Kruger Centenary

In 1926 Kruger Park was declared a national park. Some areas in the south had already been protected since 1898. Kruger the politician gets credit, and the park was named after him, but we mustn’t forget the prime conservationists of Africa’s wild spaces: The tsetse fly and the mosquito. If it wasn’t for them we’d have overrun the place with sheep n mielies n fences. Or some such tame beasts n crops.

OK, so in 2026 people are writing their KNP memories. Here go some random thoughts on KNP n Me.

First, long before I appeared on the scene, my folks spent a night there on honeymoon, on their way back from LM, capital of Moçambique.

My first trip was as a nogschlepper, a fill-in to make up the numbers on a high school trip in 1968. Had to fill the big ole bus.

I remember the big swimming pool built on a sloping rock in Pretoriuskop camp, and the simple rondawels, which both still serve their purpose today. Jess and I stayed in one of the basic rondawels last year.

As a student in the late-seventies a magic trip with Tabs in the Fyvie yellow and white kombi. I think Glutz n Stervis were there, so Tabbo had an entourage!

A day trip with the kids in 2003 as we waited near a Mbombela hospital to be sure they’d recovered from malaria. which they got from a Zambian or Malawian mozzie.

In the winter of 2022 Jess went to rehab in White River and that started our many visits to the KNP over the last four years. I’ll try n count how many! We’ve now stayed in 11 of the 12 major camps* – all except Malelane; spent three weeks in the park twice, many weekends, some daytrips, traversed it from north to south, camped and stayed in new luxury chalets. Self-catered and eaten at the restaurants. And loved it all.

It’s a special place.

~~oo0oo~~

Feature pic: Skukuza in the earlies. It’s a village now.

• *There are also seven bush camps, four satellite camps, Tsendze Rustic Camp, and the ‘Doctors House’ at the Moz border up in Pafuri – still lots to see in Kruger!