Kruger Heroes

[Wild@Heart]

Wow KNP Spokesman,

Louis Olivier is a legend!! Wish I could meet him. As far as I can remember he started working in the park in 1969. He became a ranger in 1975.

It was he who saved Tom Yssel's live when that croc attacked him. What a hero!! Would love to hear that story from the man himself!! And all the other stories. Especially the one about the elephant who waterbombed him!!

Ditto!!

My wife thought I went crazy when I read that about the ellie who waterbombed him.

I nearly fell off the couch so much I laughed!

[Wild@Heart]

I totally agree with Louis Olivier being a legend, and, I know him! He always has interesting stories, always friendly, a real gentleman, and an avid rugby supporter. He is the district Ranger at Phalaborwa now, and I can ensure you, my life is so much richer for knowing a person of his calibre. I still have not heard the story about the crocodile from himself, but I was told that he will share the story with me over a bottle of Black Lable (whisky...), I am now saving for the bottle, I have to hear that story!

Wow...you are lucky to have met and befriend such a great man...

[Wild@Heart]

Especially the one about the elephant who waterbombed him!!

Will you share the story with us please WTM?

Hi Twiga,

He was on patrol on his motorbike when he came across a Elephant bull on the far side of the river (please don't ask names, I'll have to go check up again)...

The ellie was busy drinking water and he was looking at him. He noticed that the "sly" one was actually pretending to be drinking and was slowely but steadily walking towards him, making as is he was not noticing him, pretending to be drinking water.

The bank was high enough for Oom Louie to know that the elephant wouldn't be able to get up to him fast enough, so he was sure that he was safe. This behavious made Oom Louie curious, when the Elephant was a few meters away, he again made his trunk full of water to "apparently" drink some water, but the next moment he "took aim" and blasted Oom Louie with the water.

Oom Louie said he was so shocked by this sudden water bath, and after a few words which could not be repeated, just to tell the elephant what he thought off that water bath, he went off.

[Shikra]

Louis Olivier has been a very good friend of mine for many years and he certainly has many entertaining stories to tell but you need time and a bottle of Jack Daniels.

[fevertree]

I was reading Jan Rodrigues' book this weekend on Game Ranger Tales, and I was wondering whether any of the regional rangers mentioned therein are still in the Park. Does any one know if any of those "old" rangers are still there?

[wildtuinman]

I read in Skukuza museum about this one guy.
Dumini or something was his name(should have write it down).
Can someone please give his real name?
He was a field ranger at Shingwedzi.
His age was estimated to be in the 90's when he retired.

He killed a child eating lion and was given the lion's skin in a hat form for his bravery by the Shingwedzi ranger. The ranger was away on business and the lion caught and killed a kid nearby.
He rushed to the scene to find the lion charging at him and some followers from close range.
He killed the lion right there and then.

The other outstanding hero for me is Oom Louis Olivier, saving his friend Johan Yssel's life after he was attacked by a croc.

[Tieger]

He worked in Kruger for 52 years in 1919, he started with ranger T. Duke on a outpost called Rolle 55km northwest of Skukuza.
He started 7 Years before it was declared a national park.
In 1921 he was sent to Malelane were he worked with Trollope.
And he saved his live from a wounded lion on the banks off the Crocodile River.
The child eating lion he shot when he was in Shingwedzi with a 0.303 rifle
Colonel Stevenson-Hamilton gave him 5 Pound for his bravery plus a Singer sewing machine and the lion skin from which he made a hat for him self.

[Tieger]

Sory i forgot to give his name his name was Nombolo Mdluli

[DinkyBird]

There 4 people involved in the crocodile sage

Oom Louis, Tom Yssel and Hans Kolver a helicopter pilot.
Hans Kolver wrist has crush by the crocodile as he turned on him after he let Tom go.
Corrie Kaiser was the man who ran in to the water with the butcher knife that Oom Louis drove in to the crock eye.

@ Tieger - have you read all this or do you get your info from another source? Do you have any more for us

There are many Kruger heros that we never hear about. The people behind the scenes who all work towards making Kruger what it is.

[DinkyBird]

Hi DB
Yes i do have some more stories but it is this PC thing that i am frightened off.
The problem is that i was born too early.
But i will in some time.
Kom van die plaas.

You are doing great! Look forward to more stories!

[saraf]

There was a big spread in the Kruger Park Times (Feb 9) about Louis Olivier and told the story of the crocodile wrestling match in full detail.

BTW does anyone know if KPT is online?

[Tieger]

Another Kruger hero ?

William Lloyd was the ranger at Satara in 1920.
Satara was so remote in those days it could only be reached on foot or horse back.
Lloyd his young wife and three small children lived there completely isolated.

Lloyd was very energetic for a 56-year-old man he had a good horse and has regular cover great distances in a day on it with his loin skin pants and thin cotton shirt and hat.
One day Lloyd came home wet with perspiration so he sits outside to cool off.
He got pneumonia shortly after that.

Lloyds wife did for her husband what she could but with the remoteness and with out any medicines there was no hope and Lloyd died.

She sent a messenger to Stevenson-Hamilton with a short note.
He covered the distance of 90 kilos in less then a day.
When Stevenson-Hamilton arrived at Satara she has already buried Lloyd under a tree close to the house.

A young woman alone and completely isolated with a dying man and three small children alone in the bush but she was always calm and in control of the situation.

It took three days for an ox wagon to reach Satara to fetch Mrs Lloyd and her belongings and took her to Sabiebridge (Skukuza).

Truly a remarkable woman.

William Lloyd's grave is still at Satara next to the road from the camp and the area Ranger's house.

Rumour has it that the tombstone has been put up the wrong way round.
Therefore, it is at his feet and not his head.

There are no records of what happened with Mrs. Lloyd or her children after that.
Not even what her name was.

[DinkyBird]

KNP Unveils Plaque For Fallen Hero

[Wild@Heart]

For those of you who are interested in reading the story about Louis Olivier and many of the other great rangers of our National Parks try purchasing the following book:-
The Game Rangers by Jan Roderigues
Published in 1992
ISBN 0-620-16912-5
Enjoy!

[ndloti]

Have had the priviledge of walking with a few of the trails rangers , some of whom became section rangers , but most of them have left Kruger . They were mostly of the 1980 / 90 era , also wish I had met some of the legends who knew the Kruger in its Cinderella days , before tar roads , ATM's and the like .