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Hi All

I was reading a book this weekend, "Kruger, Portrait of a National Park". (publication i think was early 80's).

They mentioned the camp Balule, as well as a proposed camp by the name of Ngotsamond (check spelling) about 1 or 2 km's away from Balule. This was supposed to be a caravan/camping only camp, and when complete, the camp of Balule was to be done away with.

Does anyone remember this, have the factual history about this, the Parks reasoning behind and the subsequent change of mind.

It would be an interesting read seeing Balule still stands today.

I have tried to find this in the 3 volume 'The Kruger National Park - a history'. This is a fascinating 'book' but actually rather hard to get around!

So far no reference to Ngotsamond but I will keep looking.

However, Balule was the original Olifants camp - and was replaced with what we now call Olifants in 1960. This was in the era when tourism started to be taken seriously. No suggestion that Balule would be closed - again I will keep looking!

Richard

My dad said that Balule used to be the 'non white' camp and whilst other camps had non white huts, one for men and one for women, at balule, you were allowed to book your own hut. He said that it didn't have much of a fence, probably 1,5m at the most and a guard with a rifel and a handbook on how to use the rifle.

On the communal 'non white' huts, my dad's favourite story was how one night, he realised he hadn't taken an ashtray and whilst enjoying a ciggie in bed, he was 'forced' to use the shoe of the oke in the next bed Needless to say, my uncle was not very pleased the next morning.

I also heard that Balule was a "non white" camp. There was also an area set aside in Skukuza for "non whites".

I am so enjoying these history threads. I wish that there could be a dedicated space to all things related to history, or that there could be "sticky status" confered on them.

I could be mistaken, but the Skukuza 'non white' area was to the right of where the filling station is, if you drive into the filling station immediately upon entering camp, if that makes any sense.

Ooeee! I love the history of places!! Seeing that i do not have any info on kruger's history, please try post some info on Balule's past It will be a wonderful story to tell around the campfire....in a few weeks.....

I read recently on this forum (pls dont ask me where i saw it because i cant find it now ), that the proposed Ngotsamond caravan camp was halted because of archealogical findings in the proposed area. Following that, it was decided to build the cavaran section onto Balule.

Is someone able to verify that (or at least find the missing link)?

According to Mrs Elephus, I am the missing link

So you're the Yetti

Some call me that, others, Sasquatch, bigfoot...

Yeah, I also recall Balule being the so called 'non white' camp. In those days there were only a few camps. Pkop, Skukuza, Letaba, Satara and Punda were the others.

What I find truly remarkable about KNP and Balule is that the camp was built to lower sepcifications because it was originally a "non whites camp" and has now become a very popular camp becuase of this.

(Example of lower spec, the bungalows / rondalvels have no windows. No electricity)

I love the rustic atmosphere of the camp. It's one of those "as close to nature as possible" experiences. It is one of the real gems on the jewelry box of KNP.

Oh damn, I've just let the cat out of the bag, again. Now it's going to be more difficut to get booking there for my next trip.

Ey BH...shhhh

Fortunatley the majority still go for luxury.

Ngotso,meaning small calabash. This is the stream that joins the Olifants(balule) river 50m from the low level bridge very close to Balule camp.
There has been a camp at Ngotso mouth for many years and can be seen from the tourist road in dryer conditions,but it is of limits for the public and is used for research.

Hi

Last year I came across 2 maps of my folks from 1964/1962 respectively. They both show Balule, but don't say anything regarding its "white" vs "non-white" status.....whereas Nkhulu is very clearly marked as "non-white". This said, I def remember that the camp was for "non-whites". I have only stayed there once and really enjoyed the rustic atmosphere, the parafine lamps.....





Can't see anything about the other camp, Ngotsamond.