History of Minister Piet Grobler

History of Minister Piet Grobler

About Minister Piet Grobler

Attempts were still in progress to get the reserve’s status up to national status when Grobler took over the title of Minister of Lands after Colonel Reitz. Piet Grobler was a great-grandnephew of President Paul Kruger who both shared an immense passion for wildlife conservation.

When the initial proposed Act of National Parks was brought forward by Reits to Parliament, it was Piet Grobler that suggested that Sabi Park together with Shingwedzi and the soon to be Kruger National Park should be run under a board of trustees chosen by the four provinces together with other parties like the Wildlife Protection Association.

Piet Grobler was a “no-nonsense” kind of guy, and he soon set out to tell the landowners of Sabi that the original plans implemented by Reits will still proceed and landowners will either be paid in cash or in the form of alternative land outside of the reserve. If the land owners did not comply, their farms will simply be taken by the government without any compensation. Most of the farmers either quickly sold their farms or traded it.

Minister of Lands, Piet Grobler for the second time brought forth the championed legislation, for National Park status to parliament on 31 May 1926, and asked that a management council be appointed. Smuts, the leader of the opposition supported his proposal and the act has been accepted. The name “Kruger National Park” was suggested.

Piet Grobler also told Parliament on 31 May 1926 when introducing the second reading of the bill: “It seems a dispensation of Providence that we have been given the locality to establish a national park in the interests of the preservation of our fauna”. Grobler’s idea was to establish the territorial integrity of the Kruger Park against the interests of the mining and farming lobbies that wanted free reign in the Park, which had existed since 1898 as the Sabi Game Reserve. Grobler said: “In the first place, we must fix the boundaries by legislation”.

And so, Kruger National Park was born and proclaimed a National Park and was given the name Kruger National Park, named after President Paul Kruger. It was President Paul Kruger’s initial plan and suggestion to help protect and conserve nature and wildlife and not to hunt in Kruger National Park. On 31 May 1926, the National Parks Act was promulgated and the Kruger National Park became its first protected area, including the old Sabie and Shingwedzi Game Reserves as well as the land between the two.

Its founders, the South African government, believed that the park “must form one continuous whole” and be large enough, particularly for animals who require plenty of room to move about.

Memorial Plaque at Piet Grobler Dam

If you drive just north of the S39, you will find the Timbavati picnic site. At the picnic site, you will find the largest concrete dam in Kruger National Park that was built in late 1988. You will find a small elevated viewing platform overlooking the Piet Grobler dam. The dam was named after the Minister of Lands, Piet Grobler, commemorating his efforts to help proclaim the Kruger National Park.

Piet Grobler
Piet Grobler
Piet Grobler

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

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

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

  • 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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