Duke Water Hole (Kruger NP)

 birds, animals, birdwatching area, nature conservation park / area, interesting place

-National Park
Cheetah, white rhino, hyena, giraffe, zebra and an assortment of other game and birds are often seen at this water hole. Situated off the S137 link road between the S28 and the S130 south of Lower Sabie camp.

The Duke Water Hole between Crocodile Bridge and Lower Sabie is named after Thomas Duke (1860-1934), one of the first park rangers employed by James Stevenson-Hamilton. (Stevenson-Hamilton was the first appointed warden of the then called "South African Eden" government reserve which later became the Kruger National Park.)

Having grown up in the Eastern Cape, Duke spoke fluent Xhosa, which earned him the nickname M'Xhosa with locals. This linguistic ability helped him tremendously in his dealings with the people living around the park and contributed significantly to the reduction of poaching.

He served at both Lower Sabie and Crocodile Bridge camps, in a career that spanned 21 years. Interestingly, his son became a park ranger too.
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