Kruger - The Pioneers! Ep 728

Added: 2026-06-04

[00:00:00]Good morning.

[00:00:01]>> Hello >> from crocodile bridge.

[00:00:03]>> A little chilly crocodile bridge.

[00:00:06]>> I still love it. I said to Sonia this morning, I can't believe I'm walking around with shorts and short sleeves here at the end of May. It's fantastic.

[00:00:14]I'll take it any day.

[00:00:15]>> I asked him what the temperature was going to be like today and he said, uh, 28.

[00:00:20]>> 28 today.

[00:00:21]>> And I could hardly believe it, but I did need my jacket. Um, today we have a a lunch appointment in Skakuza. We have to be there by 12. I think it's now probably 7ish.

[00:00:34]>> And um your plan is to take the H5 and then the S26 which would be a new road for us.

[00:00:42]>> Yes. Up to the H3 and then Kakuza. Yeah.

[00:00:45]We can do it that way.

[00:00:46]>> Excited for that.

[00:00:47]>> Let's go and do it.

[00:00:56]Good morning from wood.

[00:01:04]>> The mist.

[00:01:07]>> We had a very misty drive here, too.

[00:01:10]>> Yeah.

[00:01:11]>> Listen. And it's 8:00 already. I thought it was 12 7.

[00:01:17]>> So, we've got 4 hours to get to Skakuza.

[00:01:20]We should do it. Are we going to stick to your plan?

[00:01:22]>> Yes.

[00:01:24]>> The map tells you it's possibly >> possibly.

[00:01:30]>> We need to also find a little spot for breakfast before half.

[00:01:37]>> Okie dos.

[00:01:42]>> What's he up to?

[00:01:43]>> He was rubbing his face in the ground and his horns in the ground and lay down in it. It's as if we found catnip or something.

[00:01:52]>> Patty nip.

[00:01:53]>> Yeah.

[00:01:59]>> We turned off here at Santoi Dam. There was a a lot of cars and uh it's for a troop of baboons. The sentinel was dozing.

[00:02:18]He's got a nice back rest for him. He's super comfortable.

[00:02:24]That's a quite a big troop. Look how many under the tree there.

[00:02:28]>> Yeah, >> quite a lot.

[00:02:33]>> We come in this morning at Crocodile Bridge Gate and we decide, okay, we're going to stop there by the shop and go to the L and hit the road. And we're running into Richard and Kirsty from Scotland.

[00:02:46]>> Yes, Richard was uh grabbing coffee and Kirsty was alone in the in the Germany and uh she couldn't believe it. Rich works in Ukraine. Um and um it was just so fantastic to hear how much they love Krueger. Uh they've been here for a week. Yeah, >> traveling through Krueger now. They another two weeks in Marath and they've seen a cheetah like in the road. They showed me the footage.

[00:03:24]>> That's amazing. Eh. Yeah.

[00:03:25]>> And also saw two beautiful lionesses next to the road leading to hippo pools.

[00:03:31]>> Yeah.

[00:03:32]>> She says her heart started beating when the one lion stood up and she realized how big they actually are. True.

[00:03:37]>> Yeah. I still ask, "Where are you from?"

[00:03:41]And then everyone looks at me like, "Hello, the accent. Scotland. I'm not good with accents." Um, such a pleasure meeting the two of you, Rich and Kirsty.

[00:03:52]And we hope that that black coffee was not too cold.

[00:03:57]>> Yes.

[00:03:59]So, what's happening?

[00:04:06]Hi.

[00:04:13]>> Stop.

[00:04:14]>> So, we spotted nothing there. I think we were just too low. Everybody says the li lion's lying down and uh we just too low.

[00:04:24]>> I must say I had a first experience there which was rather funny. I asked two people. Well, I asked one and you asked the other. one OSV guide and a normal vehicle and all they told us both of them were flat cats. That's all. Flat cats. No one could point us to where they were. So, we uh we left.

[00:04:50]>> Yeah. It doesn't help sitting around there and you can't see it.

[00:04:55]>> Always so nice to see a virtual cuckle so close to the road.

[00:04:59]>> Yeah. You can't drive fast, eh?

[00:05:09]We have incredible news to share this morning.

[00:05:12]>> Yes, we do.

[00:05:14]>> We had our very first Nala visit our house this morning.

[00:05:19]>> That's wild.

[00:05:21]>> Yeah.

[00:05:22]>> There's only one mala herd in Mar.

[00:05:26]>> Yeah.

[00:05:26]>> And we've never seen them.

[00:05:28]>> No.

[00:05:29]>> Any of them. And we have an old bushbuck who comes to feed at our house every morning. And uh several times during the day actually and when I see him I feed him. He very old. You can see his little eye is watering the right eye. And his movements are slow.

[00:05:46]>> And um I went to brush my teeth and I came out while brushing my teeth to check on him. And we feed him close to the patio so that the other animals don't bother him. And all of a sudden he had turned into this massive antelope.

[00:06:04]Then I >> fed him steroids.

[00:06:07]>> Then I realized it was a yala.

[00:06:09]>> Yeah. Beautiful antelop.

[00:06:11]>> And I'm telling you they very very similar other than the side stripes and subtle differences on the horns.

[00:06:18]>> So they had clearly you know chased him away or he had left and there was a nyala bull and a a blue vabbeast feeding. I can't believe it.

[00:06:28]>> Yeah, it was fantastic to see him. It's a beautiful antelope.

[00:06:32]>> Shout out Snyan. You say they've come to your house on more than one occasion.

[00:06:38]They have come to my house now, too. But only one of them.

[00:06:43]>> Yeah, we'll put in a photo of it now, uh, which we took of it just to show you what it looks like.

[00:06:52]>> The fancy breakfast this morning.

[00:06:54]This is the breakfast we have every morning.

[00:06:57]>> Yes.

[00:06:57]>> Two wheat bicks. Three. The sweetener is sprinkled over.

[00:07:04]Mine is in my milk which has to be warm.

[00:07:13]>> And um yeah, I do hot milk. You do the cold milk. Cold milk.

[00:07:17]>> So I think we need breakfast.

[00:07:19]>> Let's do it right now. And then after that I want my coffee >> immediately >> for definitely immediately.

[00:07:26]>> Is it? Are you in the mood?

[00:07:27]>> Can't wait for my coffee.

[00:07:28]>> They are out too waiting waiting in the wind.

[00:07:32]>> And in there is sweetener, KitKat.

[00:07:36]>> Yes.

[00:07:37]>> Mocha. My cappuccino.

[00:07:39]And a nice healthy spoon of Milo each.

[00:07:42]>> Let's go for it.

[00:07:47]Is that our mixture?

[00:07:50]This is yours here and this is mine over here.

[00:07:55]>> And breakfast was actually very good.

[00:07:57]We're going to do that more.

[00:07:58]>> Oh, definitely. Why? There's nothing wrong with that breakfast of ours.

[00:08:02]>> Well, we love it at home and I love it just as much here.

[00:08:07]>> That's it. Done.

[00:08:10]>> Ready for consumption.

[00:08:11]>> The smells wafting to my nose.

[00:08:16]I'm going to turn off the 85 now on the S108.

[00:08:20]which takes us down to an intersection where we turn right onto the S26.

[00:08:26]>> And then we head to the >> H3.

[00:08:33]>> Quiet roads.

[00:08:35]>> Yeah, hardly any vehicles. So nice.

[00:08:41]>> Lots of bookies.

[00:08:43]Looking for what else there is.

[00:08:48]We stopped here on a low water bridge on the S108.

[00:08:53]>> Yes.

[00:08:53]>> And it's incredible how clear the water is.

[00:09:00]>> Listen to the water.

[00:09:08]That's such a peaceful sound.

[00:09:14]>> I saw a hammer cork fly away.

[00:09:17]Oh, >> as we approached, no other birdies at the moment.

[00:09:24]>> Gray go away bird >> didn't go away.

[00:09:27]>> No.

[00:09:29]So, this is going to be the first time since we've been here to take the S26.

[00:09:33]It's 44ks to Skakuza.

[00:09:35]>> I love it.

[00:09:37]>> And we have 2 hours and 45 minutes to do it in.

[00:09:41]>> Oh, yeah. I think we'll be fine.

[00:09:43]>> That sounds doable to me.

[00:09:44]>> Yeah.

[00:09:46]Listen, I wanted to talk about Kirsty's t-shirt. I forgot earlier.

[00:09:51]>> Yes.

[00:09:52]>> It's a play on Adidas, but it's Hardy Das.

[00:09:55]>> Yes. Yes. And it's got three Hardy Das, >> but it's like designed to look like the Adidas logo.

[00:10:01]>> It's unbelievable. And on the arm it says on the sleeve it says Bry Army.

[00:10:07]>> I just love it so much that they love Krueger. And um she has a beautiful tattoo of a cheetah on her left leg, bottom leg. And um Brit has a lion.

[00:10:21]>> Yes.

[00:10:22]>> And they had them done >> in Spain.

[00:10:24]>> In Spain >> by the same tattoo artist. Yeah.

[00:10:29]>> Gaya.

[00:10:31]>> That name rings zero bells.

[00:10:34]>> No. Myself.

[00:10:42]It's just a little loop.

[00:10:46]>> Smell.

[00:10:46]>> You never ever ever know >> exactly.

[00:10:53]>> It's a dry rivered. Maybe you check for us on the map. Which >> There's water at the bottom here. Maybe this is a like a spot to stand and watch where animals come to drink.

[00:11:08]Well, we can finish your coffee here.

[00:11:10]>> Yeah, let's do that.

[00:11:12]>> Giant.

[00:11:13]>> No, it's not a giant.

[00:11:15]>> Oh, hold on. Yes.

[00:11:16]>> Why does it look like a pie to me? Looks like a pie. King, >> is it black and white?

[00:11:21]>> Yes.

[00:11:24]>> Then it's pied. If it's black and white, but I can't see. There's another one.

[00:11:28]That one is clearly black and white.

[00:11:30]Yes, they must be pied.

[00:11:31]>> Yes. There's the other one.

[00:11:34]>> Pied.

[00:11:36]We convinced it's it's pi. Eh, >> yes.

[00:11:44]My phone just didn't update last night and the camera zooms to 25 times now and it only used to go up to 20 times. I'm chuffed with that.

[00:11:54]>> Do you see the difference?

[00:11:56]>> Yes, I do actually.

[00:12:05]Now you have to be super steady though.

[00:12:07]>> Yeah, >> I'm shaking now.

[00:12:09]>> All right.

[00:12:11]It is Kay Sa or Ga Sa and it is the Bou River.

[00:12:18]>> Nice.

[00:12:20]>> And it becomes the Pondor River.

[00:12:29]So nice to just sit here and listen to the birds and the water.

[00:12:36]>> You can clearly see lots of animals cross the Bouet Rivered.

[00:12:40]>> Yep.

[00:12:45]>> The Empor Dam S102 is closed.

[00:12:52]>> Wow.

[00:12:55]I must admit the H5 was also in rough shape.

[00:12:58]>> Yeah. And this S26 is also >> it needs a bit of a grade I think.

[00:13:04]>> I think so.

[00:13:09]>> Hey, >> this is literally the first animal other than Impala.

[00:13:14]>> Yeah, >> the impala are deeper in so we haven't filmed them.

[00:13:40]I'm chuffed with my new zoom on my camera.

[00:13:50]Hello, handsome. Oh, he is a beautiful giraffe. Oh, he is beautiful.

[00:14:02]>> Oh, >> hey.

[00:14:10]Oh, I love him.

[00:14:16]Hello.

[00:14:37]>> Two on your side coming now.

[00:14:51]Do you know what I find astonishing?

[00:14:53]When I look at their size, >> that lions can pull them down.

[00:14:58]>> Yeah, that's incredible.

[00:15:00]>> Here they are.

[00:15:01]>> Yeah.

[00:15:02]>> With full cheek. This one >> just as beautiful.

[00:15:09]I love the lighter coloring.

[00:15:12]>> Yes.

[00:15:17]Hey, >> this has me a little worried. I'm not going to lie.

[00:15:21]>> No, >> it's sand.

[00:15:24]>> Let's go.

[00:15:24]>> Is this concrete?

[00:15:28]>> It's fine. Oh, >> d mongoose.

[00:15:39]You hear the little sounds.

[00:15:52]We've just come down the S26 and we've turned right here onto the S114.

[00:15:58]And uh we're going to take this road to Skakuza. We're not going to go through to the H3. This gravel road, the S114, goes all the way up and it joins onto the H11 and then we very close to Skakuza. Only 24 kilos. Now, >> if I needed the bathroom, we could have gone to the H3.

[00:16:14]>> Yes.

[00:16:15]>> But I think only 24 kilos to go. Yes.

[00:16:18]>> No, I'd love this road. Let's do it.

[00:16:19]>> Let's do it.

[00:16:22]>> Gravel all the way.

[00:16:24]>> Almost.

[00:16:25]>> And almost until the H11. Yeah.

[00:16:27]>> Yeah.

[00:16:29]I'd just like to say hi to Bernice from Albertton who watches our videos.

[00:16:36]And uh Jason sent me a message on Tik Tok asking me to give her a shout out.

[00:16:43]>> Hello Bernice.

[00:16:45]>> Don't stop watching.

[00:16:50]>> This is the perfect moment for you to give us a thumbs up. Yeah. On our way to Skakuza.

[00:17:00]We're just crossing over this low water bridge here. But you can see here with the previous floods how that all washed out there.

[00:17:07]>> Oh, and this is probably only a few months ago and it's now dry dry.

[00:17:15]>> You just saw other um impala running on the other side there and these are staring heavy in that direction.

[00:17:33]All females say >> luckily there are bookies because if there weren't any bookies today.

[00:17:50]>> Okay.

[00:17:51]>> Yep. In this car, what are bookies >> Impala?

[00:18:01]>> Are there any other bookies in?

[00:18:03]>> No.

[00:18:04]>> What about steis?

[00:18:05]>> Steen bookies might be called stean bookies, but they're just stean bookies.

[00:18:09]They're not bookies.

[00:18:10]>> Kudu.

[00:18:11]>> No, they kudu.

[00:18:13]>> Nala.

[00:18:16]Bookies. Bookies are impala. Der is a daker.

[00:18:21]The only bokey is an impala.

[00:18:26]>> So they they have laid claim to the name bookies.

[00:18:31]>> Yes.

[00:18:33]>> Interesting. You know that we um might have some disagreement. Oh, hold on.

[00:18:39]>> Stevenson Hamilton, I think it's his memorial over here.

[00:18:45]>> Yeah, I'd like to go again. We haven't been in all probably 24 last.

[00:18:51]>> Yeah, I think so. Let's go and have a look.

[00:19:03]How wild are these rocks?

[00:19:05]>> The boulders in this area are on another level.

[00:19:10]>> Yeah.

[00:19:12]>> Those biggest buildings.

[00:19:15]One forgets, eh?

[00:19:17]>> Yes, one certainly does.

[00:19:22]Wow.

[00:19:27]>> A light from vehicle at own risk. Stay within cleared area. Do not feed birds and animals.

[00:19:40]After his death, the ashes of renowned warden James Stevenson Hamilton were scattered from the top of Shirimatanga copy.

[00:19:52]>> Where is Shirimanga? Is it this?

[00:19:54]>> I think this must be it.

[00:19:57]This must be Shirimanga.

[00:20:00]>> James Stevenson Hamilton, also known as Skukuza.

[00:20:05]>> Yes.

[00:20:07]Listen, it's a little um scary >> because it's so lush. You can't see anything around here.

[00:20:17]>> It feels like something could appear >> any second nowhere here. Yeah.

[00:20:25]>> Okay, let's get going.

[00:20:32]>> See, this is beautiful here, my angel.

[00:20:34]>> Yeah, it's stunning.

[00:20:37]This would be gorgeous as a picnic site.

[00:20:39]>> Didn't we read somewhere that this was his favorite spot? James Stevenson Hamilton's favorite spot.

[00:20:44]>> I can't remember.

[00:20:46]>> I remember something like that, but I could be mistaken.

[00:20:51]>> I want to share one paragraph from our map.

[00:20:55]It says, "Scottishborn James Stevenson Hamilton was appointed South Africa's first official game warden. He was nicknamed Skukuza, he who sweeps clean, because of his success in eliminating poaching in the area. He strongly advocated a change in legal status from game reserve to national park.

[00:21:23]>> Fantastic. And I loved it this morning that we ran into Scottish viewers and Rich did not waste any time to tell us that Stevenson Hamilton was Scottish.

[00:21:35]>> Yes. Yes.

[00:21:37]>> You can be proud of that. Why not?

[00:21:39]>> Absolutely.

[00:21:41]He was a major major major role player in the history of this beloved place.

[00:21:51]It's Cakuza 6.

[00:21:54]>> And I am now glad we took this road because I do need a bathroom now.

[00:21:59]>> I can imagine.

[00:22:03]So, there was an OSV traveling in front of us and it looks like one of the guests lost their hat and it blew off and they just carried on driving. So, we stopped to pick it up and another OSV stopped behind us and the guy came to us quickly and said, "No, it's his friend. He'll take the hat and give it to them.

[00:22:22]Oh, it was definitely a lady's straw hat.

[00:22:25]>> Yes.

[00:22:26]>> So, she would be uh sorry to have lost her hat temporarily.

[00:22:33]>> Bathroom break.

[00:22:34]>> We have arrived at He who sweeps clean.

[00:22:42]>> Yes. First hanger left, please.

[00:22:45]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:22:50]Then you can give the vehicle some juice.

[00:22:58]>> So we know this is Paul Krueger and this is Petra Vessels. He was the one that pushed the national parks bill through parliament. And here he is, Lieutenant Colonel James Stevenson Hamilton.

[00:23:19]Incredible.

[00:23:26]I'm going to go put in petrol now.

[00:23:29]>> Yeah, I thought that might be the next stop.

[00:23:33]>> Yep.

[00:23:37]>> Perfect timing. 25 11. Yes, I enjoyed the drive here. Yeah, >> it's beautiful.

[00:23:46]>> All fueled up.

[00:23:47]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:23:48]>> So, we have a little bit of time in hand. One of our viewers with a username, Mrs. Two Feathers.

[00:23:57]>> Okay.

[00:23:58]>> Got to love it.

[00:23:59]>> Yes.

[00:24:00]said that on Sand Park's website, the campsite here seems to be full.

[00:24:10]>> Okay.

[00:24:11]>> In the whole south really. And uh she asked if we could take a drive through.

[00:24:16]And I said we will do so next time we're here.

[00:24:20]>> And we're doing so.

[00:24:22]>> So it does look >> Oh, yes.

[00:24:26]>> like there are plenty of folks. Oh yeah.

[00:24:30]No, there's a lot going on here.

[00:24:31]>> This is the side of the campsite we only discovered earlier this year. We thought the only campsite was that side where our safari tents are, >> but there's a lot of people. But I'm I still see here and there there's one that's empty.

[00:24:46]>> I agree with you.

[00:24:47]>> Yes, >> people may still arrive. We just saw a huge caravan pool in at the fuel at the filling station.

[00:24:54]>> Yes.

[00:24:55]So there are definitely a lot of campus but there there is the art spot.

[00:24:59]>> Yeah. Look at this site's open.

[00:25:01]>> This is a nice site.

[00:25:05]>> I would pick that one far. I'm sure not sure where they are.

[00:25:09]>> Yeah. This one's also empty.

[00:25:11]>> Yeah. Also nice.

[00:25:12]>> Yeah. But one doesn't know if they booked up, you know.

[00:25:17]>> Let's go to the other side now and see.

[00:25:20]Do you know it always surprises me in a campsite in Krueger that there are so many folks around >> go up here.

[00:25:33]>> Not everyone drives all day.

[00:25:36]>> No, there's loads of campsites.

[00:25:43]I didn't know it was that big here.

[00:25:47]Well, for the biggest camp, it would make sense, right?

[00:25:52]>> Yeah, it would.

[00:25:55]>> People put their chairs and their wood.

[00:25:57]They need to guard their spots.

[00:25:59]>> Yeah, they have to show that it's taken.

[00:26:04]>> Will you find the place where our tents are?

[00:26:07]>> Oh, here they are.

[00:26:10]>> Yes, >> just a different entrance.

[00:26:14]Oh, these tents are so cute.

[00:26:17]>> Yes, they are.

[00:26:20]>> See how many people pitch tents up here close to the ablution facilities.

[00:26:25]>> That was always my first pick, but I don't mind so much now.

[00:26:29]>> No, >> these are cute, but I prefer the four beds.

[00:26:34]>> I think this is where we came to wash dishes the morning after the storm >> when we were in 311.

[00:26:42]318, isn't it? B 319.

[00:26:46]>> The first time we stayed in the two bed one, you remember?

[00:26:49]>> Yeah. Was up there? Oh, okay. With a storm, we were here.

[00:26:52]>> Yes.

[00:26:54]>> 319. Yeah.

[00:27:02]>> Oh, they are open, but one doesn't know how booked up they are.

[00:27:06]How many people are coming in? I see they're nearly done with the construction work here for the the um storm water channels. So, apparently this was nothing to do with the floods.

[00:27:16]This was just an upgrade they were doing.

[00:27:17]>> Exactly.

[00:27:18]>> Last time I thought it had something to do with the floods.

[00:27:22]>> And the staff accommodation was a touring company's tents.

[00:27:25]>> Yeah.

[00:27:26]>> I thought they were staff tents, construction workers tents, and they were for travelers.

[00:27:34]Always goings on here. telling you there's always something happening here.

[00:27:40]>> But we both learned to love Skukuza the last few years >> also. Yes, definitely. But I also think there's a lot of planning going on with the 100 years celebration and things like that.

[00:27:54]Oh, look here. Right here with the new bungalows.

[00:27:58]The bungalows that have evoked so many mixed emotions.

[00:28:07]Well, I've got a nice parking spot.

[00:28:09]>> You do.

[00:28:13]>> A horse has totally passed out again.

[00:28:15]>> Yeah, he's finished. Eh, >> yeah, the gravel road that we took beat him up a bit, but the other three are still standing.

[00:28:21]>> There's several gravel roads.

[00:28:23]>> Poor B.

[00:28:25]>> See the heavy busy with the garden upgrading over here. It looks like they're building a new PL over there.

[00:28:35]You can see they've marked out a new walkway they're going to put over there.

[00:28:38]>> To me, it looks like there's going to be some kind of framed or framed something or a plaque in there.

[00:28:46]>> Something about history. I love that. I love it. Do >> you know? And every time when I look at those interlocked kudu horns >> and that really happens, eh?

[00:28:57]>> Such a freak.

[00:28:59]>> Yeah. And I also think of your dad every time I see these kudos. The two of you walking here.

[00:29:05]>> Yeah.

[00:29:07]>> With our shopping.

[00:29:10]>> Babe, my angel, >> how fortunate are we today?

[00:29:13]>> Yeah, we had lunch with Dez >> and Debbie >> Robertson all the way from Wales.

[00:29:22]Now, they are as passionate about Krueger as we are, if not more so. And Dez was very very fortunate to be born into a family with deep roots here and it um put him in a position to visit Kruger from I think the age of six days >> if not earlier than that. I >> I can remember my first trip in 1956 and we came here in my dad's Plymouth station wagon.

[00:29:54]>> Wow.

[00:29:55]>> Six children. My mom and dad in front with my middle sister, the three elders, my two brothers and elder sister in the back seat, and in the boot, my si youngest sister and myself. And you got to wonder where our luggage was. We didn't have a roof carrier.

[00:30:14]We had a van behind us with Isaac the cook and Alec the driver.

[00:30:20]>> You came to Krueger with a cook.

[00:30:22]>> We came to Krueger with a cook. Um, >> we are those days >> and the driver and all the luggage in our brown Bedford van at the back.

[00:30:36]>> Crazy.

[00:30:37]>> And uh, we stayed in Bel tents. I remember staying up in Shining Witzy at the time. Um, and we would go out for a drive in the morning and when we came back for for breakfast, Isaac had cooked our breakfast and it was laid out. My mom insisted that there was a tablecloth on the table >> and we were sleeping in tents.

[00:30:58]>> We were drinking um preserved milk. What do you what do you call it? A stere milk or whatever. We were drinking that.

[00:31:06]>> Um I cannot remember how we kept meat cold, but we did have bries and what have you, but you know, I'm sure there was some means or other, but absolutely >> I can't remember how. Um but that was the first trip I remember into Krueger 1956.

[00:31:24]>> Unbelievable.

[00:31:25]>> But he has many many other stories of which he'll share just a few and uh we look forward to having a chat maybe in a little quieter place. We've had a delicious meal and it's been the biggest pleasure meeting the two of you.

[00:31:39]>> It's been absolutely lovely meeting with you and if I may say um we only discovered you in January. We booked this trip um back in November and January we just saw the floods and we thought are we still going? Is the I mean the devastation that you saw here was just horrendous.

[00:31:57]>> That's true. and um >> next level record >> and and we looked at this and we thought is our trip okay and we could get next to no news about the place and we found you guys and there's a regular commentary and we could see well the S28 is open now >> blow by blow >> blow by blow and now that road's still closed and I said you know what what's happened to the S36 I want to go up to S36 >> and I still don't know whether that one's open but we'll find out sooner enough. But that just right the way through as things started opening up, you know, we just felt really we were back on track. We were going to have our holiday. It was going to be great and we had so much to look forward to. But by that time, we'd fallen in love with both you guys. So, it was a pleasure to meet you.

[00:32:45]>> Thank you. And you've been here for 5 days.

[00:32:48]>> We've been here for 5 days and we got another 28 days.

[00:32:52]>> Wonderful.

[00:32:53]>> Four weeks. Yeah. I mean like shall I say just so far today Dez has taken over 2,000 photos >> but most of them will be deleted very fast.

[00:33:06]>> Still still may there might be a leopard face in there.

[00:33:11]The three of us are ending off our meals with a cappuccino and an Americano for Debbie is a little camera shy and she's having her Coke Zero still. We're leaving Cattle Baron now.

[00:33:29]And now the four of us are making our way to the OSV picnic area where we're going to chat to Dez a bit.

[00:33:38]Look forward to that. I'm sure you'll enjoy it, too.

[00:33:42]So now, I mean, of course, I looked forward to the food and the drink. That was excellent. But now is the part I'm most excited about.

[00:33:52]So um there's how appropriate that Kruger turns 100 in five four days. 100 years old. So we can't think of a better time to have met someone like you. And when you reached out by email and you you said would we meet for lunch? I thought how could we not meet you for lunch? We would meet you absolutely. So it was doable for all of us. So, please just tell us a little bit about your family's involvement with the people of Krueger and the history of Krueger, if you would be so kind.

[00:34:30]>> I'd happily do that. Thanks, Sonia. Um, I always knew that my family had a long association with the Kruger Park, but I had no real idea of just what that association was. Um, I knew that in the 1930s my grandfather used to come here for 3 months at a time.

[00:34:51]>> Oh wow.

[00:34:52]>> Um, he had sold his farm and he was retired and he leave my grandmother at home and just come here and visit Harry Volata and they were personal friends and just knock about with him.

[00:35:05]>> Wow.

[00:35:06]>> So I knew the association here was uh went back a long long time.

[00:35:11]>> Unbelievable. Um, but what I didn't realize was how far back it actually does go. In that last year, um, I got hold of a copy of Dr. Pinar's history of the Krueger National Park, beautiful book. Um, and in there I discovered that way back before even Krueger was was formed, there were a number of farmers in the Transval. my great greatgrandfather, one of who was one of which um decided they were going to stop hunting on their farms.

[00:35:44]>> And that was Vauashum district.

[00:35:46]>> He was in the Vauashum district and um I think they just invented barbed wire and fences and those kinds of things at that time. So he was the first farm I believe in the Transval to put up a fence and initially it was to keep his own horses paddocked and whatever not wandering around the countryside but then because it was safer in there found that antelope would go along and slip in and stay in those protected areas >> because they're safer.

[00:36:18]>> It was safer >> from the predators and hunters.

[00:36:21]>> Yeah. and and he he put a a notice in the startant in the trance well saying no more hunting on this property you come here it's illegal it's not allowed and he extended the area that he had enclosed and especially to put in antelope and I'm I'm not sure of the exact details of who it was but there was a family invit where I think the daughter married Paul Krueger's son. I can't remember the name, but it's in it's there in the history. And um as a result of that, Krueger got to hear the when the two families are talking, Krueger got to hear about the conservation efforts that my grandfather Alexander Marsh Robertson was doing and he decided he wanted to come and have a look. So he came to us and had a look and he came back again a second time to have a look at what my grandfather was doing and he stayed on the family farm Ralph and where my dad grew up.

[00:37:26]>> Amazing >> to look at the conservation efforts, the right fencing and that >> that's right and the second time they came my my great-grandfather organized a bri for the whole area you know around there. So there were, you know, loads of people coming and apparently at that bri um it's been recorded that Krueger spoke of establishing a consery between the crocodile and the Sabi rivers.

[00:37:52]>> Amazing.

[00:37:53]>> Moving on, obviously over time, this was the late 1880s, so it took a while before the, you know, the park was first established and then you had the Anglo war and what have you.

[00:38:05]And then 1902 Stevenson Hamilton came here. Volata was wasn't the first ranger but he was the first ranger who stayed around >> for a while. Yeah.

[00:38:15]>> And um I think he was a ranger for 44 years or something.

[00:38:19]>> Um >> Volita.

[00:38:20]>> Voler.

[00:38:21]>> Wow.

[00:38:22]>> But also Volletter in 1902 was mowled by a lion and the lion's skin and the knife that he killed the lion was up there.

[00:38:32]And in 1937 um it's recorded in the book that my grandfather not my great-grandfather my grandfather Vinnie Robertson obviously when he was visiting Volat for his three month stints at the time >> um went up with Stevenson Hamilton and also in the picture there is there is a picture of Ranger Stain who became a later later warden of the park I think in 1959.

[00:38:58]Um, but the four of them were standing around the tree that Volletter had tied himself into to save himself from the rest of the pack. The lion jumped on the horse at a point. Um, he stabbed it at another point that, you know, that was dragged on, stabbed at He stabbed it at another point, killed the lion, dragged himself back to a tree that he climbed into and tied himself on with a belt.

[00:39:26]This was Harry.

[00:39:28]And in 1937, he went there to go and point out those three spots where those things took place. And my grandfather, who was there at the time, then agreed to pay the grand sum of £50 to have three plaques put up at the different spots. And you can still go to Linda now and you can see three plaques, but they we had a look last year and it's obviously not the original >> cast iron pls that were put up there in 1937, >> but the three spots are still clearly marked out.

[00:40:03]>> Fantastic.

[00:40:04]>> Um, so there was that. So my my grandfather paid for that. In addition to that, he donated the money to build a vehicle ramp at Ptorius Corp. Obviously in those days when people came to the park their cars broke down or they needed servicing or whatever and there was nobody to do it. So they used to you know work on their vehicles themselves and they needed a ramp to work on and there was a rampid pritorious scope that my grandfather paid >> financed stuff that is so cool.

[00:40:32]>> So I I I just loved these old stories. I found them I found them so interesting.

[00:40:39]I mean I don't claim to have any you know sort of special knowledge or whatever anything like that but I but it does help me to understand >> the deep love that exists in my family.

[00:40:52]I I've been quite amazed. I mean certainly my siblings and what have you.

[00:40:56]I told you earlier about the story of the six of us coming to Krueger. Every single one of them you know loves Krueger. I have two sisters whose ashes have been spread here in Krueger.

[00:41:07]Um my my grandchildren come from Australia as often as they can >> from an early stage. They absolutely love it. None of them need any persuasion >> to come here and and enjoy this place.

[00:41:19]And I think >> there's a part of me that thinks that love of this and this love of nature and conservation is kind of embedded somehow in our DNA. And when I see how far back it goes, >> you know, that just confirms it, you know. and also also um confirms why you would love it so much.

[00:41:39]>> Well, exactly. And he was fortunate to meet a young lady who at the time did not know Krueger, but he very quickly brought her because it was kind of condition of this deal that she falls in love with Krueger. And lo and behold, 48 years later, >> they are both as in love with each other and with Krueger as that very day.

[00:42:06]>> Um, I want to clarify something, Dez.

[00:42:09]Um, Paul Krueger visited your greatgrandfather.

[00:42:12]>> That's right.

[00:42:13]>> His names were >> Alexander Marsh.

[00:42:17]>> Alexander Marsh. All right. Okay.

[00:42:19]Alexander Marsh Robertson. Robertson.

[00:42:22]Okay. Yeah. And now in the in the library or the museum, I don't know which, you said that you still last year saw the picture.

[00:42:32]>> There's there's there's a picture of my grandfather with Volletter Stevenson Hamilton and Ranger Stain at Lindo at the tree that Volletter climbed up >> and he's he's showing them where it is.

[00:42:47]This took place according to the book.

[00:42:49]It happened in November 1937.

[00:42:52]>> Oh wow. So I think what we should do is we should go there now and have a look.

[00:42:55]>> I I actually did meet Harry Volletter once. I was just a little lighty >> and uh >> what stood out to you? That's quite funny. What stood out to you the most?

[00:43:07]>> And and the thing I remember most about meeting him, I mean this is probably just where my eye was at the time. He had this huge big thick belt around his waist with this big buckles and that's that's what I remember most about my visit.

[00:43:22]>> Well, thank you. It I hope you know what an incredible pleasure it's been to meet the both of you. I mean, it's like just to be in your presence. We can actually feel the love for Krueger and for our country. you left South Africa 28 years ago for Wales, but we can tell that it's very very much still a part of your heart. And as long as you keep on coming back to Krueger, it's uh all we can ever ask for.

[00:43:56]This is the lion skin with the dagger that Voler killed the lion with. If you look here, you can see the two holes of the stab wound.

[00:44:07]Oh, >> those like in the heart.

[00:44:08]>> Yes. And this is the knife. Can you believe it? Eh, >> how brave is that?

[00:44:14]>> Yeah. Incredible.

[00:44:16]Pioneers, traders, hunters, and adventurers.

[00:44:20]>> So, this is clearly a depiction of what happened to Volita.

[00:44:24]>> Look at that. Eh, >> Volutter was like up the tree here.

[00:44:32]>> Wow.

[00:44:33]this. Please do the honors.

[00:44:37]>> And then over here is the picture of my grandfather, Vinnie Robertson.

[00:44:43]I'm not sure what that's in his hand there. It's probably a piece of log of wood or something. Looks like it.

[00:44:49]>> Looks rather like a revolver being held by the barrel.

[00:44:51]>> Yeah, it does.

[00:44:52]>> But I don't think it is. And then of course that's Harry Volata and that's uh Stevenson Hamilton and that's Ranger Stain. What?

[00:45:02]This is Rachel in this James Stevenson Hamilton Memorial Library. Rachel was so kind to tell us that she has a copy, well, the library has a copy of South African Eden by the one and only James Stevenson Hamilton. And it was first published in 1937. You can see the book has seen much better days. Why I wanted Rachel to get this out of the cupboard for us was that Dez has a copy. I think a first edition Dez >> that's great first edition. Yeah.

[00:45:38]>> Signed signed by James Stevenson Hamilton Harry Voler and then amongst others some of the very first rangers like Duke and Jones who we both know water holes are are named after. And what's interesting is um Dez is going to send us pictures of the the signatures in the book so that we can include it here in the video.

[00:46:01]>> That is incredible.

[00:46:02]>> Rachel, thank you for taking the time to find the book for us.

[00:46:06]>> Thank you.

[00:46:07]>> Thank you so much.

[00:46:11]>> Wow. Is it my angel?

[00:46:14]>> Yeah. There does come a time where one doesn't have many words.

[00:46:21]>> Yeah.

[00:46:22]It's like it's just such a privilege to meet people like that who have he's got so much humility and it's about his it's about his history that he knows but he doesn't want it to be about him. He wants it to be about his family's history with the Kruger National Park. It's incredible.

[00:46:42]>> Yeah, I know he's big on that. And I'm also big on no person is above any other or more special than any other and we're all exactly 100% equal. But it is kind of a a big deal that your family has uh has touched the pioneers of Krueger and the likes of Stevens and Hamilton and Harry Volata. Um so it it really was a fantastic time. We said we have to be out here. We said we have to be out here by 3.

[00:47:13]>> Yeah.

[00:47:14]>> Because we're going to go tar lower and tar crocodile bridge. And it's now quarter past 3 exactly. We're going to have a tough time. So we will drive and stop only for I think sightings close to the road.

[00:47:29]>> I'm sure that's a Marshall eagle.

[00:47:36]>> Do you think he's heading this way?

[00:47:39]>> Looks like he is.

[00:47:46]Are they stopped eating something now?

[00:47:50]Moving on.

[00:47:54]Bushbug.

[00:47:56]Ram and U. Now the U has just tucked their head behind the bush. Yeah, >> that's what bushbug do.

[00:48:04]>> Exactly.

[00:48:06]>> Grown super fond of them. I see them every day. Look how gorgeous.

[00:48:13]>> Check all the elephants.

[00:48:16]I think they've just been to drink.

[00:48:18]>> Yeah, >> it was so nice to see Greg and Karen again from the Gold Coast.

[00:48:27]>> Oh, yes.

[00:48:28]>> We saw them Sunday at the Lionessire sighting near Barhandal.

[00:48:32]>> Yeah.

[00:48:32]>> And uh we were saying goodbye to Dez and Debbie when Karen said hi.

[00:48:41]>> It was great to see them.

[00:48:43]>> He's tackling. Oh, look at those teeth.

[00:48:45]>> Yeah.

[00:48:52]>> Huh? Don't Don't you come near.

[00:48:59]It looks like they got some asphalt on the the road surface there already.

[00:49:06]>> I'm telling you, the time is getting ever closer that we can drive straight through.

[00:49:11]>> Yep.

[00:49:15]Buffalo.

[00:49:20]>> It's always so cool to see them.

[00:49:24]>> Looks like quite a big herd, though.

[00:49:26]>> Yeah.

[00:49:36]>> Angelo was speaking to our friend France yesterday.

[00:49:40]>> Yes.

[00:49:40]>> And he asked me, "Did you know that um a giraffe walk with both left feet and then both right feet.

[00:49:48]>> You see that? Yes, they do.

[00:49:50]>> Initially I said yes and then later on when I spoke to you about it you asked me are you sure we knew that and then we saw elephant walk like that too.

[00:50:02]>> That's that's amazing that we that they do that. I just saw that now.

[00:50:07]>> I think maybe one just didn't realize it before. Yeah, >> we'd like to share the special gifts that Des and Debbie brought for us from uh Wales.

[00:50:21]>> First, it's this. I see they say it's a double oven glove.

[00:50:26]>> Yeah, that's so neat.

[00:50:28]>> Take out pots and casserole dishes and even off the bride.

[00:50:32]>> Yeah, that'll work perfectly.

[00:50:33]>> Pot.

[00:50:34]>> Yeah, and I love the birds on them.

[00:50:36]>> Yeah.

[00:50:38]And then these two coasters are from Welsh slate.

[00:50:45]They are made from Welsh slate.

[00:50:48]>> This these are daffodils. And then the Welsh dragon.

[00:50:52]>> Dragon. Yeah.

[00:50:53]>> This is Camry, >> which means Wales, >> which is Wales in Welsh.

[00:50:58]>> Yes.

[00:50:59]>> Yes.

[00:51:00]>> Interesting. Camry.

[00:51:02]>> And then this nice shopping bag. Oh, with so many Welsh things on like a castle, the dragon, >> a one lady with a spinning wheel, >> the love spoons, the daffodils.

[00:51:20]>> I love it.

[00:51:21]>> Very nice.

[00:51:22]>> So beautiful.

[00:51:24]And then also very special is this book >> a >> by David Fleminger called Fair Game, a hidden history of the Krueger National Park.

[00:51:37]>> This is incredible.

[00:51:38]>> I want to read a short paragraph from page 63.

[00:51:42]>> Yes, do >> here. Likewise, back in the Transval, a farmer in the Vakushroom district was busy with an experiment of his own. His name was Alexander Robertson and he was tired of his horses roaming over the countryside. So he erected a wire fence along his property, the first enclosure of its kind in the Transval. Soon Robertson noticed that a number of buck was slipping under the fence to graze in the relative safety of his sanctuary.

[00:52:14]Although the buck came and went with the seasons, Robertson was encouraged to erect several additional enclosures which eventually encompassed an area of 9,100 hectares. Robertson's son later recalled Blessborg and Springbach were far in the majority though there were also considerable numbers of ru and fiery book or stebbook and da da da da da da da da da da da viest zebra and were a nuisance as they damaged the fences and were not encouraged. However, many farmers agreed to stop all unnecessary shooting and hunting. That's incredible.

[00:52:57]Now, what I like about that is that that's Alexander Robertson is uh Dez's greatgrandfather.

[00:53:05]>> Great or grand?

[00:53:06]>> No, great grandfather.

[00:53:07]>> Great grandfather.

[00:53:08]>> And his son and Robertson's son was his grandfather.

[00:53:12]>> Right. And and Paul Krueger visited this farm.

[00:53:16]>> Yes.

[00:53:17]Sunset Dam.

[00:53:21]A big thank you to uh Dez and Debbie for their thoughtful gifts.

[00:53:26]>> Oh, so nice.

[00:53:28]I'm going to use those oven mitts for the pots and stuff I'm going to use on the fire. That's for sure.

[00:53:34]>> Yeah, definitely.

[00:53:40]>> This morning I said I prefer the lighter ones, but he's beautiful. There are about 15 giraffe on my left.

[00:53:46]>> Okay, let me have a quick squeeze.

[00:53:50]Wow, there's a lot there.

[00:53:52]>> Call it eight.

[00:53:53]>> Yeah, >> I just doubled the number.

[00:53:57]>> No, but there are many.

[00:53:59]>> I don't think you're seeing everyone.

[00:54:00]>> No, let me try and go forward a bit. Oh, they necking.

[00:54:04]>> It was just necks. Yeah, >> there are a lot of them, eh?

[00:54:11]>> Yeah. This is something else to get used to is how early it gets dark here. Yeah, it's like 5 to 5 now >> and the sun is setting >> and I mean you'll see at 5 when we hopefully at the gate >> elephant two miles >> looks like two miles but looks It's like the same place where the flat lions were this morning.

[00:54:51]>> Exactly.

[00:54:52]>> They're coming this side.

[00:55:21]lioness. It's just so dark.

[00:55:25]What an end to our day. Two male lions and some female in the distance.

[00:55:30]>> Ah, I I'm telling you, it's very close to the spot of this morning.

[00:55:38]Yeah, it is close to the spotter this morning.

[00:55:42]How cool is it now? We're just standing here under the spotlight here at the crocodile bridge gate.

[00:55:48]>> Um, with darkness falling so early.

[00:55:51]>> Mhm.

[00:55:51]>> And us being a little pushed for time because we really left Skakuza after 3, which we really needed to.

[00:55:59]>> Um, we saw some hyena pups in the road.

[00:56:01]A lot of birds now in the roads, but it was just too too dark to >> and we saw lion.

[00:56:07]>> We saw lion.

[00:56:09]>> Yeah. At the end of the day.

[00:56:12]>> What an absolute pleasure it was to meet Dez and Debbie Robertson from Wales.

[00:56:18]>> Fantastic. Fantastic. It was such a pleasure.

[00:56:20]>> Thank you for spending so much time with us. Thank you for the beautiful lunch and uh it was just fantastic to meet you both.

[00:56:30]Thanks for joining us in this episode >> and we'll see you in the next one.