Kruger Through the Years with my Dad

[pooky]

Some special photos there Flutterby

Great memories

[Flutterby]

I wasn't sure this TT would be of much interest to anyone, so thank you SO much for all your kind comments!!

all the ladies in dress... and children are bare foot, that has not changed
what magnificent souvenirs... and lucky children

nan - I just noticed that all the girls are in dresses - not something you see so much anymore! -O And, yes - we were lucky children!

You bring back such fond memories Flutterby. Thank You

We also travelled to the Kruger every school holiday and my Dad used to have a home movie camera, which we watched the rest of the year. Unfortunately they were all lost over the years.

Just have one pic left which was taken at the Kruger Tablets when I was five

Glad you're enjoying it Sharifa. We also used to take lots of videos, and sadly they have also been lost!

What special memories this must have brought back to you, and your Mother, so beautiful. I can remember when we used to go into the Park when all our kids were small we used to tell them to duck down on the seat so we wouldn't have to pay for them all. My Daughter was 7 weeks old the first time she went to the Kruger. Friends of our's were going and asked if we would like to go too. Well of course we did! No problem, no planning, quickly pack a bag....worry about food(and sometimes accommodation) later. Dont know if we were just irresponsible or what.
Nowadays I plan everything down to the last, including the roads I will take.
Looking at your photo's brings it all back, how carefree people were. Thank you for sharing this.

Thanks so much whinoceros!! I think a lot less planning went into our first few trips, but after that my mother was a demon when it came to lists and my dad would (and still does) plan our drives long before we got there!! -O

[Flutterby]

Our first few trips were always taken in whatever car my dad had at the time. He then decided that we needed to be higher up, so for a few trips he borrowed Kombis from work. Eventually he bought his own, so we were always ready for a trip to Kruger!!

This was a work Kombi – still the best model Kombi around!



My brother used to suffer from nosebleeds when he was young, especially if it was very hot. On one hot drive, his nose started to bleed, and even after using up all the tissues we had it would not stop. Eventually my dad told him to put his head out of the window so as not to damage the upholstery!! -O His nose was actually pouring with blood and obviously it went all over the side of the Kombi...you can imagine the stares we got from people passing us!!

A hot Kruger night. The bottles of Cane and Coke bring back memories. Most afternoons we’d park under a tree at a waterhole somewhere and my dad would say “Time for a Mainstay” and my brother would play bartender. I can still hear the ice cubes in the glasses and remember that feeling of heat and tranquillity.



One of my dad’s favourite photographs – only because it was pure luck that the two photos fitted together! These lions were lying in the shade of one of those trees that is in the middle of the road. I can’t remember where it was although my dad has told me a few times.



I can’t decide whether this is at Nkuhlu or Tshokwane?



Braaing outside the dormitory bungalows at Lower Sabie. You might be wandering about the logo on my dad’s shirt – my dad worked for Union Wine at that stage and Long John was one of their whiskeys.



Cheetahs on the H6, a road which we haven’t had any luck on in years.



This pic is my dad’s claim to fame. This is the legendary Phelwane, who we saw in the Phelwana River near Orpen sometime in the early 80s. My dad is very proud to have one of the few pics of this big tusker, which is now on Aat’s website.



A loving couple taking a break.

[steamtrainfan]

Great photos again Flutterby. A kombi was the only way to see the park with kids in tow.

Cane and coke - brings back memories

Great shot of the lions in the road.

[Bushcraft]

I just caught up

Brilliant stuff Flutts and thanks for sharing

Some great sightings and Cane and Coke, still a favourite

[Bushveld Jock]

Hi Flutterby,

Thanks for sharing the Kruger from the time I was still a kid. My first trip was also around 1970's. We stayed at Pretoriuskop camping in one of those fold-open campers. My dad luckily did short game drives so that we could get back and enjoy swimming in the large rock pool watching the bloukop koggelmanders.

Great times indeed and Lower Sabie was quite a rustic camp compare to nowadays.

I am sure the Mainstay will bring back memories to most of us.

[mposthumus]

WOW Flutts! what fonds memories Thanks for sharing

[Sprocky]

These old pics are awesome Flutters!! Thanks for sharing and please post many more.

[pooky]

Great shots Flutterby

[BluTuna]

Great old photos Flutts, I hope you have plenty more to share with us