SANParks.org Forums

Here is the poem I spoke about.
---------------------------------------------

Kruger Park Poem

Oh Kruger Park! My Kruger Park!
In my heart you have forever left your mark.
To escape from the complex pattern of civilisation.
With you one comes closer to an understanding of life’s realisation.
City living has such involvement and artifice, we pay dearly.
But here in your midst we learn to thing clearly.
You give forth the basic but elusive truth that gives life meaning.

Oh Kruger Park! My Kruger Park!
If one cannot learn what you have to teach then life is empty, out of reach.
Our lives are frittered away with trouble, strain and detail.
But you have tranquillity, you simplify, you never fail.
This is where one stops thinking about oneself.
You have taught one to find the souls estate, purify our thoughts.

Oh Kruger Park! My Kruger Park!
Living close to nature one can examine ones ideas.
In solitude, seek out ones hopes, ones life, ones fears.
Here one can come to the meaning and purpose of life.
Go out, be free, and throw away the worry and the strife.
This is the place I love above all others on earth.
You fill the soul with peace, contentment and mirth.

Oh Kruger Park! My Kruger Park!
You give out your healing sympathy.
There is so much to hear, listen and see.
The soft gentle mysterious sounds of nature,
stirring, whispering a sudden shriek, all is there to capture.
Ones mind marvels at it all.
Man, who thinks he is so strong, realises
No, he is small.

Oh Kruger Park! My Kruger Park!
The day is so bright with anticipation,
you have one keyed, will there be action?
You teach us to wait, lives hardest lesson.
Then suddenly rewarded hopeful fruition.
You produce some rewarding sight to see.
Oh Kruger Park, my heart beats happily.

Oh Kruger Park! My Kruger Park!
On quiet hinges dusk stealthily comes in.
Grass stirs gently, night will soon begin.
One raises eyes up to the sky.
Golden sun setting, stars up high.
Beyond the bush light lies still.
Oh Kruger Park, you give, you always will.

Oh Kruger Park! My Kruger Park!
The starts are bright, the water ripples gently by.
You hear a hyena call and far off an answering cry.
Then all is still, you sit and wait.
You hear a rustle, what animal has met its fate?
Your turn to go in, wild nature had its way.
Oh Kruger Park, I will return, I cannot stay away.

By: Anette Stanley

We stayed at the Stanley cottage years ago and that is where I saw the poem, and copied it down in my list book.
It was written by Anette Stanley, whom I think was the wife or daughter of the donator of Stanley cottage Maybe Satara Admin will know who she is

I gave it to my husaband to read and he used the word 'stirring' to describe - I think that is very true!!

One of the things that I am very sad about on hearing the news that the Rudy Frankel Cottage had burnt down was the loss of all the wonderful guest books that have enabled guests to put pen to paper in the form of the most beautiful drawings, prose and poetry. One of the first things we have always done on staying in any of the donor cottages were to read these wonderful chronicles. There are a number of books in the Stanley cottage called Heaven on Earth and the stories and epic adventures related in them make for enthralling reading. Perhaps Kruger Park authorities should step in and ensure that these priceless heirlooms are preserved in some way.

One of the poems written in the Guest Book of the Rudy Frankel cottage was called Ode to a Civet and goes like this:

Is Life Tranquil asks the Civet?
All depends on how you live it!
And to this rhetoric question,
I must post you a suggestion!
Though the question is absorbing,
So the answer is rewarding!
To be tranquil is not easy.
Lifes not always bright and breezy!
Try to live it like the Civet,
Try to LOVE it AND to LIVE it!!

I do not know who the author was but it was amongst the many wonderful entries in the guest book. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Sanparks could embark on a collection of all the best pieces in these books and publish them.

That's really cool. Now I wish I had a decent photo of a civet to print the poem out with

Hi Penny
You are onto something here

I think the cottages in the bushveld camps also have these guest books. I know the one I stayed in at Sirheni has such a book and yes, it made fascinating reading, tho nothing like the poem that Penny quotes. However, I agree that such a collection would be a great KNP publication.

I think it is a great tradition to start. In Hwange in Zim, every cottage, chalet and hut has one (only a school excersize book) The staff use them to follow up on faults like a leaking tap or resident bat, and also a gauge of the general experience of the guests. We found them halerious, beautiful and uplifting. The heads up on who comes to visit in the wee hours is also very exciting.

Maybe something to think about at all Kruger accomodation.

Check out the house at Satara, in a bad way. Yes I agree with your suggetions. Infact SANPs should also have put together a book on the Feb 2000 floods, many photos around on that too.