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I have read so much about the usual histries around Skukuza, but still have questions and quriosities about the early days.
Maybe someone can answer these for me
1) Where was Stevenson Hamiltons' house, I read that it was in Lemoenboom Street, is there any traces left of it?
2) Where is the grave of his "butler" forgot his name?
3) I read that the dog cemetry was moved from its original spot to where the library is (I know it was moved from there too, but I am looking for the very 1st place of rest)
4) Where exactly was the block house and is there any traces left of that?
5) Are there any graves in and around Skukuza of people who used to live there?
6) Who was Doispane really and where exactly was his dwellings.
7) Where was the staff quarters for the people who used to work alongside Stevenson Hamilton? I am sure Helfase and others stayed on the premises?

Mmmmmm all very interesting questions that I would love to know the answers to

To answer your question on who Doispane was, I googled the name and this came up:

Doispane was a Shangaan assistant of Stevenson-Hamilton. The name is a corruption of his true name, Dustbin. The road from Phabeni Gate to Skukuza is still known as the Doispane Road.

That's all I could find, hopefully a more wiser Kruger historian on the forum can give more detailed information.

Hi BrendaK,

Interesting topic, also love history and often jot down names and places intending to follow up when I get home, and then life happens and reality of the rat race sets in, and before you know it you have forgotten all about it.

Will see what some of the books I have come up with Would also like to know the answers


Hi Tree Queen,
Found that bit of information about Doispane fascinating - thanks

Keep looking...

Let me try to help. Stevensons house is the hut next to skukuza restaurant. The museum.
There is a cemetry at kruger gate, although only in existence for the past ten years or so. Only for staff.
The dog cemetry has been moved, but not sure where to.
The story of doispan is correct. He was a corrupt guy who travelled the current doispan road and was burried 11 km from phabeni gate. Stevenson was burried at renoster koppies close to afsaal

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The staff quaters is where the current staff quaters are, just outside skukuza. The block house was close to selati line at day visitors area in skukuza. If you walk past selati, towards the gate, it was there. The original station is located paralel to the bridge, about 50 from selati restaurant

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According to Toll Pienaars' book, Stevenson Hamiltons' original home burnt down in 1976. Wacktazz, I don't think the hut you refer to was used by Hamilton? He first used the block house (1902) and then moved in to his residence, which was erected by 1909.

The residences of at least some of his staff was within site of his own residence. Pienaars' book contains a photograph of the staff accommodation, with Hamiltons' residence clearly visible at the back. Some may have lived further of.

The original dog cemetery was somewhere close to the rail bridge and the block house too. It was a steel structure, and I don't think there is anything left ... maybe some foundations??

Thats correct. The foundation is still visible today. You are correct in saying the quaters was visible from his house. I read tol pienaars book as well, but borrowed it to a fellow forumite and cant remember all, but will get it back and post again

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Hi BK, interesting Q's and A's.


Interesting reading: http://www.krugerpark.co.za/krugerpark- ... 25132.html


I realise that you were referring to 'Dustbin' in your Q, but herewith pics of Doispane, a Ranger's Outpost, a year or so ago:






For me, still one of the most amazing, extraordinary places in Kruger - an experience never to forget.

Here a link with more pics of Doispane:


http://www.sanparks.org/gallery/v/hon-r ... p.jpg.html

From memory Ali Sharif (not sure of his exact name - I will look it up in Stevenson Hamiltons book African Eden) was knocked down by a railway trolley (hand powered) that was used by staff .
One night with a colleague he was was crossing the bridge over the Sabie (at Skukuza) on the way to visit his wife who lived across the river when the trolley approached , the person with him managed to take refuge by hanging and holding onto the sleepers underneath the bridge .
I think Ali Sharif was buried alongside the blockhouse (the old Steinackers Horse encampment) which was on the northern river bank - will check up and confirm .

This is so exiting!
Dear Wacktazz, can one actualy see the foundations from somewhere in the camp?
I heard that Stevenson Hamiltons house was in Lemoenboom Street, it is the same street in which the surgery is, it would be nice to know where the actual premises was where he lived?

I am now also curious about the hut next to the restaurant, is there maybe a hidden history there?

This is awesome info, is it possible to visit these gravesites? Where exactly is the cemetry at Kruger Gate?
Doispan fascinates me endlessly, there is seems to be conflicting stories about him, I read somewhere that he was a loyal servant of Hamilton's and Hamilton himself named the Doispan road after him?
Did Doispan perhaps live in a village where he was buried 11km from Phabeni?

Thank you Ndloti, in South African Eden it is given as Ali Sharif only but I also recall a longer name. It would be so exiting to "rediscover" his grave.

The cemetry is behind kruger gate. I am not sure if you could visit, but i am sure its possible. You can not really see it from the selati, but you have to know where it is to find it. Its in line with the rail line next to the fence. The hut is just a few huts away from the main restaurant

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Hi Brenda, if you are interested in history, I would highly recommend Jane Curruthers's book, "Wildlife and Warfare. The life of James Stevenson Hamilton". It is well researched and there are extensive entries from Stevenson Hamilton's diaries.

I am not sure if it is still there, but one of the best pictorial studies of Kruger that I have ever seen was at the information centre at Mopani camp. It has photographs of the development of Kruger through the decades and is well worth a visit.

Another seldom visited place of interest is the grave of one of the early rangers, William Lloyd. William Lloyd was an early ranger who died in 1922 at Satara. One of his black rangers rode through the bush to alert Stevenson Hamilton of the situation. By the time Stevenson Hamilton arrived 48 hours later, the widow and her three young sons had already burried Lloyd by themselves.

I took his great grand daughter to Kruger about a year ago and she went to visit the grave. The reception staff at Satara were very helpful in helping her locate it and she found it well cared for.