He stayed at Crocodile Bridge several months after he moved to Sabie Bridge where he had his headquarters.

The local Shangaan population goes acquainted with Stevenson-Hamilton and soon gave him the nickname “Skukuza“, meaning “he who sweeps clean” or “he who turns everything upside down“. Against considerable odds, piled up against him from politicians, mining houses and wealthy landowners, the plucky Scotsman managed to considerably enlarge the area under his jurisdiction, expand his powers of law enforcement, and won considerable support from the South African public, culminating in the proclamation of the Kruger National Park by Minister of Lands, Piet Grobler, on the 31st of May 1926.

It was only in 1927 when the Kruger National Park opened its door to the public at a fee of £1 per car. Only a handful of cars visited the new Park that year, but in 1935, some 26,000 people passed through the gates. Today, the number is around one million per year.

In 1936, the camp at Sabie Bridge/Reserve was renamed to Skukuza, in honour of Colonel Stevenson-Hamilton, and then still firmly at the helm of the National Park, he was referred to as a “Cinderella” in his memoirs – South African Eden. Stevenson-Hamilton retired from the position of Warden in April of 1946, at the age of 78 and after 44 years of dedicated service, leaving an enduring legacy enjoyed by millions of people from all over the world to this day. He passed away on the December 10th 1957, aged 90. After the death of his wife Hilda, the couple’s ashes were strewn over the boulders at Shirimantanga, to the south of Skukuza at a place Stevenson-Hamilton chose himself, in April 1979. Today, Shirimantanga is a popular, if sombre, place to visit for many of the Kruger’s faithful visitors.

The James Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial Library

Skukuza is the biggest and most famous camp in the whole Kruger National Park. It almost resembles the capital of Kruger Park. When you visit Skukuza, you can make your way to the Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial Library. The library houses a fine collection of ecologically orientated books, paintings, and memorabilia.

Visit the James Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial Site

The James Stevenson-Hamilton memorial site can be found just North of the S112. This memorial site honors the Park’s first warden. He was not a perfect man, but he was a very effective one, and he almost always got his way – which was a good thing for Kruger, because the one thing “Skukuza” was passionate about, was the success and the future of this beautiful park.

His and his wife’s ashes were scattered near the Shirimantaga Hill. And huge natural granite boulders are the only gravestone he needs.

YES! We offer affordable Kruger National Park safaris

Our rates include the following:

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.