(Root: origin; source; core) (Route: path; course; direction; road)
South African Festivals August & September
August 2009
Photo’s : Kruger’s pride, S.A’s Pride
James StevensonHamilton - The first Warden
History of The Kruger National Park
(by Juanita Trollip)
©SANParks.org 2004-2007
22 (by Bob Blackwell)
©SANParks.org 2004-2007
(by Desvonde Botes)
©SANParks.org 2004-2007
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3 (by Unknown)
©SANParks.org 2004-2007
2 Snapped - Photo Page 6 Colonel James Stevenson-Hamilton the first warden of The Kruger National Park—Early days 7 The Gibbons Expedition 8 Background History—Game Laws & Game Sanctuaries 9 In the Anglo Boer War 11 A Warden is appointed
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13 Some early days in the Sabi Game reserve 15 Skukuza 16 A Short little story 16 Problems & his vision 18 Involved in World War 1 18 Proclamation of the National Parks Act 22 Snapped - Photo Page 24 Festivals in South Africa
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orn in 1867 in Scotland, one of nine children, James Stevenson-Hamilton would later in his life turn many things around in the northeastern part of the Transvaal province, South Africa, early in the twentieth century. This boy was later to be called Skukuza. The youngster left Rugby in 1883, quite pleased to do so. His dream came true and following a very proud tradition, this son of an aristocrat (Colonel James Stevenson) entered Sandhurst during March 1887. After his examinations and training he qualified as a Cavalry Officer. He passed out from Sandhurst in 1888 and as from 13 March 1888 became Second Lieutenant James Stevenson Hamilton of the INNISKILLING DRAGOON GUARDS. On approximately 17 March 1888 Second Lt. J Stevenson Hamilton was ordered to prepare for his Regimental posting - a small town populated by approximately nine thousand whites, and a hundred kilometers inland. Pietermaritzburg in South Africa. The duty of the Unit was to defend the Colony and its people. The young officer (nicknamed Sos) with adventure in his blood visited Zululand a few times and here his love Africa and its landscape was born. The young second Lt was disappointed when advised that their deployment in Pietermaritzburg would come to an end late 1890, the seed of love for Africa and its game, sun, people and landscape had been planted “He in very fertile soil and was germinating.
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who turns things upside down�
He was promoted to Lieutenant during January 1891, then 23 years old. James was bored, and applied for a transfer to Queensland, Australia but was unsuccessful. The ill fated Jameson Raid in 1896 gave him hope of a war to be fought, but it not being successful, again faded his hopes and enthusiasm. John Watkins Yardley, a friend, became aware of an expedition to Barotseland, in the Eastern area of (then) North Rhodesia (now Zambia) being organised by Major A. St. Hill Gibbons for the Royal Geographical Society. James was told about the expedition and despite warnings of having to pay his own fare and possible hard living, as well as malaria, his mind was made up. Trekking and exploring through the Zambezi Valley, and the land of the Barotse, and possibly the Lakes of the Great Rift Valley, and later return to England, seemed very attractive. James applied for leave of absence from his Regiment and when granted, was overjoyed about the great adventure that awaited him.
He was noted to say:"'This is life, how happy I may be in England, this is the life for a man ".
James Stevenson-Hamilton 1899 ŠSANParks.org 2004-2007
The party consisted of Captain F.C. Quicke - also a Cavalry Officer, but from the 1st Kings Dragoon Guards, Lt A Boyd-Alexander an ornithologist, old Dr. Smith - the medic, an engineer C Weller, a Swiss - Muller, who died of dysentery in late 1898, and approximately 100 porters. And so James' dream started - The Gibbons Expedition 1898 - 1899 ‌into Africa.
The Lieutenant was promoted to the rank of Captain in his absence during February 1899, while toiling in AFRICA Here in the Barotse he learnt a lot about game and hunting, he had to hunt for the pot that fed himself and nearly fifty porters. Very soon he was an able stalker and had shot Impala, Waterbuck, Bushbuck, and Wildebeest. He often saw Lion and Leopard but they always escaped. The expedition completed, the men parted. James trekked eastwards and was the first white man to see the Kafue Falls. He reached the confluence of the Kafue and the Great Zambezi on 6 September 1899, the same place they passed on their way up more than a year ago.
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hroughout the whole of, what today is known as, South Africa, the game population was high and well spread out, with species more suited to a specific habitat, being more concentrated in their preferred areas. However, with the arrival of firearms, the slaughter of game started. And as word of this paradise spread, the slaughtering increased, and the population of game declined. Game was also pushed out as human habitation increased. The game populations in many areas simply disappeared. Soon the authorities realised that certain areas had to be put aside where the game could live in peace as they used to, undisturbed by man. Opposition to this idea was immense, and many heated debates took place before the proclamation of Game Laws and Game Sanctuaries were approved. Even after proclamation, it was said by many that the Game Laws were not worth the paper they were written on (not unlike many of the Laws we have today). The Pongola Nature Reserve was proclaimed in 1894, with the Hluhluwe and Umfulozi Reserves in 1897. Paul Kruger, President of the ZAR (later called the Transvaal, now Gauteng, North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces of the RSA), proclaimed the GOVGame Watching in the early days ŠSANParks.org 2004-2007 ERNMENT GAME RESERVE on 26 March 1898. This being the area between the Crocodile River (Southern Boundary) and the Sabie River (Northern Boundary), the Lebombo Mountains (also the Mozambique border in the east) to the Nzikazi River in the west. However this proclamation was nullified during the Anglo Boer War (1899 - 1902). After the peace agreement (31 May 1902) the area was proclaimed again, with
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the area to the Oliphant's River added and called the Sabie Game Reserve. During 1903 the area between the Letaba and the Limpopo Rivers was proclaimed as the Singwitsi (Shingwedzi) Game Reserve and was an added responsibility to the Warden of the Sabie Game Reserve. The area between the Oliphant's and Letaba Rivers was added during 1914. The area North of the Levubu River was excluded by Proclamation in 1913. The Sabie and Singwitsi Game Reserves were consolidated in 1916. This all happened under the Authority of the Old Transvaal. Unification of South Africa took place on 31 May 1910. (On 31 May 1926 the National Parks Act was passed in the Parliament of the Union of South Africa, and the KRUGER NATIONAL PARK as known today was born.)
t Zumbu James heard the news of the war in South Africa. He boarded a ship with German Officers and Flemish and French Nurses on their way to Delagoa Bay, to assist the Boers. His wild appearance now became a stumbling block in his effort to rejoin his Regiment. The neatly dressed Intelligence Officer interviewing him found it hard to believe that this wild looking young man was in fact a Captain of the INNISKILLING DRAGOON GUARDS. What would such a man be doing on a vessel full of Boer supporters, he clearly was a spy for President Kruger and the Boers... Aside from that, the trip to Durban was uneventful for the young Captain Hamilton who was now 33 years of age. The year—1899. The British strategy was to take the two Republics' capitals, being Bloemfontein and Pretoria and then, in doing so, force the Boers to surrender. This sounded easy enough but wasn’t quite - this process took three years. Long logistical lines were set up. Supplies had to be brought up by train, but with the Railway lines being sabotaged, these had to be defended, a long row of forts had to be built, conditions had to be adapted to. Eventually the British Army had approximately 300 000 soldiers fighting the war.
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He enjoyed life now that ability, success and achievement was recognized, opposed to upbringing or snobbery as in the billets. There was classless interaction, you no longer had to be a noble man to be recognised, a commoner was just as good - a double barreled surname meant nothing when the fun started and the lead and shrapnel was flying. The Captain enjoyed being able to be rid of strict discipline and now being able to make field decisions and then to see that they were carried out. The dangers and adventures of warfare made his blood flow, this was the life he preferred - the life of a true man. James was given the Captain command of a section of about sixty men, mainly Tasmanians, and his first posting was the farm Jasfontein. His first real experience of being under fire was when a bullet scraped his helmet during a skirmish at Slingerfontein in February 1900.
fter a battle there was very often a short truce under the white flag, to collect and exchange the wounded and bury the dead of and from both sides. Captain Stevenson-Hamilton learnt great respect for the Boers and many of their personal encounters were quite in good spirit, they often shared a smoke and rations— although not much rations from the Boers, as they did not have much. He reached Bloemfontein in April 1900 and he was transferred to the Infantry. At the end of 1900 the war of destruction escalated as the British High Command realised that the Boers lived off the land, getting their supplies from the farms. This was prolonging the war, and a decision was made to intern the wives and children in Concentration Camps and to burn the Farms - this caused much hardships and created much hatred from the Boer side. James found the resultant looting of the civilian population unacceptable and was becoming more and more disgruntled. He spent much of his time in the south eastern part of the Transvaal, now as a Brevet Major - (more responsibility, same pay), where he saw many of his fellow soldiers make the highest sacrifice. Later on, James was ordered to the Orange Free State, and his OC, with whom he was not really in good standing, was furious (James was happy). The OC Dauncy bore an active grudge against the outspoken James for the rest of their association.
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Fortunately Colonel Remington quite liked James otherwise the crossing of swords between James and Dauncy may have ended differently for James. James thought that Dauncy was ineffective, he gave poor orders, did not plan well, was a liar, a poor leader and liked the bottle too much. Eventually the two of them were called up before Colonel Remington and James had to apologize to his OC - which he did very reluctantly - and afterwards said he would no longer serve under him. He arrived in South Africa full of enthusiasm and energy - now he was disgusted and due to politics and personal animosity - he decided to resign from his Regiment. The peace treaty was signed in Pretoria at Melville House on 31 May 1902 and James did not want to return to Scotland or anywhere else. He loved AFRICA and this is where he wanted to stay. It seldom snows in the Transvaal and even less in Pretoria. On this rare happening, at a function in snow covered Pretoria, James' good fortune arrived - he met the man who would soon become Commissioner of Native Affairs - under whose control the Sabie Game Reserve was - Sir Godfrey Lagden...
n 11 June 1902, 11 days after the peace treaty was signed, Stevenson-Hamilton, in a discussion with Godfrey Lagden, mentioned that he was looking for a civilian job. Within two weeks Lagden offered him the position of Warden of the SabieGame Reserve, with a salary of five hundred pounds per annum plus an allowance of one hundred and eighty pounds. James considered the offer and was appointed during July 1902. He was also told to make himself as unpopular as possible in the area of his authority - he was soon to learn the reason for this strange instruction. A new dawn arose on James' horizon - challenging, interesting, adventurous and fresh. James was well aware of what awaited him, his enthusiasm and joy for life was
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immeasurable, he could now work in Africa and work where he enjoyed it most - in the veldt with it's fauna, it's flora, it's landscapes, it's mysteries and it's people. He was now 36 years of age, and had to learn the languages of the area, as well as the whims and woes of the area. The Rinderpest of 1896 nearly exterminated all the mammals of Southern Africa including those of the area bordering the Lebombo Mountains. The few animals that survived the Rinderpest then still had to outlive the ravages of the war, and now after the war, the poachers. The first head of Game he saw after his arrival, the fifth day was a Reedbuck ewe, a Duiker and two Jackals and later a small herd of thirty Impala. The area was inhabited by a few Black settlements and to many whites the area was prime hunting area, indeed challenging. There were farms within the boundaries of the Reserve, these had be bought out as well as the Black settlements and the occupants resettled. Major Stevenson-Hamilton appointed Major A.A. Frazer, a real frontiersman who loved the Scottish liquid obtained in bottles, as Warden of the Singwitsi Game Reserve. Other early appointments were Harry Wolhuter, Rupert Atmore, Gaza Gray, Thomas Duke (whose name lived on in the Duke waterhole and of course the famous tusker), as well as Dick de LaPorte - also living on today in the name of the Laporte water hole. Last two named were also known to Stevenson-Hamilton from his early war days. James was appointed Native Commissioner for the area as well as Justice of the Peace. He decided that for the time being, entering the area would be restricted to the minimum, and that anyone, whomever he may be, had to obtain a permit from him prior to entering. He was a good administrator and enjoyed
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James StevensonHamilton The first Warden of The Kruger National Park
the freedom he had in doing his job. He could do it his way - the main reason of his success. After negotiations even the police left the area and the staff took over the policing responsibility. His first big arrest was when he laid charges against two senior members of the Police for shooting a giraffe in the Reserve, this caused quite stir eventually involving the Chief Staff Officer of the Police, the Lieutenant Governor and the High Commissioners office. James decided that should these charges be squashed he would resign, but eventually the offenders appeared in Court and was found guilty and convicted. Very often bureaucratic stumbling blocks were put in his way. This only made him more determined to make a success of what he was doing and also to reach the goals he envisaged for his beloved Reserve. There’s a tale told about his arrival. On a chilly August morning in 1902, he stopped to let the train pass and was met by rifle shots. Bored soldiers from Komatipoort, on their way to guard the Sabi Bridge (now Skukuza) saw something brown (James' horse) in the bush and took a few pot shots at it, not seeing him on his mount and also fortunately not making a hit. The culprits were never identified....
James realised that he really knew very little about the area of which he was appointed Warden to. He often went on long expeditionary trips, often lasting up to three months. Him being a confirmed bachelor up to late in his life, was therefore relieved of being concerned about what was happening at home while being away. Three months today seems a long time, but considering the large area he had to cover, (20 000 sq km), and his available resources - horses, donkeys, mules, wagons, carts and no roads, this makes more sense. He however had a routine: plan - pack - pitch camp - strike camp - maintain - repair - control staff - administer - make notes, and, and, and... one then realises that he was quite busy.
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He loved the Tsokwane area and spent much of his time there, away from his Headquarters which was originally at Crocodile Bridge and later Sabie Bridge. Although living away from it all, James never lost contact with the outside, he often, while on leave, visited other parts of Africa. James was a keen writer, he used to keep a diary and also many journals were written by lamp light in his study, smelling of books, a bit of cigar smoke and Africa. He wrote a number of papers that were presented at Natural or Geographical Society Congresses. James enjoyed doing water colours of his surroundings, preserving old Africa for posterity. He was an able amateur photographer as well, and many of his photographs are still to be found in the library, (named after him) in the Kruger Park Main Camp. Now on ageing yellowing paper, ones mind goes back into history and you start visualizing and dreaming of old Africa and his little “CINDERELLA “, which he reared and nurtured and protected over a period of 44 years (June 1902 to retirement April 1946) . Many photos depict this remarkable man. Short, stocky, wearing a wide brimmed hat, shaven, neatly ironed shirt, often wearing a tie, neat riding breaches tied by a well polished and shined belt. He believed that one should never lower your standards—not even while on your own while others were not watching. James was extremely well disciplined, he not only made and enforced rules - he also obeyed them - one of the reasons for his success.
Colonel James Stevenson-Hamilton and Rocco Knobel on 90th birthday ©SANParks.org 2004-2007
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During one of the visits by Sir Godfrey Lagden and a few high ranking officials, Ali, the Swahili cook, dressed in a fez and the appropriate long white robe, announced : "SUKUZA, the meal is ready to be served". Lagden enquired "Skukuza - what does it mean?", to which the Warden replied, "that is what they call me". Lagden was still curious about the meaning, so the Warden with a smile explained: "he who turns everything around". They went to the well laid table and were served the normal rations issued. Lagden expected something more lavish than what was served and remarked that maybe an Impala cut would be enjoyable. Later James took his rifle and went to shoot an Impala, but returned empty handed and reported that there were no Impala. This was hard to believe, so he offered to take a few out on a hunt. They walked many miles through scrub and bush, crawled through thorn thickets, climbed over rocks up hills and down dales. Eventually the hunters sighted a few Impala, in silence they crept nearer. When close enough James enquired from the group whether anyone would like to complete the hunt, an eager volunteer came forward James handed him the loaded rifle. The sports man took aim, squeezed the trigger, the rifle fired and ...missed. The quarry disappeared, so off they went and repeated the process of the stalk. Eventually more Impala were sighted, again the sports man took slow careful aim making very sure about his shot placement, pulled the trigger, the rifle fired ...and missed, again the Impala disappeared. By now it was late and the party decided to return to base. They walked and crept and climbed until sweaty, dusty, scratched, thirsty and worn out they arrived where an eager crowd enquired about the results of the two shots they had heard. The blushing sportsman explained about the difficulties they had experienced and that despite all their efforts both shots were misses. James was standing close by listening to all of this and did not think it necessary to add that rifle sights were set at maximum range... . 15
The Cook mentioned earlier was named Ali Sharif and hailed from the Comores. His reading was not very good, especially his English reading. The meal for last evening of the Lagden party was supposed to be curried bully beef and rice. When served Stevenson-Hamilton noticed the colour being different from what he had expected to be and the smell was also a bit different from the expected spicy aroma. He called Ali aside and asked him to please bring him the packet from which the curry for the meal was used. Ali disappeared and promptly returned and smiling presented the host the packet labeled : " Cooper's Sheep Dip ", which contained arsenic and a few other potent items used for dipping animals in the control of external parasites. Needless to say the menu was changed and the meal served a little later.
Stevenson-Hamilton in the early days had many hurdles to overcome in keeping the Sabi e Game Reserve from being deproclaimed. One was an endless battle with the State Veterinary Department who wanted all game destroyed as they were carriers of disease which would destroy the cattle herds of the nearby farmers. Others were mining companies who wanted to mine in the Reserve, especially for the coal deposits in the Crocodile River area.
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Others, of course, were farmers who had an eye on of rich grazing in the Reserve and then the inevitable hunters/poachers who felt deprived of what they regarded as their right to hunt where they wanted to. Stevenson-Hamilton, soon after arrival, realised that the Sabie Game Reserve could not be a burden to the State, he envisaged that the area be : 1. A Game Sanctuary where animals could live and multiply in peace in a place similar to what it like was before being touched by man. 2. A place where paying tourists could come to, and enjoy nature in a place similar to what it was like before being touched by man. 3. A place where once when the game population had sufficiently recovered, game could be captured and sold to interested parties, and also as a last resort - where certain areas could be set aside for controlled hunting. Fortunately, both 1 and 2. materialised as well as the first half of 3. May it never happen that the latter part of 3. above become reality.
Game Watching in the early days
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ŠSANParks.org 2004-2007
Time went by and the war clouds of the First World War gathered and eventually the storm came and lasted from 1914 to 1917. James later became a member of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force heading for Egypt. James turned fifty in the Sudan. When the war came to an end, James agreed to stay on a little longer, but soon afterwards applied for leave and a little later submitted his resignation. He returned to Britain and spent the Christmas of 1919 with the family in Kirkton and after going to Fairholm, he realised that he had to return to AFRICA. He was now 53 years of age and on the brink of possibly the most remarkable and rewarding part of his life...
After Col. Stevenson-Hamilton's return from the Sudan he realised that the only hope of survival for the Sabie Game Reserve lie in the fact that it should become a NATIONAL PARK, as up to now, there was neglect when he was absent and there was a lot of procrastination going on. When the Sabie Game Reserve and its future was discussed, he felt that the bureaucracy and red tape involved was rather damaging than furthering its cause. He often felt that he was getting nowhere despite all his efforts and proposals submitted, he felt that it just did not seem important enough, he also felt that there were politics involved, and negotiations with the Land Companies made no progress. There was land of private and company ownership within the proposed boundaries of the Reserve as well as Black Settlements. Land had to be
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Either purchased from the owners or expropriated or exchanged, the inhabitants had to be resettled outside the Reserve. Genl. Louis Botha, the Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, died in 1919 and was succeeded by Genl. J. Smuts the Minister of Defense. Although the latter was a good statesman and leader there was a lot of growing dissent against him as a result of his heavy handed handling of the 1914 Rebellion, and the 1922 Miners strike. A political change in South Africa seemed on the cards and Stevenson-Hamilton feared that this may be another set back to the nationalizing of the Sabie Game Reserve. Col. Deneys Reitz was now Minister of Lands, although he realised the potential and possibilities of the creation of a National Park, and being sympathetic towards the idea, he just did not seem able to do much about it. During 1923 Genl. Hertzog, leader of the Nationalist Party, made a pact with the Labour Party in an attempt to get rid of the Smuts Government during the next elections. The Government indeed changed after the elections and as expected Genl. Hertzog became the new Prime Minister, and of course, a new Cabinet of Ministers was appointed. Minister Oswald Pirow, the new Minister of Defense, a nature lover and friend, introduced Stevenson-Hamilton to the new Minister of Lands - Mr. Piet Grobler. Stevenson-Hamilton immediately realised that his fears were unnecessary, this was a man who listened, considered the facts, made a decision and then carried it out - unlike the previous lot. Minister Grobler was committed to the cause and rapid progress was made. In the meantime the South African Railways started a nine day tour of the eastern Transvaal which included a few stops and a stay over in the Sabie Game Reserve, this proved immensely popular with the highlight being the time spent in the reserve visitors were taken on short guided tours into the bush - by a ranger was assigned to this. Sleeping over while listening to the distant roar of a Lion, the call of a Jackal, the barking of Zebra, the call of a Nightjar or a Scops owl was a great experience, the word spread and more and more tourists started visiting “CINDERELLA�. Many wildlife photographers did their share of promoting the Sabie Game Reserve. Paul Selby, Herbert Lang and Col. F. Hoare spent many days touring - photographing - developing - admiring - and sending their contribution all over the world.
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Game Watching in the early days ©SANParks.org 2004-2007 Some of the older folk, like me, may Game Watching in the early days ©SANParks.org 2004-2007 still remember these photographs displayed, many of them in the railway coaches. I remember as a young boy on train journeys to Hartenbos, how I used to spend hours admiring these possibly this is where my love for KRUGER and our WILDLIFE germinated. The artist Charles Astley - Maberley also sent accompanying drawings and paintings together with his letters to influential people propagating the envisaged NATIONAL PARK.
Stratford Caldecott together with the Warden spent many days compiling articles and write ups including copies of the mentioned photographs, drawings and paintings, which were distributed world wide, introducing anyone interested, to their dream. They came up with an idea. Why not, as an act of conciliation by the British administration, call it the Kruger National Park? Purely political however, as Volksraad minutes proves that President Kruger was never interested in giving much support to wildlife and the protection thereof and in his diary James wrote that “never in his life (President Kruger’s) thought of wild animals except as biltong.” Opposition towards this wonderful plan diminished as much effort was made by members of the Wildlife Society and Scientists, in lobbying politicians and other influential people to this cause. Minister Piet Grobler had a meeting with the representatives of the Landowners during December 1925 where the matter was discussed. He carefully and thoroughly explained the reasons and the importance of the proposed NATIONAL PARK, and also told them that he supported the plan. He listened to their side of the story and
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confirmed the States' offer of a land exchange. After the issue being debated, he changed from his diplomatic style to telling them that should they not accept the proposal/ negotiations - the land in question would be simply expropriated. The Landowners agreed, and close to 100 000 hectares was exchanged. The Sabie /Singwitsi Game Reserve now covered close to 2 000 000 hectares. The foundation for the National Park had been laid. The draft Law of National Parks was drawn up and on 31 May 1926 the Minister of Lands submitted the draft to Parliament. The leader of the Opposition, Genl. J. Smuts, seconded the proposal and so the Law of National Parks were accepted. (LAW 56 of 1926). The Senate confirmed the new Law during June 1926. The name of the new NATIONAL PARK would officially be known as the KRUGER NATIONAL PARK. Now development could be increased. Fences could be erected, roads made, rest camps extended, bridges built, staff quarters improved.
The Board of CURATORS OF NATIONAL PARKS was appointed, their first meeting was held on 16 September 1926 under the Chairmanship of Senator W.J.C. Brebnor.
. Written By GLM Smit ŠSANParks.org 2004-2007
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by PR Winnan) ©SANParks.org 2004-2007 (by Graeme Kelly) ©SANParks.org 2004-2007
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Oppikoppi Bushveld Festival Where: Northam, North West Website: www.oppikoppi.co.za Held on the bushveld farm of Oppikoppi ("op die koppie" in Afrikaans, or "on the hill"), this festival offers three permanent thatched stages, a smaller comedy stage and a stage for more chilled music at the top of the koppie. Oppikoppi has helped establish many South African musicians' careers, but it's not for the faint-hearted. This is real bushveld: hot and dry, and everywhere red dust and thorn trees. Expect to shower a lot when you get home. (Oppikoppi also hosts an Easter Festival in March.)
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Joy of Jazz Where: Johannesburg, Gauteng Website: www.joyofjazz.co.za Johannesburg's biggest annual jazz festival is an ideal family outing, featuring a range of musical styles but with a strong emphasis on jazz. Over 200 local and international artists perform at different venues across the city, particularly in Newtown.
braaied, stewed, curried, in pita, on sosaties, in potjies you can even pick up a done-to-perfection sheep's head for a mere R30. First held in 1989, the three-day Hantam Vleisfees has a music concert, street party, vintage car rally and, a highlight for many, the Miss Vleisfees competition - a glittering affair with dinner and dancing.
Hantam Vleisfees Where: Calvinia, Northern , Cape Website: www.vleisfees.co.za Calvinia in the Northern Cape is sheep country, and this festival celebrates meat. There's meat
Calvinia in the Northern Cape is sheep country, and the Hantam Vleisfees celebrates meat. (Photo: Hantam Vleisfees)
Cellar Rats Wine Festival Where: Magaliesberg, Gauteng Website: www.cellarrats.co.za Taste South Africa's best wines in a tranquil outdoor setting in Magaliesberg. Held every year in August, the Cellar Rats Wine Festival is a day of wine tasting, with picnic baskets for sale and many activities for the kids. Enjoy huge shady trees, lush green grass and an abundance of birdlife on the banks of the picturesque Magalies River. Designated drivers get in for free.
concert, held at the Johannesburg Stadium,headlines international superstars such as 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes. Over 600 artists perform during the four-day festival, with most shows at various venues in Newtown. The ever-popular Jazz on the Lake is held on the final day.
Aardklop Arts Festival Where: Potchefstroom, Free State Website: www.aardklop.co.za Aardklop Arts Festival offers a feast of arts and an all-round good jol for five days in late September SEPTEMBER and early October. First held in 1998, Aardklop - AfArts Alive Where: Johannes- rikaans roughly translated as "earth beat" - has over burg, Gauteng 90 productions, with classiWebsite: cal music, jazz, hard rock, www.artsalive.co.za Arts Alive, held every Sep- cabaret, visual arts, theatre, circus performances, tember since 1992, feaopera, African and World tures a heady mix of music, poetry and more, dance, visual art, poetry and music at venues in the ending with the OppiAarde Jo’burg inner city. The main
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rock festival on the final day Woodstock Where: Hartbeeshoek, North West Website: www.woodstock.co.za Woodstock, first held in 1999, is the largest youthoriented music and lifestyle festival in South Africa. In addition to mainstream music, the festival offers a market of crafters and alternative lifestyle products over four days. It is held at Hartbeeshoek Holiday resort near Hartbeespoort Dam in North West. Gariep Kunstefees Where: Kimberley, Northern Cape Website: www.gariepfees.co.za Now in its sixth year, the Gariep Kunstefees (arts festival) has an impressive line-up of local musicians, a film festival showcasing South Africa's new filmmakers, as well as art exhibitions and children's theatre.
Hermanus Whale Festival Where: Hermanus, Western Cape Website: www.whalefestival.co.za Every year, southern right whales travel thousands of miles to the Cape south coast to mate and calve in the bays. Join the villagers of Hermanus for an entertainment-packed festival, in the town with the best landbased whale watching in the world. Awesome Africa Music Festival Where: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Website: www.awesomeafricafestival .co.za The Standard Bank Awesome Africa Music Festival, first held in 1999, takes place in Durban's Albert Park. It has three stages of non-stop music, with over 200 artists from more than 20 countries. The focus is on collaboration with musicians from Africa and beyond.
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Knysna Gastronomica Where: Knysna, Western Cape Website: www.gastronomicakny.co. za A new addition to South Africa's festival circuit, the Knysna Gastronomica is a celebration of good food, wine and culture in the coastal town of Knysna.
farm breakfast and steakbraai are a must. Southern Cross Music Festival
here: Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal Website: www.southerncrossmusic.c o.za Every September the Southern Cross Music Festival showcases South AfriPrince Albert Agricultural can music in a three-day Show event in Hidden Valley on Where: Prince Albert, the banks of KwaZuluWestern Cape Natal's beautiful Mooi River. Website: First held in 1998, the festiwww.patourism.co.za val donates part of its proJoin the people of Prince ceeds to charity. In addition Albert as they celebrate to music, there's fishing, their agricultural heritage in swimming, white water raftSeptember. The show ofing, abseiling, hikes, walks, fers homecrafts, art and mountain biking and 4x4 flowers, horses on show, courses. The farm caters motorbike obstacle route, for 6 000 festival-goers. sheep and angora goat competitions, local products, delicious food, bar facilities and entertainment for young and old. The
Macufe Where: Bloemfontein, Free State Website: www.macufe.co.za Macufe, the 10-day Mangaung African Cultural Festival, showcases the cream of African and international talent. It features jazz, gospel, kwaito, hiphop, R&B, rock and classical music, as well as dance, drama, cabaret musical theatre, poetry, fine art and traditional arts and crafts. First held in 1997 before an audience of 30 000, Macufe now attracts over 140 000 people from South Africa, Africa and the world. The festival is presented in late September and early October by the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State. White Mountain Folk Festival Where: Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal
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Website: www.whitemountain.co.za The White Mountain Folk Festival in the Central Drakensberg mountain range offers great music in an awesome setting for three days in September. Featuring acoustic performances by some of the South Africa's top folk musicians, the festival is held at White Mountain Lodge in the foothills of the Giant's Castle Nature Reserve. Camping in a beautiful site at the edge of a dam is free, with brand new hot shower units at the ready plus lots of "executive" loos. There's also a variety of food stalls, and a beer market offering naturally brewed local ales and lagers. Vrede Paddadors Where: Vrede, Free State Website: www.vredefees.co.za The full name of Padda
dors, the Free State town of Vrede's annual festival, is the Vrede Paddadors Rooivleis en Kultuurfees which translates literally as the Peace Frog-Thirst RedMeat and Culture Festival. The story goes that the dry land on which the town was established was originally called Paddadors ("frog thirst" in Afrikaans), until peace came and place was named Vrede. The festival offers live music, traditional food, a beer garden, children's activities and more.
(You can click on any of the webaddresses for more information about any of these events and festivals!) www.southafrica.info
At the end of it all we have so much to be grateful for… I hope that you, the reader found this as fascinating as I did! Being a South African, and a huge fan and lover of the KNP and nature, reading this, I cannot help but get goose bumps when I imagine the things that had to happen in order to secure the Park and the preservation of animals and area alike. Sadly, it turns out that the massacre of animals, nature and mother earth still continues every day. We the human beings do not learn from past lessons or experiences. We, the human beings, the intruders, the blood sucking leaches, we devastate and ruin. If you doubt what I’m telling you, then do yourself a favour and “Google” it. Try “Animal extinction rate” for a starting point - 2.2 million results… Maybe try “endangered species”. What exactly is the reason for animals becoming extinct? HUMANS! Destruction of natural habitat, hunting, senseless killing and oil spills to name a few. Frankly, the list is endless, but mostly it’s us - you and me both. Our ignorance… New species of plants and animals (insects included) are discovered every year. Species in vulnerable habitats may be going extinct before their existence is even known.
On average, a distinct species of plant or animal becomes extinct every 20 minutes. Do the math - 24 hours in a day. 1440 minutes.
72 species every, single day. Gone. Forever. 28
We take and take, as if the supply is endless, and laugh it off - mostly (in my personal opinion) because we are scared. Facing what we fear is (apparently) not an option. As they say: Every human being on this earth share one, debilitating fear. Fear itself... When you look at these figures you have to ask yourself if “I’ll start tomorrow” or “maybe next time” is good enough? If our forefathers, and their forefathers made a bigger effort towards conservation and preservation, we, in our every day living, would have had a vastly different lifestyle and viewpoint. And even, just maybe, would still have been able to see animals that we aren’t even aware of today. So start today, become aware, do your bit... every little drop fills the bucket. There’s tons more stories and background on the Kruger National Park, and we’d love to publish more - so please guys (and “gals”), give us your feedback! Write us and share your thoughts, your experiences, suggestions for articles or send us your pictures of our beautiful country, South Africa. This publication is about South Africa. All of South Africa. But not just for South Africans. Through this we hope to plant a seed in the heart of every reader. And to all you SA boys and girls, may your seed already be an enormous tree! All the best till next time.
Mail us at: info@greenbeepublications.co.za www.greenbeepublications.co.za See our website for charity and conservation opportunities
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