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Halley ’s Comet was seen by some visitors during April 1986 in the night skies of Kruger.

Punda Maria used to be known as Punda Milia camp. The name Punda Milia is presumably from a Swahili word and the name were given for the camp by the local ranger stationed there during that time. Roughly translated from Swahili it means something like a zebra or striped donkey.

From Wikipedia - History of the Kruger National Park: 1926–1929

"After the proclamation of the Kruger National Park in 1926, the first three tourist cars entered the park in 1927. No accommodation was provided for visitors. They made their own camps in enclosures of thorn bush. Tourists could come and go at any time, day or night. The bad roads prevented any speeding. Night driving, however, had to be ended as too many animals, dazzled by headlights, were getting killed.

A rapid road construction program was started in 1927, and by the end of 1929 a total of 617 km of tourist roads was completed. The first roads connected the established ranger posts.

The all-year round opening of the Park had to be ended in 1929. Not only was the effects of rain chaotic on the primitive roads, it also caused a public relations disaster in March 1929 when a large group of American tourists arrived by luxury train at Crocodile Bridge. With two big trucks as transport, they went on a game drive and soon got bogged down after a big rainstorm. One truck also overturned on crossing a stream. The drenched tourists had to perch in thorn trees to avoid lions. Local ranger Hector McDonald and his staff eventually came to the rescue. It was one big adventure, but the bad publicity started when several of these visitors went down with malaria. Apart from the Pretoriuskop area, from 1930 the Park was closed down from the end of October until the end of May."

Just imagine, nobody could visit the Park for seven months per year!

Strange times.

Hi there all you "Did you know" people.
I have been reading up about Kruger in preparation for my June trip, during which I will also be taking my parents back to the park for the first time in over 30 years. I have been preparing a pre-trip slide show for them with our route, itinerary and some great Kruger history. Although I am sure many of you will be familiar with the information that I have collected, I have found it a fascinating journey of reading and discovery. For instance, DID YOU KNOW:

"There are a number of graves in Skukuza (previously called Sabie Bridge), indicating the final resting place of fortune hunters, traders, prospectors and more. Some of these graves are unnamed and while many face east-west, some face north-south. The north-south facing graves are those of people that were executed (illegally) after being found guilty for crimes that were regarded as heinous, such as the stealing of a horse".

Makes me think of the "Robber's grave" in Pilgrims Rest. His grave is also North-South facing.

It seems that back in those “ rough” days it could have happened that you were executed and that perhaps some of those executed could have been not guilty. You had to watch your step it appears

Indeed, the robber's grave is exceptional and a testament to the times. The belief was that you had to be facing in a certain direction to be buried in consecrated ground. People who commited suicide were given the same treatment. It was still considered murder.

There are more graves in Kruger than anyone can imagine.

For a long time, the Kruger millions were thought to be buried in Kruger. Many fortune hunters went looking.

There is also a Bathoto merchant who is said to have hidden a fortune in Kruger. His story can be followed in Harry Wolhuter's, "memories of a Game Ranger".

Maleria killed without mercy.

There was also the factor of the gold rush

and then the search for the Kruger millions.

Two thirds of all Southern African raptor species can be found in the Kgalagadi.

Really? Nice to know. Didn't know that.

There are more than 2000 Dung Beetle species in Africa alone.

That is quite a lot Rooies! But I suppose it is necessary. They play a very important role in the ecology!

I agree Hilda!