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Yeah Freddie, I remember our first visit to Punda, circa 1957, staying in the tents. My dad, Jerry Hattrick, nearly set the tent on fire with the paraffin lamp!

I remember how naive my brother and I were about the ability of animals.

One night we were camping in tents at Letaba when around 3am this big lion starts roaring away. Our tent zip didn't close so we decided should the lion enter our tent we would climb on top of the cupboard and we will be safe. The next morning to our horror there was the ranger surveying the perimeter fence we were sleeping next to. Turns out a kudu jumped the fence "something scared it" - yeah we all knew what that was. He then proceeded to tell us a lion could easily jump the fence - well that shot our get away plan on the cupboard to pieces.

The joy of being little in the kruger.

It was 21 DEC 1996 , we were staying over in the right hand half of the guest house in PUNDA MARIA.The boyfriends of our two daughters accompanied us. We had a wonderful braai the evening and we "kuiered" until quite late.Incidentally we had a visit by the resident Genet . When it was bed time the one boyfriend (his first visit to KRUGER ) decided sleeping inside was for sissys he asked whether he could sleep outside on a stretcher on the veranda.It was agreed and he put on his Tabard and we all went to bed.My wife and I slept in the bedroom with Darryl on the veranda (just below the window) and the rest of the family/guests in the lounge. About 02:00 the Lions starting roaring outside the camp. My wife and I also heard the stretcher creak and creak as Darryl was tossing and turning (listening to the Lions) Darryl was too macho (also about 20 years old) to admit he was uncomfortable.The roaring kept on and then we heard the stretcher creak and we heard the trailer with the firewood in lid open and slam closed.I then knew what was going on. Darryl was stoking the fire . I then had a call "wil oom nie ook na die leeus se gebrul kom luister nie". I then got up and went outside and the fire was now well on its way.Darryl enquired whether I would like a cup of coffee . I replied positively and also said "make coffee for all of us then we could all come outside and listen to the Lions still roaring ".This was promptly done and everyone was sitting on the veranda listening to the Lions. It just kept on and on. Eventually we all decided back to bed as it was early wake up for breakfast at Pafuri. I offered Darryl to come inside Which was accepted with grace and dignity.The following morning it was off to Pafuri, at a stroll around Darryl came up and asked softly "were the Lions quite close last night" ? My reply not too close.That evening we had another long braai and Darryl was very eager to keep the conversation going until the early hours. I asked where he was going to sleep , the reply " outside and then very softly - you said "not to close "" Afterwards I was told that this was his best holiday ever and that evening at Punda Maria will stay with him forever .......... and ever.

Gmlsmit's story reminded me of my own experience, although somewhat different.

For many years as a single guy regularly just loaded up my car and dove for a few days up to KNP. Being young and broke, I really travelled light, I did not even have a tent. My sleeping arrangement was to hang a mosquito net on a low branch and put my stretcher below this. If it rained I moved into the car for the night.

On one trip to Shingwedzi, i woke up early to footsteps going past my bed, as they approached this little incredulous voice piped and said "Look dad, thus man don’t even have a tent!"

I've been going to the "Garden of Eden " since 1964 and I can even tell you the stories my dad told me about the Kruger in the 1940's ! Yes Frederik I do remember gravel roads and DKW's . One involving both in fact ! The first road to be tarred was the Naphe or H1-1 . We were staying at Pretoriuskop while the road was still under construction and we were on our way to Skukuza - as we came round this bend, there was a DKW on top of a heap of gravel next to the road - wheels still spinning and shocked looking faces peeping out of the windows ! They must have driven at great speed to end up there !!?? That proves that 1. Speeding has always been a problem or that 2. DKW's had bad brakes !!??

At times I wish I was older that I had seen more of the park when I was old enough to remember as it was when it was still wild .
Older , better memories in my opinion , an analagy could be to compare good contemporary music before music videos & boy bands , similarly my better memories of KNP are from before modernisation .

This is my first posting ever and my brother, Skopsie, will be pleased to see that I have eventually managed to do so.

Our family's first visit to the Kruger was the July 1957 after my father, working for Fauna and Flora, got transferred to what is now the "Eiland" hot spring resort near Letsitele.

As far as I can remember, we entered through a gate north of Phalaborwa. This gate was later closed and replaced by the current Phalaborwa gate. (Can somebody confirm this, please??)

We went to Letaba camp and then on towards a picnic spot near the Olifants river. Here we were escorted by an armed game ranger to the river and shown a high cliff where, we were told , a new camp overlooking the river was to be built. That is now the Olifants camp.

We never went again although my father often crossed into the Kruger to assist the park rangers with the catching of poachers and the shooting of elephants breaking through the newly erected fence along the western border of the park. He had many stories to tell about these experiences.

My next trip to Kruger was in May 1987 and since I have never missed an oportunity to go, my record being six times in the first eight months of last year.

Hi Kameelperd !
Thank you for your first posting....hope this is the first of many to come !

Welcome Kameelperd ! Phalaborwa gate used to be called Malopene, but if it was to the north of the present gate I don't know ?

At last, Kameelperd!!!!

Welcome. It seems to me you are 6 (six) tripreports behind??!!

Yes Herman, it was north from Phalaborwa. I think it is still being used by officials.

Kameelperd, very interesting memories of the old days and Olifants. Welcome!

Welcome Kameelperd .

Your father then worked in the Hans Merensky Nature reserve,
the gate then was at Malopene about 8 km north along the border . Phalaborwa gate was opened about 1962/63 and I remember going in when it was just opened and marvelling at the big thatch roof over the gate and office , but I never entered Malopene .

The picnic spot on the Olifants was the old Gorge camp , and this remained as a picnic spot only after Olifants opened . That was also closed later when Olifants gorge was deemed a wilderness area (1970's sometime) . So you realy saw some of the pioneering days ,and the conditions were very spartan then .

Looking forward to the trip reports too .

Welcome Kameelperd . Coming from such an interesting area I am sure you have many fascinating memories to share. I can also confirm what mikev has written .It is amazing how certain things make the same imprint in different people's minds .I also still remember hoe beautiful the thatched roof was to me on going through Phalaborwa Gate in 1967 . I also remember the Gorge picnic spot . Hot , rugged , rocky , crocodiles and a true African dust road leading to it.I also remember the first sight of Clem Haagner's enlargement in the Olifants area ,leading to the restaurant.I also remember my mother preparing breakfast on a gas stove on our veranda at Olifants and when she turned around she heard a swoop and what did she, see a Falcon disappearing with half our breakfast - a length of done boerewors To her, even today at 86 years, it was a highlight.

Does anyone remember these menus in the restaurants? They were used right up to the mid 80s (I think), the pictures just become more realistic through the years.



This one dates from 29 August 1965 - the day my parents got engaged in PK. On the menu for that day was:
Noodle Soup
Fish Cakes and parsley sauce
Baked crumbed Kabeljou
Bobotie and rice
Cold tongue, roast beef and garlic polony.
Assorted salads
Avocado pear mould and custard.
Tea & coffee
Cheese and Biscuits.

And all this for 60c!!

Absolutly , and now you can understand why we old timers are so critical of the current restaurants and shops .

And at Olifants it was a huge buffet of cold meats and FRESH GARDEN SALADS with all the others goodies like desert .
Now a lettuce leaf is a logistic impossibility .