Kruger Park History encompasses ancient history, landmarks, historical figures and attractions. Read more about Kruger Park history in the fascinating articles below or peruse by category:
Kruger Park Historical Figures
Kruger Park Historical Landmarks
Game Reserve Formation
Vintage Kruger Park Ranger Journals
Ancient Kruger Park History
Early Stone Age
The Stone Age spans a lengthy period - from about 2 million years ago. Learn more about the Early Stone Age that gets its name from the use of simple stone tools and how people lived.
Middle Stone Age
Divisions into the early, middle and late Stone Age exist, according to the complexity of the tools used. Find out more about the Middle Stone Age as tools became more sophisticated and smaller.
Late Stone Age
During the Later Stone Age, from about 40,000 years ago, a wide range of bone and wooden tools was use. Find out more interesting facts about the Late Stone Age characterised by the habitation of the area by the San.
Transvaal Republic
The Transvaal was one of the provinces of South Africa from 1910 until 1994. Learn more about the Transvaal Republic and what provinces it forms part of now.
Kruger Park Proclamation
In June 1913, TJ Kleinenberg, the council member for Soutpansberg, put forward the idea that the Sabie and Singwidzi Game Reserves should be nationalised. Find out more about the Kruger Park Proclamation.
Modernization of Kruger
With the forming of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, large, unsustainable herds of animals in Kruger Park can now be translocated to near-virgin bush. Learn more about the Modernization of Kruger Park.
Game Conservation
The decline in wildlife numbers was due to the agricultural transformation and industrialisation of the Transvaal and white hunters. Find out more about Game Conservation and all you need to know about the early days.
Alf Roberts
A brief history of Alf Roberts who ran a trading post called Tengamanzi in the 1880's near the Crocodile River in Kruger Park. Find out more about Alf Roberts and how he is remembered.
Dukes Windmill
Duke's windmill, was also named after one of Kruger National Park's earliest rangers, Tom Duke. Learn more about Dukes Windmill that was based at Lower Sabie between 1903 and 1923.
Engelhard Dam
The Engelhard Dam is a large concrete weir in the Letaba River, and is named for an American millionaire businessman. Find out more about Engelhard Dam and explore some self-drive routes.
Kruger Memorial
Naturally, Paul Kruger is, himself, memorialised at the Park, both with the Kruger Monument, and the Kruger memorial tablet. Find out more about the Kruger Memorial and what it commemorate.
Prospectors Graves
Skukuza Restcamp is also home to some Prospector's graves. Many of the graves from the gold rush days are unnamed. Most face east to west but some face north to south. Learn more about Prospectors Graves.
Rabelais Gate
This was the original entrance gate to the central region, onto the old Orpen road to the east of the N'wamatsatsa Drift. Find out more about Rabelais Gate named after the original farm it's situated.
Sardellis Store
Sardelli was a trader who ran a shack in the Lebombo near the Zenga-Zenga Mountain. Learn more about Sardellis Store that was a trader who ran a shack in the Lebombo near the Zenga-Zenga Mountain.
History of Skukuza Camp
Learn about the interesting history of Skukuza in Kruger National Park, South Africa. The Skukuza Camp was originally known as Sabie Bridge or simply Reserve and changed to Skukuza in 1936.
Struben Cottage
The historical Struben Family Cottage in Skukuza is named after the Struben brothers. They arrived in South Africa from Germany in about 1840. Learn more about Struben Cottage ad its history.
James Stevenson-Hamilton
James Stevenson-Hamilton born in Scotland was the eldest of nine children. He came to South Africa in 1888. Learn more about James Stevenson-Hamilton the first warden of Kruger National Park.
Harold Trollope
Malelane Restcamp has a hut named for Harold Trollope, a big game hunter and one of the original owners of the Camelthorn Reserve. Find out more about the history of Harold Trollope.
Harry Wolhuter
One of Kruger Park's most famous stories is the 1904 saga of Harry Wolhuter, one of the Park's first rangers. Learn more about Harry Wolhuter originally known as Wolhuter's Hut.
Joe Ludorf
Ludorf was a staunch nationalist and sometime chairperson of the National Parks Board. Learn more about Joe Ludorf with this brief history in the Kruger National Park.
Joao Albasini
Albasini was born 1 May 1813, in Lisbon, Portugal. He came to Lourenço Marques in 1831 and became a slave trader and Elephant hunter. Learn more with this brief history about Joäo Albasini
Leonard Henry Ledeboer
Leonard Henry Ledeboer came from Holland as a young man in 1888. He hunted elephants with such well-known characters as Frederick Courtney Selous. Learn more about Leonard Henry Ledeboer.
Paul Kruger
Paul Kruger was born on October 10 1825 at his grandfather's farm, Bulhoek in the Steynsburg district and grew up on the farm, Vaalbank. Find out more about Paul Kruger and his history.
Von Wiellighs Baobab
Von Wielligh was one of the original surveyors in the area, and who carved his name on the tree in 1891, there is even a historical Baobab tree near the confluence of the Olifants Rivers. Find out more about Von Wiellighs Baobab.
Sir Percy FitzPatrick
FitzPatrick was born in King William's Town 24 July 1862 (and died at Amanzi (Uitenhage) 24 January 1931). View this timeline of Sir Percy FitzPatrick and learn more of him.
Thomas Hart
Thomas Hart was a ‘stationmaster' on trade route to Delagoa Bay who was shot at the age of 22. Learn more about Thomas Hart that was a was a 'stationmaster' on trade route to Delagoa Bay.
W.A. Campbell
He made several donations, and one of these huts was turned into a museum at Skukuza Rest Camp. Learn more about W.A. Campbell that made many donations towards rest camps.
William Lloyd
William Lloyd's grave is still at Satara next to the road from the camp, and the area Ranger's house. Find out more about William Lloyd and his history in the Kruger National Park.
