Indholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2025 i Kruger Magazine

"We are so connected that we are disconnected,” says Alex van den Heever, director of Kruger Untamed and lifelong conservationist. “Tracking teaches us to slow down, to look, to listen – to reconnect with ourselves, with nature, and with each other.” Welcome to Kruger Untamed – a place where the wilderness breathes without constraint, and where guests walk not just on ancient soil, but in the footsteps of a master. Set in the heart of two of the Kruger National Park’s most wildlife-rich corners -the seasonal concessions of Satara Plains Camp and Tshokwane River Camp – Kruger Untamed is more than just a safari; it’s a soulful return to the wild. Here, under canvas and stars, guests are invited to explore one of Africa’s oldest art forms… tracking. And leading…

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 actions to help prevent extinctions. This is why The IUCN Red List is often referred to as a Barometer of Life. WATCH THIS! Scan the QR code or visit shorturl.at/Eg0FL to watch the video: ‘The IUCN Red List: A Barometer of Life’. Published by IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature. In KRUGER MAGAZINE | Issue 31 – Autumn 2025 lappet-faced vultures were Red Listed as Endangered (EN). Since publication they have been upgraded to Critically Endangered (CR). In the area comprising the Greater Kruger National Park (GKNP) there are a total of five mammal and nine bird species…

“Mine is Mahlometela.…the man who sees everything.” As I reflect on a conservation career of more than forty years, I must acknowledge the privilege I had to work with some legends in the field of wildlife management. Amongst the many scientists and reserve managers there is a group of people that stand out. These are the very brave, courageous and committed field rangers (game scouts) that work tirelessly to conserve the biodiversity of our protected areas. As a Section Ranger in the Kruger National Park (KNP), you are responsible for protecting the integrity of the 80 000ha section that has been allocated to you. To ensure that all aspects of wildlife management are afforded adequate attention some 12 field rangers are appointed per section. Houtboschrand Section: Corporal Antonio Ndlovu Antonio was…

THEME PREDATORS, RAPTORS & REPTILES Our PREDATORS, RAPTORS & REPTILES theme always draws some of the most striking entries - and this round was no exception. The volume and quality of submissions made for an intense selection process, and it was incredible to see the dynamic scenes and action captured across the entries. Congratulations to all participants -you’re clearly sharpening your skills with every issue! Selecting the TOP 50, and ultimately the TOP 10, is a mammoth task. A big thank you to our executive judging team for their dedication and a job well done. Next up is our GRAZERS & BROWSERS theme - so start curating your best shots and get ready for the kick-off towards the end of June. Please make sure to review the updated Ts &…

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.…

“They say the bush speaks in whispers and roars. On the 6th of September 2023, it sang.” It wasn’t our first time in the Kruger – not by a long shot. The first time we visited the Kruger National Park as a couple was in 2019 and that’s where the Souls of the Kruger were born. But this visit wasn’t about catching the Big Five or chasing golden light for the perfect photograph. This time, we came not just as explorers of the wild, but as two souls ready to promise forever, with the Kruger National Park as our chapel and its wild inhabitants as our witnesses. The sky was painted with promise and the Bushveld air buzzed with a different kind of magic. Because this time, the Kruger wasn’t…

Introduction Bouncing one’s way through the stifling hot, dusty savannas of the Kruger National Park (KNP), it is always a welcome relief to arrive at one of the refreshing, lifegiving water courses that meander effortlessly through the Bushveld valleys. These ecosystems support their own unique biodiversity, offering refuge to various riparian and aquatic animal and plant species, and interesting sightings to nature enthusiasts. These rivers of the KNP play a critical role in the conservation of aquatic biodiversity and especially freshwater fish in Southern Africa as a whole. The Kruger National Park boasts the highest diversity of freshwater fish species amongst all the national parks in South Africa, with an estimated 49 fish species naturally occurring in the Park. The ‘Life in the Rivers of the Kruger National Park’ series…

On a recent trip to the Greater Kruger, I witnessed a dramatic encounter between a leopard and a scrub hare that left me with mixed emotions. The leopard, known for its stealth and agility, was observed meticulously stalking its prey through the dense vegetation of the reserve during our afternoon game drive. Leopards are solitary predators, and their hunting technique often involves a patient and calculated approach. On this occasion the leopard used its keen sense to track the hare, moving with silent precision. The hare, unaware of the looming danger, was grazing or perhaps searching for food when the leopard made its move. In a burst of speed, the leopard pounced -the attack was swift and decisive. This scene highlights the raw and unfiltered reality of the natural world.…

Just outside Lower Sabie’s gates, Sunset Dam offers one of the finest settings to experience dawn or watch the sun set over the African bush. 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 Kruger National Park context are either veld types with similar dominant vegetation but on different geological formations, or similar geology and dominant vegetation but considerably different geomorphology. In issue 28, the first two vegetation Allies of the Kruger National Park (KNP) were described. Allies 1 and 2 are unique in the KNP, each consisting of one landscape only. In issue 29, Allies 3 and 4 are described. Ally 3 consists only of one landscape, whilst Ally 4 consists of two…

While putting together this 32nd issue, we were once again reminded just how much we enjoy producing a quality, engaging and meaningful publication for our readers. As we work through the magazine, article by article, we often reach out to our Facebook group members for help sourcing photographs – and time and again, you deliver. Without your continued sharing of sightings from the Greater Kruger area, that valuable resource wouldn’t exist. So, to everyone who contributes from time to time, thank you. During the production of this issue, we also took on an exciting new project – the BIG BIRD CHALLENGE. After concluding the 400-Day Challenge, we received a steady stream of emails asking for something new. The interest was impossible to ignore, so we sat down to design what…

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 in…

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 O 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 multiple rounds, mostly to better their own previous challenge/s. 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…

General description The bushveld gardenia, G. volkensii K. Schum. subsp. volkensii var. volkensii (bosveldkatjiepiering in Afrikaans, nsalala in Xitsonga, tshiralala in Tshivenda) is a large deciduous shrub or small tree of up to 10m, usually less than this. The main stem is thick and short with many branches. The crown is spreading, roundish and fairly dense, and particularly twiggy. It is droughtresistant but not tolerant of severe cold. Two other Gardenia species occur in the Kruger National Park (KNP) and are confined to the far north: G. resiniflua Hiern subsp. resiniflua (resin gardenia), and G. volkensii K. Schum. subsp. spatulifolia (savanna gardenia). Identification The bark is brown to grey and smoothish flaking in places. Leaves are borne in verticils of three at the ends of short, stiff side-shoots or in…

In Issue 31 of KRUGER MAGAZINE, we commenced the development history of commercialisation in the Kruger National Park (KNP) and covered the third phase from 1946 until 1955. 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 Kruger Park Services, was appointed for all camps. They managed shops, restaurants, filling stations and garages, while SANParks managed the camps. Phase 4 – 1955 to 2001 (45…

We are regular visitors to the Kruger, but November 2024 marked a new experience for us as a family. Our first camping trip! We stayed 13 nights at Malelane Camp in a borrowed tent. We didn’t want to invest too much in case we hated it. It was filled with experiences we as a family will always remember. Some treasured, some breathtaking, some formative and a few sad ones. When it comes to the pitching and breaking down of the tent: Don’t let anyone deceive you – it’s the opposite of fun. We also had the misfortune of ear-splitting noise of roadworks outside the Park every evening and some of the hottest days of our lives. We’ve also experienced the most frightening thunderstorms – in a tent you feel more…