Kruger National Park History ( First Decade 1898 - 1907)

1898 - Sabie Established
President Paul Kruger proclaimed the “Gouvernement Wildtuin on 26 March 1898. Its boundaries stretched from the Crocodile River in the south to the Sabie River in the north and from the Nsikazi River in the west to the Mozambican border in the east.

1899 - Boer War
During the Anglo Boer War, the proclamation of the Sabie Game Reserve was nullified. This was reinstated in 1902.

1902 - Stevenson-Hamilton
Maj James Stevenson-Hamilton was appointed as Game Warden of the Sabie Game Reserve in July 1902 and, after a four-month period where he used a cottage at Crocodile Bridge, he moved his headquarters to the old blockhouse at Sabie Bridge in November of that year. He was 35 years old when he was appointed.

1903 - Shingwedzi Game Reserve
An area between the Letaba and Limpopo rivers was proclaimed a game reserve. This area was called the Shingwedzi Game Reserve.

1903 - Wolhuter
Previously a member of Steinaeckers’ Horse Regiment, Harry Wolhuter was appointed as the first game ranger in the fledgling park. That November he experienced a life changing incident when a lion attacked him and he managed to kill the lion with his sheath knife.

Kruger National Park History ( Second Decade 1908 - 1917)

1912 - First Borehole
The first borehole was sunk at Skukuza.

1912 - Sabie River Bridge
Part of the old Selati railway line and bridge over the Sabie River, can still be seen at Skukuza.

1913 - Telephone Communication
A telephone line was established between Skukuza and Komatipoort, this was considered a huge step forward.

1914 – More Land
The area between the Olifants and Letaba rivers was added to the Shingwedzi Game Reserve.

1916 - Transvaal Game Reserve
Shingwedzi and Sabie Game Reserves were consolidated under Stevenson-Hamilton.

Kruger National Park History ( Third Decade 1918 - 1927)

1918 - First Tourists
First tourists allowed access to the reserve despite reservations on the part of the governing Board.

1923 - Railroad
South African Railways ran “round-in-nine” rail trip of the Lowveld, along the Selati railway line. Tourists spent the night on the train at Selati Bridge.

1924 - Grazing Rights Terminated
Until 1924 farmers still had grazing rights, and to ensure good grazing for the winter, farmers burned the veld every year.

1926 - Kruger National Park Named
The Parliament of the Union of South Africa passed a National Parks Act, and renamed the Reserve, the Kruger National Park on 31 May 1926.

1927 - Tourism Begins To Grow
The Pretoriuskop section opened to tourists – entry fee One Pound. The route was from White River, via Mtimba to Pretoriuskop and back, on the same route, on the same day. Only three cars entered the Park.

Kruger National Park History ( Fourth Decade 1928 - 1937)

1928-9 - The Firsts Huts Built
First huts for tourists were built at Satara, Skukuza and Pretoriuskop.

1930 - Visitors
900 cars entered the Park during the year.

1931 - Concrete Dam
The first concrete dam was built at Ntomeni Spruit.

1931 - Tents
Tents introduced into Skukuza and Satara.

1931 - Furniture
Purchase of furniture for huts approved.

1932 - Ablutions
A unit with four bath and four shower cubicles was built in Skukuza.

1933 - Baths
First baths installed at Punda Maria and Letaba. Charge one shilling per cold water bath.

1933 - Boreholes
The first boreholes to provide water for game were sunk.

1936 - Skukuza
Sabie Bridge camp was renamed Skukuza.