Sardelli and the Blue Gum Trees

Information and discussion on Historical Points of Interest in Kruger
Post Reply
User avatar
Flutterby
Posts: 44150
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:28 pm
Country: South Africa
Location: Gauteng, South Africa
Contact:

Sardelli and the Blue Gum Trees

Post by Flutterby »

The only place you will find blue gum trees in the Kruger Park is at the intersection of the H5 and H4-2, at Gomondwane Water Hole.

These trees mark the site of a trading store that was run by the infamous lowveld hustler, ‘Sardelli the Greek’. The alien blue gums were supposedly planted by Sardelli and have been spared the axe because of their legacy.

Sardelli sold an intoxicating liquor that he brewed himself from the fruit of the marula tree. He also ran a gang of local cutthroats who specialised in robbing mineworkers returning to Mozambique from the Witwatersrand. Sardelli is suspected of having murdered and robbed another lowveld storekeeper, Charlie Woodlands, while the two of them were on a trip to Delagoa Bay.

Sardelli served in Steinacker’s Horse (a group of British sympathizers who fought the Boers) during the Anglo-Boer War, manning an outpost in northern Kruger. After the war, he set himself up selling the guns he’d confiscated from the Shangaans and the Sotho communities under his jurisdiction.

His mental and material circumstances deteriorated rapidly and he apparently took a job as a cattle herder at Mica “for three pounds a month and a sack of mealiemeal. He eventually died in a lunatic asylum”.

Image


User avatar
Richprins
Committee Member
Posts: 75834
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 3:52 pm
Location: NELSPRUIT
Contact:

Re: Sardelli and the Blue Gum Trees

Post by Richprins »

Here is a pic of the area...the bluegums are on the southern end of the little loop there, maybe one is still alive? -O-

w.jpg


Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
User avatar
Flutterby
Posts: 44150
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:28 pm
Country: South Africa
Location: Gauteng, South Africa
Contact:

Re: Sardelli and the Blue Gum Trees

Post by Flutterby »

We did this road about two years ago and I can remember the plaque about Sardelli but I don't remember seeing the trees. -O-


User avatar
Richprins
Committee Member
Posts: 75834
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 3:52 pm
Location: NELSPRUIT
Contact:

Re: Sardelli and the Blue Gum Trees

Post by Richprins »

Image

This about 8 years ago...a log of bluegum on the ground!


Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
User avatar
Flutterby
Posts: 44150
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:28 pm
Country: South Africa
Location: Gauteng, South Africa
Contact:

Re: Sardelli and the Blue Gum Trees

Post by Flutterby »

:yes:


Post Reply

Return to “History of Kruger”