The Founders of Kruger National Park

Also known as the Founding Fathers of Kruger National Park

The Founders of Kruger National Park

Also known as the Founding Fathers of Kruger National Park

A plaque on one of the walls of the reception and information office at the entrance of Skukuza Rest Camp commemorates those who are seen as the founding fathers of the Kruger National Park.

They are Piet Grobler – Minister of Lands who introduced the National Parks Act in 1926, President Paul Kruger after whom the Park was named and who was the overall driving force behind the establishment of the Kruger National Park and major James Stevenson-Hamilton, the first warden of the Park.

A plaque on one of the walls of the reception and information office at the entrance of Skukuza Rest Camp commemorates those who are seen as the founding fathers of the Kruger National Park.

They are Piet Grobler – Minister of Lands who introduced the National Parks Act in 1926, President Paul Kruger after whom the Park was named and who was the overall driving force behind the establishment of the Kruger National Park and major James Stevenson-Hamilton, the first warden of the Park.

The Founders of Kruger National Park

The three Founders of Kruger National Park

James Stevenson Hamilton
Piet Grobler

Brief History about Paul Kruger

  • Name/s: Known as Paul Kruger but birth names – Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger
  • Born: October 10th 1825
  • Paul Kruger became President: Paul Kruger was elected president of the Transvaal State (the new name of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek after the signing of the Pretoria Convention on 3 August 1881) for the first time. He won the election against Joubert with 3 471 votes to 1 171.
  • Kruger National Park is named after Paul Kruger: The Kruger National Park was first established by the President of the Transvaal, Paul Kruger, in 1898. Realizing that the Lowveld animals needed to be protected, the area between the Sabie and Crocodile Rivers was set aside for restricted hunting in 1884.
  • What does the name Kruger mean: Krueger name meaning; occupational name from Krüger ‘innkeeper’, an agent derivative of Krug ‘inn’, ‘tavern’, from Middle Low German kruch, kroch (probably originally a different word from 1, with which it has subsequently fallen together).
  • Died: July 14th 1904

Click here to read more information about Paul Kruger

Brief history about Minister Piet Grobler

  • Born: February 1st 1873 in Pretoria
  • Title: Minister of Lands and South African Politician
  • Helped proclaim Kruger National Park: On May 31st 1926
  • Died: August 22nd 1942

Click here for more information about Minister of Lands, Piet Grobler

Brief history about James Stevenson Hamilton

  • Born: October 2nd 1867, Dublin, Ireland
  • Other name: Nicknamed Skukuza by the Tsonga people. Skukuza meaning either “he who sweeps clean” or “he who turns everything upside down”
  • Education: Rugby School, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
  • Job Title: James Stevenson-Hamilton served from 1902–1946 as the first warden of South Africa’s Sabi Nature Reserve, which was expanded under his watch and became Kruger National Park in 1926.
  • Stevenson-Hamilton served Kruger for how long? Stevenson-Hamilton served the game reserve for 44 years from 1902 to 1946. After his retirement, he settled in White River. At the age of 63, he married Hilda Chomondeley, 34 years his junior. They had three children; Margaret (born in 1931), James (born in 1933) and Anne (born in 1935). He died on 10 December 1957 at the age of 90.
  • Died: December 10th 1957, White River

Click here to read more information about James Stevenson-Hamilton

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

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…

Another post that you might be interested in

Why you should visit South Africa

Reasons why you should visit South Africa Welcome to Lion Roar Safaris (Pty) Ltd - AWARD WINNING TOUR OPERATOR AND KRUGER NATIONAL PARK SAFARI SPECIALIST South Africa [...]

Trip to South Africa

PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO SOUTH AFRICA Welcome to Lion Roar Safaris (Pty) Ltd - AWARD WINNING TOUR OPERATOR AND KRUGER NATIONAL PARK SAFARI SPECIALIST Make safety a priority for [...]

Safari Etiquette

Safari Etiquette Welcome to Lion Roar Safaris (Pty) Ltd - AWARD WINNING TOUR OPERATOR AND KRUGER NATIONAL PARK SAFARI SPECIALIST Some have already had the good fortune to experience [...]

Duration of a Full Day Safari in Kruger

Duration of a Full Day Safari in Kruger Welcome to Lion Roar Safaris (Pty) Ltd - AWARD WINNING TOUR OPERATOR AND KRUGER NATIONAL PARK SAFARI SPECIALIST If you are [...]

Malaria in Kruger

Malaria in Kruger National Park Welcome to Lion Roar Safaris (Pty) Ltd - AWARD WINNING TOUR OPERATOR AND KRUGER NATIONAL PARK SAFARI SPECIALIST Kruger National Park welcomes thousands of [...]

Child friendly safari

Are you searching for a child friendly safari company? Are we a child friendly safari company/tour operator? Welcome to Lion Roar Safaris (Pty) Ltd - AWARD WINNING TOUR OPERATOR AND KRUGER [...]

Affordable Kruger National Park safari

Are you searching for an affordable Kruger National Park safari? Welcome to Lion Roar Safaris (Pty) Ltd - AWARD WINNING TOUR OPERATOR AND KRUGER NATIONAL PARK SAFARI SPECIALIST [...]

Cheap Kruger National Park safari

Cheap Kruger National Park safari Welcome to Lion Roar Safaris (Pty) Ltd - AWARD WINNING TOUR OPERATOR AND KRUGER NATIONAL PARK SAFARI SPECIALIST If you are looking for a [...]

Safaris from Nelspruit

Book a Kruger National Park Safaris from Nelspruit Welcome to Lion Roar Safaris (Pty) Ltd - AWARD WINNING TOUR OPERATOR AND KRUGER NATIONAL PARK SAFARI SPECIALIST What we [...]

Nelspruit Safari Tour

Nelspruit Safari Tour to Kruger National Park Welcome to Lion Roar Safaris (Pty) Ltd - AWARD WINNING TOUR OPERATOR AND KRUGER NATIONAL PARK SAFARI SPECIALIST [...]