Indholdsfortegnelse for Autumn 2025 i Kruger Magazine

This time of year as autumn settles in, the bush is lush, green and dense. As a result, wildlife sightings can be more challenging unless you catch animals crossing or strolling along the road. Predators, much like humans, often use the roads for better visibility. Our new series, Popular Roads of KNP, guides self-drive visitors along some of the Park's most rewarding routes – perfect even for day trips. Don't miss the inaugural article on page 16. In this issue's Conservation Project feature, we explore the concerning loss of vulture nesting sites. While elephants are often blamed for tree damage, Dr Robin Cook's research uncovers some surprising factors at play. Read more on page 42. “As autumn settles in, the bush is lush, green and dense” We're equally excited to…

HONEYMOON IN THE WILD 12 Nights, 4 Camps and Endless Memories “We decided to have our honeymoon in the Kruger. But first, we had to get married.” I decided to write about the first trip my wife and I took to the Kruger National Park (KNP) as a married couple. My own first trip I can't remember as I was only four months old. This trip was my 37th time visiting Kruger, while this would be my wife's third trip. Her first trip is also not interesting enough to write about, as her wonderful husband was not on the trip with her! We are from Durban and during the time we were going out, we never managed to go to the KNP for a holiday. While we were dating, I…

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, third or fourth 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,…

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 issue 27 of KRUGER MAGAZINE several terms and concepts describing vegetation groupings at different spatial scales were introduced and explained. To recap, 'Allies' in the KNP context are either veld types with similar dominant vegetation but on different geological formations, or similar geology and dominant vegetation but considerably different…

In this series we will be covering the most popular roads to travel in the Kruger National Park (KNP). The popularity of certain roads has come about over the years thanks to the amazing wildlife sightings they produced. It is commonly known that wildlife has territories they roam, which then become home for these animals – and it is therefore not surprising that some of the big cats are named by frequent visitors to the Park. There are even WhatsApp groups for some of the leopards and sightings are posted there. This series will start with a map of the area/road we cover, so next time you book for a stay, maybe choose the road, then the rest camp or camps – which we will include in each article. Keep…

“African elephants, often referred to as 'ecosystem engineers', shape the environment in profound ways.” For centuries, white-backed vultures (Gyps africanus) have soared above Africa's savannas, playing a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem health. As nature's cleanup crew, these birds rapidly consume carcasses, preventing the spread of disease. But their future is increasingly uncertain. Classified as critically endangered, white-backed vultures face threats ranging from poisonings, powerline electrocutions and poaching through to habitat loss and declining nesting sites. Understanding what drives their nest persistence is vital for conservation efforts. A newly published study in Wildlife Biology by Dr Robin Cook and his colleagues, sheds light on one of the key factors influencing vulture nesting success: the trees they rely on. Conducted as part of Dr Cook's PhD at the University of the…

Dr Piet (Vis) and Bronwyn Kotze Piet Kotze is an independent environmental consultant at Clean Stream Biological Services. His initial introduction to the aquatic biodiversity of the Kruger National Park was gained during his postgraduate studies, under the watchful eye of the then aquatic ecologist of the Park, Dr Andrew Deacon. Together, they spent many days conducting monitoring surveys along the Park's rivers, where he aptly received the nickname 'Piet Vis' (English: Piet Fish), a name that has stuck to this day. As an aquatic ecologist, he is currently involved in many freshwater monitoring and research studies and has a special interest in the overall biodiversity the Park offers. His wife, Bronwyn, shares the same interests, and after completing her Master's degree in Zoology on the Sabie River, they moved…

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. In Issue 30 of KRUGER MAGAZINE, we commenced the development history of commercialisation in the Kruger National Park (KNP) and covered the first two phases until 1945. Overview of commercial history The commercial development history of the Park can be categorised in the following phases: Phase 1 – Up to 1930 (4 years) Early pioneering years. Phase 2 – 1930 to 1945 (15 years) Several small operators were appointed to run all commercial activities (retail and food) while simultaneously checking in overnight guests. Phase 3 – 1946 to 1955 (11 years) After World War II, when volumes increased, a single operator, called…

From the very first time I entered the Kruger National Park I was smitten. The Kruger bug had truly bitten. I am totally obsessed and visiting the Kruger has become a type of drug. Being in education (I am deputy principal at Dunvegan Primary School in Edenvale, Johannesburg), I am fortunate to visit the Kruger every school holiday. A month or so after a trip, I start getting the Kruger withdrawals and if you ask my wife, I become quite unbearable to live with. The Kruger means so many different things to me. It is where I go, no matter the season, to unwind and recharge. I love being alone and finding the quiet roads where not many other vehicles are seen. I love to sit at a sighting and…

As the new year begins, it always brings the opportunity for fresh ideas – and we're fortunate to have such engaged and vocal readers. We receive constant feedback via emails and WhatsApp, and we take great care in incorporating your suggestions. Publishing KRUGER MAGAZINE has introduced us to many new people, perspectives and insights. The biggest challenge is keeping the magazine both current and innovative. It's incredibly inspiring to see how our readers and authors actively contribute to making this publication something truly special. Our hope is that whatever excites us will resonate just as strongly with you. To our authors – our family wouldn't be complete without you; to our sponsors – without your support, reader engagement would be far less impactful; and to our readers – without you,…

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 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…

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 First collected in Delagoa Bay (now Maputo), the Delagoa thorn (Senegalia welwitschii) is named after a 19th century Angola botanist Dr Friedrich Welwitsch. In Afrikaans it is known as Delagoa-doring, and in Tshivenda it is called Munangania. It is a deciduous, medium-sized tree of up to 15m tall…

As you enter the gate at the Karongwe Private Game Reserve, situated on 9 000 hectares of unspoilt African bush bordered by the Drakensberg escarpment in the west, you navigate your way on clearly marked gravel roads indicating your way to the different lodges that form part of the Karongwe Portfolio. “The oasis that meets you once through the lodge gate, is more than breathtaking.” A short way from where the board indicates the turn off to Kuname Lodge, the oasis that meets you once through the lodge gate, is more than breathtaking. The shade of the enormous trees surrounding the lodge itself is heavenly, and immediately you are greeted by the lodge manager on duty – making you feel warmly welcomed. WATCH THIS! Scan the QR code or visit…