…

« 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. In the previous issue of KRUGER MAGAZINE several terms and concepts describing vegetation groupings at different spatial scales were introduced and explained. In this issue, the first two vegetation Allies of the Kruger National Park (KNP) are described. To recap, ‘Allies’ in the KNP context are either veld types…

Time is a wondrous thing. The natural ebb and flow of the seasons are particularly noticeable in the Lowveld. With time comes change, an indisputable constant. As you drive through the Kruger National Park, change brings excitement. Those fortunate enough to visit the Park during different seasons can attest to this. A big thank you to all who write to us about their first visit to the Greater Kruger. Not only are these stories interesting, but they also take us back to our first visit to the Park. We enjoy our readers’ contributions tremendously, making our publication come alive! Don't forget to share your once-in-a-lifetime rare sightings with us if you are lucky enough to experience them. Lastly, we have a special request for all our readers: Please check out…

Our KRUGER BIRD CHALLENGE was initially created to generate funds to finance the production costs for the regular Conservation Projects that we showcase in each issue of KRUGER MAGAZINE. The project was launched on 21 September 2021. Little did we know how popular it would become. From individuals to couples to groups – some of which have registered for a second round, mostly to better their own previous challenge. Many of our registered challengers are groups, including friends, families and even business colleagues. It is an ideal group activity, and we are quite sure that there is a lot of ‘inside challenging’ within these groups, making it even more challenging! 400 days after the first registrations started pouring in, we had the first challengers’ Checklists coming in, and by that…

RANGER DIARIES – MAHLOMETELA The SANParks and specifically the Kruger National Park (KNP) is dependent on a regular supply of revenue from the wildlife enthusiasts that visit the Park. To ensure that the rangers and managers of the KNP are able to maintain the roads, rest camps, waterholes, fences and other amenities it is essential that the Park remains a preferred holiday destination for more than one million tourists per annum. Unfortunately, not all guests visiting the Park abide by the rules and regulations listed on the entrance permit and can spoil the experience for other law-abiding visitors. Certain guests can also be quite demanding and challenging with unreasonable requests and/or behaviour. Ralf Kalwa is an Ecological Consultant at Malelane, a position he has held since December 2001. He established…

KNP – 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. Phase 2 1926 to 2024 In Issue 27 of KRUGER MAGAZINE, we featured the first phase (from 1891 to 1926) of the history of the Selati Railway Line. In this issue we look at the second phase (from 1926 to 2024). Problems with the Selati Railway Line By 1965 the frequency of train trips through the Park had increased to 250 per week. Besides the fire risk that the steam locomotives that traversed the Selati Line posed, collisions and casualties with animals were inevitable. Two of the more serious incidents, occurred in 1970. During the night of 14…