Indholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2020 i Kruger Magazine

How important is noticing the blossoming flowers and budding trees in springtime? Spring is indeed in the air with some trees now losing their bloom, and the jackalberry full of fruit. It is wonderful to see how many bird species feed on the seeds, from green pigeons, grey loeries and purple starlings right up to the black-collared barbet – to name but a few. Although some areas in the Greater Kruger might have received a little rain, the Lowveld waits in anticipation for summer rains, the new lime-green leaves to appear everywhere, bringing with it new animal babies and migrant birds returning – an amazing time of the year to look forward to! And while we are on the topic of amazing things to look forward to – Kruger Shalati,…

My name is Paolo Tudisco, aka Pablophotoshot. I’m an Italian amateur photographer, and I realised one of the dreams of my life, to take a photographic trip to the Kruger National Park in South Africa. I visited the Park for the first time early in March this year and spent four days at Skukuza and four at Berg-en-Dal. It was the most exciting experience I have had so far. Being within a few meters of the largest cats and mammals in the world is an experience that marks you, in a positive way, for life. Certainly, it was not always easy to photograph them as we had the obligation to stay in the car, so I did not always have the perfect shot and consequently the perfect photo. Also, the…

ELEPHANT NUMBERS ARE GROWING For various reasons, the African elephant remains the iconic species that symbolises the conservation success stories of the continent. Although the target of scrupulous poaching gangs and the greed of man for its ivory, the species has managed to expand its numbers, especially in southern Africa. As the human race gobbles up the landscape through urbanisation and industrial and agricultural development, elephants are confined to pockets of protected areas. Initiatives are underway to connect these cross-boundary areas with corridors traversing international borders. As much as these programmes are commendable, localised impact upon the biodiversity, especially the floral component of the conservation area, raises some concerns on the impact these elephant numbers are having on the long-term survival of the landscapes and the plethora of species that…

On another spectacular day in the Kruger we had had an unbelievable game drive. On our return to Punda Maria we came across an incredible leopard sighting just over a kilometre from camp. I was with my two mates and, yes, they did become a bit frustrated when I insisted on staying at the leopard sighting to try and get that perfect picture. Anyway, finally they got the better of me and we made our way back to camp. On arrival at camp my mates briskly made their way to the comfort of their camp chairs with an ice-cold refreshment. The fact that I insisted on going down to the waterhole to see what was happening blew their minds: “Haven’t you had enough?”. There in the afternoon sun was this…

At about 19:30 on 26 February 1998 a fire originated in the kitchen of the cafeteria and spread rapidly engulfing the adjoining shop and reception, all of which were destroyed. The firefighting team managed to keep the fire from spreading to the restaurant building next door. It is suspected that an electrical fault caused the fire. In order to offer continued service to guests, contingency arrangements were made. Reception moved into a mobile home while the shop moved into the restaurant building.…

We have been traipsing around this planet (mainly in southern Africa and the rest of Africa) for a while now. Always keen on travel and always keen on photography, we’ve explored and photographed some of the most astounding, interesting and beautiful places and things. And what a rollicking journey it has been – damn hard work at times, and more than once we’ve emerged from a project frazzled and burnt out. But would we change any of it? No, not for a second! But here’s the thing: En route we’ve learnt a thing or two, not only about photography but also about travel and surviving out there. So, here are 10 things that we wish we’d known when we started Roger and Pat de la Harpe Photography and Africa Imagery…

Driven by their ethos of ‘Good people. Good thinking. Good feeling’, BON Hotels believes in creating loyalty among their guests by bringing a relevant and fresh approach to every aspect of hotel management and operation across their properties in South Africa, Nigeria and Ethiopia. BON Hotels has developed a reputation for challenging the norm and raising the bar – all in the name of creating exceptional experiences. One such an experience is the Buckler’s Africa Lodge by BON Hotels. The roots of this beautiful lodge, located just outside the Kruger National Park, lie in friendship. A group of friends passionate about the area decided to embark on this venture to improve its luxury accommodation offering. Buckler’s Africa Lodge by BON Hotels opened its doors to the public late last year,…

Kruger Cinema 360, a new development located at the Kruger Station, will provide a visual experience that is the first of its kind in South Africa. It comprises a circular structure fitted with screens all around that project a combination of images simultaneously to tell stories. Swivel chairs are arranged in the centre of the theatre that enable the occupants to view all the screens. The theatre can seat 30 people and is used for educational and awareness presentations to tell the history of the Kruger and other relevant content related to conservation and nature.…

In 1993 an aerial survey was conducted of the Park’s rivers as part of a project to determine the number of saddle-bills in the area. The survey yielded an estimate of 25 to 30 pairs. Despite this relative rarity however, they are often seen. This is mainly due to the fact that many tourist roads follow the rivers, which are these birds’ preferred habitats. Their size and colouration render them highly conspicuous and their habit of walking slowly and deliberately along the open fringes of rivers, dams and sandbanks while stalking their prey, add to the ease with which they can be located. As part of the survey, tourists were asked to submit their photographs of the birds, as it was determined that the birds could be individually recognised by…

» Lower Sabie – favourite of the southeast In Issue 12 of KRUGER MAGAZINE, we featured Punda Maria Camp’s history. In Issue 13 we look at the history of Lower Sabie Camp. Origin of Lower Sabie This favourite of the southeast formally dates back at least 120 years although the area was inhabited by local people long before that. The first ranger of Lower Sabie was Captain Gaza Gray, who was in charge of Steinaeckers Horse, the British military unit operating in the southern Lowveld during the Anglo Boer War. He was based at Gomodwane where the H5 crosses the Vurhami. Lower Sabie was then an outpost and on his first visit to Lower Sabie in August 1902, Stevenson-Hamilton described Gray’s camp at Lower Sabie as follows: “He had a…

COMPETITION! All KRUGER MAGAZINE Facebook members are invited to share their favourite spots with the community. The TOP 3 winning entries are chosen by the KRUGER MAGAZINE executive team and will be announced on the KRUGER MAGAZINE Facebook group. Popular votes by members of the Facebook group will be taken into consideration in combination with engaging entries. CLICKPACKGO sponsors our popular SUMMER 2020/21 FAVOURITE SPOTS competition! Click Pack Go specialises in accommodation options in and around the Greater Kruger, breathtaking game drives, important and interesting information on the areas surrounding Greater Kruger and unique and convenient Bush Boxes! Prizes 1 st prize – Leo N’ora River Lodge, Mjejane Private Game Reserve, two-night weekend for a maximum of 10 people, self-catering. 2 nd prize – KrugerExplorer APP – one winner and…