Crooks Corner!

Vesigtig sit hy die SASOL Voels van Suider-Afrika terug op sy plekkie in die boekrak. 27 nuwe spesies aangeteken gedurende sy besoek aan die Nasionale Krugerwildtuin.Wat 'n skat is dit nie. Weens President Paul Kruger se volgehoue pogings is die gebiede tussen die Sabie- en Krokodilriviere in 1898 tot die Sabiewildreservaat verklaar. Hieruit het die huidige Krugerwildtuin ontstaan.

Ons held se voelkyk stokperdjie het hom laat besluit op Punda Maria. Boomryk en veral bekend vir die ryke verskeidenheid van voelsoorte wat daar voorkom...En dan natuurlik ook die interessante geskiedenis van Crooks Corner.

"This triangular piece of land situated between the Luvuvhu and Limpopo rivers, is the most north easterly corner of the Old Transvaal(now Limpopo Province.)
Since 1913, the Luvuvhu river acted as the northern most boundary of the Kruger National Park, up to where it joined the mighty Limpopo river.
The Limpopo river was always the boundary between the Transvaal in South Africa and Southern Rhodesia (now called Zimbabwe.)
The confluence of the two rivers also formed a natural corner between the two countries and Portuguese East Africa(now called Mozambique.)
This area was one of the most remote areas of South Africa, only accessible via long, arduous wagon roads through thick bush and in very hot conditions.
Inevitably it became know as Crooks Corner as it was the home of ivory poachers, illegal black labour recruiters, gun runners and various other "shady"characters that had chosen the free life of buccaneers and outlaws.
At the corner where the rivers meet , there is a wonderfully useful beacon. To the east lay the Old Portuguese territory. To the north was Southern Rhodesia , to the west lay the Union of South Africa and to the south was the huge track of land that eventually became the Kruger National Park.
Now, if the long arm of the law started to catch up with any outlaw, all they needed to do was to remember the beacon, and if you were on the opposite side of the beacon the law could not reach you for fear of violating an international boundary.
Even if lawmen from three different countries arrived at the same time, you could also sit on top of the beacon and watch the lawmen fight over who takes you into custody. and this is how the crooks of Crooks Corner managed to live long and healthy lives."

So lees die gedenksteen by die parkeerarea.

Die Afrikaanse voelname is tog so mooi. Hy dink aan die Rooiruglewerik, die seldsame Witborskatakoerie en die Wimpelvlerknaguil. Die Saalbekooievaar op die droe rivierloop van die Limpopo.Die oulike Geelborskleinjantjie en vele meer.

Nuwerwetse tegnologie maak die identifikasie van voels natuurlik soveel makliker. 'n Man het begin met 'n verkyker( in sy geval die Lynx #44-1050) en 'n paar goeie boeke. Nou is daar die Sappi Voels van Suid-Afrika voelgids met sy klankleser.Laasgenoemde voeg 'n nuwe, unieke dimensie tot voelkyk toe. Die elektroniese apparaat speel die spesie se roep wanneer dit na die betrokke foto in die spesiebeskrywing gerig word.

Die Tabard en Peaceful Sleep houertjies netjies terug in die medisyne houertjie. Hopelik is die   muskiete suksesvol afgeweer. Malaria is nie elke man se maat nie.

Nou ja, more is nog 'n dag. Met 'n tevrede sug skakel hy die bedliggie af...hy weet darem nie of hy sommer sou toelaat dat 'n "crook" hom tart van bo-op 'n baken nie.