How did your love for Kruger start?

[annie R]

When I was a child we kept hearing about Kruger from 'Auntie Addison', a neighbour who originally hailed from Yorkshire in the UK but went to Kruger with her family every chance she got. When I was 10 my parents took my brother and me on our first trip. Money being tight, we stayed just two days, but managed to pack in elephant, lion, sable and leopard (which turned out to be cheetah when Auntie Addison saw the photos, that's how green we were!). We were hooked. A few more family holidays followed, including a glorious one in a caravan at Malelane and on to what was then Lourenco Marques.
When I was engaged, I took my fiance on his first-ever trip to Kruger and he was hooked too. Thanks to a Yorkshirewoman's inspiration, we still travel to Kgalagadi or Kruger at least once or twice a year. For us, that's home because it's where our hearts are!

[Dikkes]

Hi, my love started way back in 1957, when as a child, we went to Kruger for the first time. As we entered at CB, my late dad said"now we will be enjoying a peace of Heaven that God gave us to enjoy". Up to today that is exactly what we do when we visit.

[dikdikkie]

My love for the Kruger was always tucked deep away in my heart.

SO and myself would enter in by one gate – race through at the designated speed – and exit at another. We never saw many of the animals. I have never seen a big cat in the Park.

Then in 2004 I toured with a group and the guide was outstanding. His first stop was to look at a lizard panting of heat on a branch. Wow, it was then when I knew that my trip was going to be something unforgettable. In that one day we saw so many animals, and we were taught to recognize some birds, whilst sitting in a tree, or in flight. It was awesome. I learnt that day that Kruger was not only big 5 and knew that I would return - it has just taken me longer than I thought.

I have never been in the Park after dark!!

I am booked up for 10 days during our December break and have started with lists of what to take. I am combing the forums for routes to ride and inspect each pic to improve on my lighting and angles.
If you see somebody with a yellow ribbon around all the mirrors of the vehicle, that’ll be me. Please stop and say hello.

[carolv]

What a fascinating thread - just found it this afternoon whilst waiting for the iron to heat up...switched it off pretty soon to continue reading!

Our very first visit to Africa was our honeymoon in Botswana in 1999 - we fell totally in love with it all but the cost for that trip had been eye-watering and when we read an article about a couple touring South Africa, we began our search and found a trip for 2000 which covered various parts of SA but starting with 5 days in the Kruger staying at Olifants and then P-Kop. We were hooked, completely and utterly and we return in August for my 17th trip...also bring my eldest grandson to show him what our idea of Paradise is all about. We have been to other reserves and countries but, for us, KNP is really where our hearts yearn to be.

[Crested Val]

My love for Kruger started in 1976, when I was a bit younger than I am now!!

It was my first ever visit to South Africa and we had already been to Cape Town for a week.

Now we were to experience the African "bush" and I can still remember those first smells (thatched roofs, animal dung, the smiling rangers at the Numbi Gate, who asked me had a got a gun the extreme heat (we were there in February!!) and the tranquility.

One of my first animals was a Springbok..........yes I know they don't exist in KNP, but it was the national emblem, and the little oke straing at me looked, at first glance, like it could have been the logo on the SAA plane that had brought me to this amazing country.

It took me a while to realise that it was actually an Impala!

We stayed in a basic hut at Lower Sabie, and made our first braai!!!.......Lekker!!

All this made me fall in love with my beloved park, which has remained my "happy" place ever since!!

[anne-marie]

Just found this thread now

it's the love of animals... went in few other parks and Countries... but here, in Kruger (and in Kgalagadi) we can be our own deciding (???!!!??? (somebody who decide ) ... and that is really a best

[TonyP]

1954, I attended my first family (includes uncles, aunts, cousins) annual pilgramage to Kruger. As described elsewhere (a while ago) it was done with Dad's 8 ton farm truck with all the equipment on board and Mom and the girls in the car. As I recall, even the nanny came along. From then on it was an annual event for me until I grew up and spent my life in other parks, reserves and wilderness areas in Africa as a career.
There was a big gap when I didn't see KNP of about 28 years, but now that I live next door we have educated our kids & grandkids to join us on the annual pilgramage once more. Unfortunatle no farm truck etc but still we live for the pilgramage, my son usually comes out from Canada and it's the best place to re-unite. Of course we pop in weekly on day visists as well.

[Joao]

Yes as with many of us it all started as a child and never stopped.

1973. Four years old. Everything was against me on that first trip.
As a child I suffered badly from motion sickness and it was a mission just to drive from our house in Witbank to the KNP.

It never stopped for the three days that we were there. At least as the youngest of three my sister had to let me sit by the window which was nice for me and helped a bit.

One specific day we saw some Wild dogs that was next to the car and I was really not feeling well. And
the smell of those dogs was like a trigger. (Sorry)

We left the park and even after that terrible experience I was hooked. I think we were standing at the gate to exit at Malelane when I asked my parents when our next visit will be.

Well the motion sickness stopped when I grew older and now it is only the passion for our beloved Kruger and the desire to be there day in and day out that makes me sick.

This new profound sickness is far more overwhelming than the first. For Sure.

[Kigalia]

Thank you everyone for the most incredible memories that you have all shared

My early days (60+) years ago started where we were living in the Van Zyl Rus area (Kgalagadi).

We move to JHB and within 3 months I was on a tour with the school staying at Skukuza (6 going 7years of age). Sleeping in tents with a visiting Hyena and a pride of Lions around the camp at night. Well that was just the beginning of an incredible relations with that little peace of heaven.

As my children grew up I was blessed to have a business that supplied jewellery to the shops in Krugers. Managed to time my deliveries (did not allow anyone else to do the deliveries ) with every school holiday. With all of this my children became totally as Kruger crazy / appreciative as I am. We even managed to sneak weekends in between the holidays at various camps

I do not live close to the Krugers anymore but still manage 1 trip a year. The other Parks (arid etc) are closer now. They are all great but still not the KRUGERS.

[RobbieB83]

My father was one of the first Honorary game rangers. We would be in the park more than we were at home. My cousins used to refer to us as their Kruger family.

I was fortunate to spend weeks with the rangers themselves at their section houses, doing patrols whilst sitting next to the guys that were the unsung heroes of SA's pride. I did the Wolhuter trail when I was 6, spent days riding bicycles around skukuza village. I am addicted to the park.

We also brought dogs into the park for the rangers, hence the rangers showed us things that I can only day dream about these days. Some of you may have seen a family with a labrador at the Shingwedzi pool 2 decades ago, that was Sheeba who was off to the Shangaan Section ranger at the time Don English.

I honestly can't thank my parents enough as they really did put the bushveld into my heart.

[dovidal]

HI,MINE STARTED IN 1983,I WAS IN THE ARMY IT WAS THE WORST PLACE TO BE,I WAS TOTALLY DEPRESSED,MY SISTER AND HER HUSBAND FORCED ME TO GO WITH THEM TO THE KRUGER.AS WE DROVE INTO THE PARK THIS WHOLE BLACK CLOUD LIFTED,SOME TIMES NATURE IS THE BEST MEDICINE

[Grantmissy]

We have visited Kruger since I can remember as small children with parents and grandparents. A difficult thing (Kruger) to let go of once part of a person’s memories …

[Carol g]

When I met my SO in 1975, I didn't know the difference between an Impala and an Ellie, SO being a Kruger fanatic, strove to educate me and took me to Kruger . Well that was it, after many lessons on animal identification, I am now a Kruger fanatic and we have visited the park twice a year since he introduced me to it

[anne-marie]

is it realy a question of park.... or a question of animals

for me, it's the love of nature animals/birds/plants... but in South Africa's parks we can be the master of your journey and that it's realy a plus

[Mfezi]

September 1995, I entered the park for the first time for a weekend. I then decided I need to be there for longer!! So October 1995 I went back for 11 days!! Saw the Big 5 with a special leopard sighting (well for me it was special) and also some snakes. That was it!!! I got instantly addicted and have been going ever since 1995!!