Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2024-2025 i Kruger Magazine

Pretoriuskop and Skukuza, 1957 Kruger Shalati Train, 2021 It is my maternal granddad, ‘Hoffie’, that my story is really about. He changed my life at the age of six and fostered my love for going to the Kruger National Park (KNP) ever since then. He, together with my godmother, Auntie Joan, and young Aunt Penny, had invited my sister, Lesley, and me to go with them to the Kruger National Park during our July school holiday in 1957. Hoffie had a very scary, but exciting trip to the Kruger National Park about 30 years prior to our visit, which was the reason why he loved going there and was keen to share his love with us. He was watching a scene with lions eating off a zebra that they had…

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…

There are no words to describe the feeling that arises when a wild lion stares directly into your eyes from just a few meters away. Its gaze is intense and piercing, sending a chill down your spine and making the world around you seem meaningless. In that brief moment, a flood of emotions rushes through your veins: fear, awe, respect, excitement and thrill – all at once. Maybe it’s a primal reminder that in this vast wilderness, we are not at the top of the food chain. I’m sitting with my wife in a small Volkswagen Polo on the H1-4 tar road in the central part of the Kruger National Park. There’s no one else around. No guides, no convoy of safari vehicles, nothing that could even nominally provide safety…

The Kruger has become my place of solace and soul cleansing in recent years. In September 2024 I once again felt the need get away from the Johannesburg rat race. I booked in a hurry, packed a few things and hit the road for a five-night solo trip. My third day in the Park was a move from Lower Sabie to Crocodile Bridge Camp for one night. My morning drive started at gate opening time. I took the S30, H12 bridge and back on the H4-1 towards Lower Sabie, enjoying everything the beautiful bush had to offer. After a quick stop back at Lower Sabie, I decided I’ll make my way down to Croc Bridge via the S28. The S28 has been really good to me the last few years,…

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 Birth of the Selati Railway and Early Tourism The story of the Train on the Bridge at Skukuza has shaped the Kruger National Park’s rich history. • This remarkable journey began in the 1880s during the Gold Rush when President Paul Kruger commissioned the Selati railway line. • By 1894, the line was completed from Komatipoort to Newington, except for the bridge at Skukuza, which had a temporary wooden crossing. • Corruption halted the project, and the South African War, which broke out in 1899, further delayed progress. • However, in 1909, work resumed and the final Selati line was opened in 1912. • As gold reserves dwindled, the railway’s purpose faded. • In 1923, the Round in Nine Tour was established. This nine-day tour, from Johannesburg to the…

Managing elephant numbers During the seventies through to the nineties elephant numbers in the Kruger National Park (KNP) were maintained at a constant figure of around 7 000-7 500 animals. This management approach was implemented through an active elephant control programme, which entailed culling adult bulls and cows and capturing young calves for relocation and transfers to other national and provincial parks, including private landowners. These relocations did not consider the delicate balance of elephant population dynamics, i.e. related family groups each led by a matriarch and dominant territorial bulls occupying large territories. For all practical purposes we relocated a herd of teenagers without adult supervision. Ralf Kalwa is an Ecological Consultant at Malelane, a position he has held since December 2001. He established Rhengu Environmental Services in the Malelane…

In Issue 29 of KRUGER MAGAZINE, we featured the Tshokwane Picnic Spot. In this issue we commence a series that covers the development history of commercialisation in the Kruger National Park (KNP). This topic will be covered over several editions, with this edition covering the earliest years of commercial activity until 1945. Introduction and overview The commercial development history of the Park can be categorised in the following phases: Phase 1: 1926 to 1930 (4 yrs) Early pioneering years Phase 2: 1930 to 1945 (15 yrs) Several small operators were appointed to run all commercial activities (retail and food) while simultaneously checking in overnight guests. Phase 3: 1945 to 1955 (11 yrs) When volumes increased after World War II, a single operator, called Kruger Park Services, was appointed for all camps.…

As another year draws to a close, it feels as though time is moving faster than ever. They say time flies when you’re having fun – or, in our case, a combination of fun, endless to-do lists and not nearly enough hours in the day! During this festive season, whether you’re catching up on unfinished tasks or simply taking a well-deserved break, be sure to carve out some time for yourself. Indulge in a little me-time and do the things that bring you joy. This time of year is also about gratitude and giving. We’re immensely grateful to our sponsors, who have supported us over the years, and to our incredible authors – many of whom have been with us since the very beginning. Your contributions have been invaluable –…

« 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. In much the same way as a barometer measures atmospheric pressure to help us prepare for adverse weather conditions, the IUCN Red List measures the pressures acting on species, which guides and informs conservation…

Coucals, cuckoos and malkohas are all birds from the Family Cuculidae. The many different cuckoo species known to occur in the Kruger National Park (KNP) were covered in an earlier two-articled series (KRUGER MAGAZINE, issues 21 and 22). Scan the QR code or visit krugermagazine.zinioapps.com to access the articles in Issues 21 and 22. All issues are available in digital format on the KRUGER MAGAZINE App – now available to download from your preferred App store. In this article we will look at the coucals – very close relatives of the cuckoos yet so very different. The cuckoos are all brood parasites (lay their eggs in other species nests) while the coucals all make their own nests and rear their own chicks. The cuckoos are all migratory, some from Europe…

Its specialised habitat requirement of streams and riverbanks and its exceptionally dark green foliage consisting of numerous small leaflets make it a relatively easily recognisable tree species, even from a distance. General description The river or brack thorn (Vachellia robusta subspecies clavigera, brakdoring in Afrikaans, mngamazi in siSwati) is an impressive, medium to large tree growing up to 20m in height with a wide-spreading, round, dense crown, and a bare main stem. 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…

Nestled in one of South Africa’s most renowned wildlife reserves, Jock Safari Lodge offers an unmatched experience of luxury and adventure within the heart of the Kruger National Park. With its rich history, commitment to conservation and prime location in a private concession, every moment is a masterpiece of serenity and exclusive indulgence. Whether you’re a seasoned traveller seeking a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with Africa’s Big Five or simply yearning for a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature, Fitzpatrick’s at Jock promises an unforgettable stay. Spanning over two million hectares, the Kruger National Park is home to an extraordinary diversity of flora and fauna. The main lodge is situated at the confluence of the Mitomeni and Biyamiti River, offering guests exclusive access to a private 6 000 hectare concession teeming with wildlife.…