History of J. H. and Eileen Orpen

History of J. H. and Eileen Orpen

The Orpen family’s involvement in the Kruger National Park

The long drought during the late twenties and thirties caused a lot of problems and became very serious for flourishing wildlife numbers. The first person that responded to the Kruger wildlife water crisis was Mr. J. H. Cloete van Clocolan of the Freestate.
He donated money for a borehole and a windmill.

This, in turn, encouraged the long-time visitor to the Kruger Park, Mr. Bertram Jeary of the Cape to establish a campaign to help raise money to the drought-stricken Kruger, through newspaper articles and various other forms of advertising.
The reaction from people was overwhelming and money poured in from municipalities and people from near and far.

J.H Orpen who was a surveyor and member of the National Parks Board helped sponsor boreholes as well. J.H Orpen and his wife Eileen bought several farms to the west of Rabelais Gate during the 1930’s and 1940’s. These farms surrounded the Kruger National Park and they decided to donate the land to the Kruger National Park as this was a place near and dear to their hearts.

At the end of 1935, 20 boreholes were up and running.

In 1954, the entrance to the Park was moved 10km (6 miles) to the west of Rabelais, resulting in the development of a new rest camp; named Orpen in honor of the Orpen family.

J. H. and Eileen Orpen

Gratitude to J. H. Orpen and Eileen Orpen

If it wasn’t for James Haveloc and his wife Eileen’s immense love for the Lowveld, nature, and animals, not to mention their generosity, the Kruger National Park wouldn’t have been the great world-renowned nature reserve famously known by all people around the world.

Today the Kruger National Park boasts with an impressive two million hectares of sheer wilderness.

Eileen Orpen

The first extensions to the Kruger National Park as mentioned above was due to the generosity of Eileen, the wife of James Havelock Orpen. Her family-tree included the very wealthy Barry family, known for their trading dynasty in Swellendam. Eileen and her husband James Haveloc soon became known as Kruger’s most devoted benefactors.

After her generous sponsor of land to Kruger, she also helped in sponsoring the construction of four rest camps as well as building Orpen Dam and donating several windmills as part of the Water for Wildlife campaign.

More about J. H. Orpen

The Orpen family shared a long history of conservation movements in the Republic of South Africa.

James Haveloc was even involved in establishing the Mountain Zebra National Park as well as erecting a fence around Addo Elephant Park. Besides these two very important tasks he set in motion, he also surveyed the western boundary of the Kruger National Park and was involved in the planning of the Shingwedzin Rest Camp. Finally, he established some roads in the Pretoriuskop area.

James Haveloc served as a member of the National Park Board for 14 years, starting from 1939.

James Orpen died only four days after his beloved wife Eileen on the 28th of May 1954.

YES! We offer affordable Kruger National Park safaris

Our rates include the following:

  • Transfers from a pre-arranged pick-up location to Kruger National Park and back (this can be at your accommodation where you are staying, depending on the location). This includes Nelspruit | Kruger National Park | KMI Airport | Skukuza Airport | White River | Hazyview | Malelane | Komatipoort and Marloth Park

  • Full Day safari with a luxury open safari vehicle

  • An accredited & professional Field Guide doubling as the driver of the vehicle on the day of safari

  • A snack box per person consisting of various treats to munch on during the day of the safari

  • +- 8 Hours of sheer “entertainment” in the world-famous Kruger National Park (excludes travel time outside the park)

  • Assistance with Kruger National Park entrance/conservation fee payments, paperwork and permits

  • The use of high-quality, waterproof ponchos on-board the vehicle when needed

Please note:

Our area of operation covers Nelspruit and surrounding areas, White River | Malelane | Hazyview | Komatipoort | Marloth Park | Kruger National Park | KMI Airport | Skukuza Airport.

Please contact us if your accommodation falls outside of our area of operation.

We also conduct safari tours in the North of Kruger upon request and need. You also have the option to hire the safari vehicle privately, email us to find out more. Additionally, you have the option to add your Kruger entrance/conservation fees when you make your booking so you don’t have to go to the office on the morning of the safari to make payment for entrance fees.

REVIEWS


Fantastic experience

We really enjoyed our safari with Liz and the web photographer. They pointed out many sightings which we would never have seen on our own. We saw 3 leopards, many elephants, rhinos, cape buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, hippos and different types of antelopes and birds.
They provided binoculars which helped a lot, especially when observing the leopards in the reed!
The service is top: on time, friendly, very informative and you get a feeling how much they enjoy “going the extra mile” for the customer. They tried to keep ahead of the crowd and do not enter thru Numbi gate which is usually very crowded. Its great the park fee is included in the price because then you do not need to queue at the entrance like in the case of some of the other operators. We will definitely recommend you!

dorischristina2015, TripAdvisor
Emocional experience

When we thought about that trip, my wife, my stepson, our friend and I ,had never imagined how amazing could be , and how deep can touch us. From the first moment when we founded Lizelle, our guide at the Malelane door, the magic begins to happen.She was so unreal in some way, that my wife said ( in Portuguese,) she seems to be a caracter from a movie!, We had very good luck , and in just 2 full days, 20 hours total, we could see the real big five, including black rhino and leopard, and many many other species, of course. Lizelle was so nice, so professional and so dedicated that we are recommended to our friends around the World to do the same program.. .. we will repeat it for sure. There is not words, not video or pictures, that can transmit this experience, .. believe me, after you live it you will understand it .

FellowTraveler507918, TripAdvisor
Great services! Amazing commments

The guide was very friendly and helpful!
She really knew the way around the park and we were able to see a big variety of animals

344hama, TripAdvisor
Super accommodating and informative.
Liz was super patient in making sure we get the morning bush walk and night drive within limited dates. They know lots about every animal we saw. I love that they provide parkas for their guests because it gets super chilly as the truck moves. Their truck is clean and not loud like other trucks which tend to scare the animals away.
Zzame Em, Google Review
Leading Safari Company

Lion Roar Safaris offers safaris in Kruger Park. In an excellent car and with professional equipment we discovered in a small groupe the big 5. The guide was an expert and is very customer oriented.

DutchAdventurer, TripAdvisor
Spectacular day in the Mighty Kruger!

Even if the weather was cold during the day, the spectacular sightings we had made up for it all. Luckily this company is not one of those that rush from one big sighting to another but rather take it at a slower pace and therefore not miss even the small things like some bird species and trees and plants, lizards and much more.
Oh and I am so glad their Photographer was also on board with her very sharp eye sight. She spotted plenty of animals where the rest of us missed them…especially that Cheetah! And she took the most beautiful pictures (and some short videos clips) of all our sightings that day. We were surely one lucky group of people seeing all those magnificent wildlife, especially the Elephant Calves, Wild Dogs as well as Hyena Pups!
Oh and let’s not forget the snack bags that was packed for us!!
The Guide was very informative and interactive with our group. Evidently her kindness and helpfulness is not only restricted to the time a guest is on her vehicle still busy on the Tour but even helping when one of our group members was staying over at a place in the Kruger Park, she assisted him from booking in at the camp to taking him to where he would be staying, to briefly showing him around on what is where and available to him in the camp. And this all took merely a few minutes.
I would definitely be recommending Lion Roar Safaris.

Grifinne, TripAdvisor

Best experience ever!

Lizelle was very informative and made sure we had the best views of all the animals!

Johan , Google Review
Amazing experience

Staff is professional and on time.
We saw a lot of animals like lions cheetah hyenas rhinos elephants hyppos and many others.
Really an amazing day!! Thank you!

valeva2019, TripAdvisor

Some of the services Lion Roar Safaris Offer…

Upmarket Luxury Safaris  I  Tailored Safaris  I  Professional Personal Holiday Photographer   I  Hire a Professional Field Guide  I  Hire a Private Safari Vehicle   I   Accommodation in and around Kruger   I  Photographic Safaris   I   Safari catering – picnic lunches, dinners and BBQ’s and more…

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