Ranger’s Diary - The following excerpts were taken from the warden’s diary March 1941, Skukuza archives

SECTION ONE: Patrol duties were carried out by the ranger on the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th,10th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 17th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 26th,27th, 28th and 31st. The ranger reports an increase in game since lions have become scarce. A mile was measured off on the road with a steel tape and the speedometer of the ranger’s car tested. It was found quite correct. The Maklokiwan picket reported hearing a rifle in the neighbouring reserve on Saturday at dusk, and on investigating they found where an impala had been shot and carried away bodily.

They followed the spoor along, but lost it eventually in the dusk. There were two people. On the afternoon of the 11th the ranger again measured a mile on the Skukuza road and took Mr Hope with him as witness. A slight increase in reedbuck round Pretoriskop has been noticed. The policeman in charge at Masujela had to shoot two lions on the night of the 13th,that tried to get through the ‘skerm’ in which they were sleeping. On the 17th the ranger took the tractor driver with him to meet Mr Chipps at Skukuza, who demonstrated with the new tractor.

The road gang reported having shot a lion that had kept the cook up a tree for some hours while the gang was away working. On the 24th the ranger went to bait the locusts, but they were such a small lot that it took a long time to find them, and when they were eventually discovered it was found that a big troop of baboons had just about finished eating them. At M’timba field ranger Charlie was found watching a snare in the bush that had caught a duiker.

He had been watching this snare for two days, but the owner did not visit it. The snare was taken up. Field ranger Sikomela was sent to White River court with two prisoners for snaring a wildebeest in the adjacent reserve. On a visit to Mahlobantu picket big troops of game were noticed feeding on the new pass onthe Sigoas road. A field ranger in charge of 10prisoners reported that on the night of the29th a lion got into their “skerm”, but he keptthem awake till daylight. Six and a half inches of rain fell during the month.

SECTION TWO: Patrol duties were carried out by the ranger on the 1st, 2nd, 9th, 11th, 12th,13th, 15th,, 18th, 20th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th.An electric light line was broken down by giraffe and had to be repaired. A crocodile which had killed goats on the south side of the river was destroyed. The dry weather has enabled burning of the grass to be done in time for the burnt veld to receive the benefit of autumn rains. Fair rains fell during the month and the veld is in excellent trim.

Game is fairly plentiful and in good condition. Waterbuck are more plentiful than in the past years, especially in the Mtshulu river area where as many as 20head have been seen in one mob. Giraffe are also plentiful. It was found necessary to effect some changes in the field ranger personnel, two unsuitable boys having been discharged and replaced by new recruits. Causeway extension work is impracticable at present as the river is still high. The season's roads repairs are being left until a little later as there is still danger of heavy rains coming and washing away the newly repaired portions.

SECTION THREE: Patrol duties were carried out by the ranger on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th,6th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th,20th, 21st, 24th, 27th and 29th. The ranger was busy grass burning on the 5th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 13th,14th and 15th.Spoor of a crocodile was observed along the main road for a distance off our miles. The croc had left pool which was drying up and during the night trekked for a pool at Gomondwane. Judging by the spoor the croc was of medium size. Many buffalo were seen near Gomondwan. A start was made wit the extra fencing around the rest camp at Crocodile Bridge. On the 23rd the ranger witnessed a fight on the road to Gomondwane between a black mamaba (8inches long) and a large puff-adder. Both snakes inter-locked, but the mamba had a deadly hold behind the puff adder’s head. The warden called to inspect the work at the Rest Camp on the27th. 1.49 inches of rain fell during the month.

SECTION FIVE: Patrol duties were carried out by the ranger on th 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 10th,12th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th, 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th.On the 10th the rangers came on to a large troop of lions, all full grown, but the grass being tall it was impossible to count all. Hemanaged to only kill one lioness, the other disappearing. The fact of meeting such a large troop after 12 months of action, speaksfor itself.Field rangers out on patrol reported that three elephants during the previous day destroyed the mealie lands at Semane. Theanimals are gradually spreading all over this section as their numbers increase.

SECTIONS SEVEN AND NINE: Patrol duties were carried out on the 1st, 4th, 9th, 10th,12th, 14th, 17th, 18th, 20th, 24th and 30th.Field ranger July reported that while returning from patrol of the Groot Letaba river and when quite close to their picket an elephant chased them. They doubled back and avoided the beast by circling round to thepicket and from there they could see the elephant still hunting for them. This elephant seem to have a grudge and is probably a new arrival from PEA. It is very noticeable the number of kuduthat seems to be migrating.

Several troops were seen by the ranger consisting of from six to 12 outside and subsequent reports claim that kudu in troops have been seen as far as out as Letaba river PE Bend Store. On the 11th the ranger left for Duivelskloofto attend a case against poachers. The case did not come before court, as the accused did not appear. Reports state that he was down with fever. Awaiting further developments the ranger had a chat to the NC atDuivelskloof about the adjoining territory –the area where all the poaching is taking place. Game is scattered, and a few small waterbuck calves were seen. Eland are very scarce and have not been seen for quite awhile. On a patrol to Klein Letaba picket the country was found to be very dry and water holes are sinking fast.