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My daughter, Sarabi turns 18 tomorrow.

I gave Sarabi her birthday gift tonight.
The same gift that I gave her twin sisters 5 years ago, when they turned 18, an adventure trail in the Park.

For me, the gift of experience is everything.

I did wonder tonight, how do others experience tradition, do any others remember Sanparks as a family tradition?

What a wonderful gift MM!!!

This is perhaps a tradition more of us should start. I agree that experience is a great gift. What a wonderful gift MM. And a very Happy Birthday to Sarabi!

@MM

I'm available for adoption.



Oooooops. Didn't read the 18 bit.

Wonder if Rusk jnr is open to the idea of adoption?

I think it is a wonderful gift and a great tradition.

I unfortunately do not come from a family that was interested in Kruger (or any park for that matter) and it will be up to me to start a tradition.

Send birthday wishes for Sarabi tomorrow. If she loves nature 1% as much as her mom she is an asset to the fraternity of naturelovers.

A great gift to Sarabi indeed MM. Happy birthday to her.

Sanparks and especially KNP is a family tradition for our family for sure!

I can remember back when I was 4 years old going to KNP with my family. That was in the sixties. My late father had a Ford Zephyr and we went to the KNP on a regular basis. We were 5 children and the Ford was packed (father, mother and 5 children)!! Well I must say in those days the cars were BIG and there wasn't anything like a mini taxi or Combi.

My late father was a State Veterinarian and was later on based in Pietersburg (Polokwane). He became Assistant Director at the State Veterinarian Department for Northern and Eastern Transvaal (Limpopo and Mapumalanga) and the KNP was part of his area.

My father went to KNP on numerous occasions during a year for work related issues and my twin brother and I used to join him during school holidays running around in Skukuza camp the whole day while my father was working. Normally we went out for drives in the afternoons with him when he has finished his work for the day!

During the years we've met some amazing Veterinarians in the KNP. I think the current State Vet in KNP, Dr Roy Bengis, should remember my father, my father was rather a difficult man.

I remember the late Dr E Young. He was based in Skukuza and had a sort of tame Cheetah. If I can remember correctly, the Cheetah's name was Taga or Targa?? One day we went with Dr Young when he took his Cheetah to catch an Impala. We had to drive on the public roads for a few kilometers and had some strange and shocked glances from visitors looking at this Cheetah sitting in the front seat of Dr Young's Land Rover!!

We had numerous experiences those days and on some occasions went out with a Ranger for a night drive when public night drives were just a dream.

For us the KNP is a family tradition. In 1985 I introduced my girlfriend to the KNP. We are married now and have been going back on a regular basis. When our daughter was one year old we took her to the KNP. That first trip with her was a challenge... she didn't mind the driving but when we were stopping at sightings she started screaming. So, during that trip when we saw lions for instance, it was something like "Hey nice lions, let's go!!" She didn't mind stopping at Giraffes though, she loved them!!

Our daughter is 7 years old now, she enjoys the KNP even more than us (If that is possible) and we are going to the KNP once or twice a year...

What a great tradition!!

Hi MM, It is olso a tradition in our fam. I still remeber the first time, 50 years ago, when we start visiting the KNP. Once a month that time, we get there on a Friday night, sleeping at the Numbigate on the tar road to get in when the gates open the next morning. And i promise you, till death will part us, this will be one of the traditions in our family. As my parents learn us this good thing in life, we, my sister and brothers learn our children and grand children too.

The KNP is and will be always a GOD given speciality to us.

zaza

Wonderful tradition and gift MM.

I sometimes wear a one of a kind bronze and enamel Yellow Ribbon pin. Great conversation starter in shops. At the end of 2006 a girl in school uniform asked me what it was for. I explained and her mum told her to tell me her story. She was in matric, Saffie last year of your school career, and was given the choice by her parents to go to the usual Margate seaside. The traditional Saffie end of school career holiday. Her choice, with 3 friends, were 2 weeks in KNP. I wonder what happened to them as they were planning the trip and I never saw her again. MM's gift reminded me of that incident. Great gift.

MM, I don't have kids yet but I've thought of taking any kids we may have on a Wilderness Trail once they reach the minimum age. I guess great minds think alike.

Theuns, what a wonderful way to grow up

to right mm beats growing up in the concrete jungle the only cats we had were mangy toms lol had some cracking rats though
si
xxx

Wow MM, what a great gift and idea.

Wonderful, MM! She is so lucky to have you for a mom, and not just because of the Kruger gift.

What a special present MM!!