Page 37 - Waterfall_Issue 4_2022

Along the Sabie – best place in South Africa to see lions

up – all, that is, except the Sabie. was little difference between the two I have been re-reading Stevenson-
Uniquely, the Sabie has never stopped levels. Later, somebody recorded that Hamilton’s book, South African Eden,
flowing. If ever it does, it would be Stevenson-Hamilton, in 1950, was and in it he gives an account of how,
nothing less than a national tragedy. shown a landmark by a Shangaan staff when he was living at Skukuza not
member who recalled a flood reaching long after World War II he was told that
It was partly this threat that, in 1998, there in 1900 – a flood that appeared certain farmers were to be allowed
caused National Parks to launch the to be as high as the Millenium Flood. to graze sheep in his Sabi Game
Kruger National Park Rivers Research Reserve and around Pretoriuskop
Programme – the largest and most Last year again saw a memorable and that, because of the presence of
comprehensive multidisciplinary flood along the Sabie. predators, they could carry guns.
river research programme ever
undertaken in South Africa. The Sabie is by far the most This dismayed Stevenson-Hamilton,
biologically, hydrologically and for farmers had been clamouring
The 10 years of seminars produced vital geomorphically researched river for the reserve to be opened up for
new data – but too late to influence in South Africa. It was intensively hunting. For a time, sheep grazed
the building of the Injaka Dam whose monitored during the Rivers there and Stevenson-Hamilton, in
impoundment was completed the Research Programme by scores of trying to hold off the pressure of
following year and whose impact will scientists in various disciplines and, the hunting lobby, suggested the
take years to assess. In fact, directly for years, updated data were sent reserve be allowed to make money
after the dam was completed, in to around 100 scientists who have by capturing young animals for zoos
2000, Mpumalanga was hit by the developed a more than academic here and overseas. In those days,
Millennium Flood, which was said interest in the Sabie’s health. soon after World War I (1918), giraffe
to be a ‘one in 100 years flood’. landed in England would fetch £1 000
Kruger Park has continued facilitating and a hippo would fetch £600.
Some hydrologists believe that seminars and appraisal meetings to
floods of this magnitude are more make sure that what is happening In fact, out of desperation, for a
common than is realised. Months and what is planned for the Sabie time the warden did just that even
after the Millennium Flood an old River supports their vision for South though he abhorred having to
staff member at Skukuza pointed out Africa’s flagship tourist attraction. compromise the conservation ethic.
a mark painted by Lt-Col Stevenson- Their vision has been described as “to He hoped a time would come when
Hamilton, Kruger’s first warden, on the maintain biodiversity in all its natural the government would proclaim the
Selati railway bridge that spans the facets and fluxes and to provide Sabi Game Reserve a national park.
Sabie at Skukuza. The mark showed human benefits . . . in a manner which
the height of a flood in 1950. There detracts as little as possible from the That’s exactly what happened. In 1926,
wilderness qualities of the KNP”. the government took over the Sabi
Game Rerserve and the Shingwedzi
Reserve further to the north. The first
tourists arrived at the new ‘national
park’ in 1927. The gap between the two
protected areas was filled in 1944 when
Eileen Orpen bought seven farms and
donated them to the government.

Stevenson-Hamilton retired as the
park’s first warden 20 years later. He
died aged 90 in White River in 1957.

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