He is the man after whom the Kruger National Park is named and an icon in his own right, but for many of those who visit the park, very little is known about him. Born in Steynsburg, South Africa in 1825, and having died in exile in Switzerland in 1904, Paul Kruger was both a political and military figure, and at one point he was even President of the Union of South Africa. But despite all of his many accomplishments and the sometimes disappointing paths that his life ended up taking, his greatest success and what he is most known for, is his incredible involvement in preserving South Africa’s wildlife heritage.
The need for a wildlife reserve became apparent when the locals started to over hunt in the area, leading to the genuine worry that eventually the country would lose its wildlife populations. Unlike today, back then there was no limit to the number of animals that could be hunted and often it wasn’t a sport to hunt, but rather about survival, as wildlife would destroy farmland or harm families living in the area.
Finding a middle ground, Kruger along with many other fine gentlemen decided to declare a section of the land protected, and thus established what would one day become the Kruger National Park.
Quick Facts about Paul Kruger
- He cut off his own fingers
Many portraits of Paul Kruger showcase one normal looking hand and one that looks a little mangled. Kruger started hunting at a very young age and shot a lion when he was just 14. During one hunting season, disaster struck when his gun exploded and his left thumb was badly injured. He wrapped up his thumb to try to treat it later, but deciding it was not worth the effort, he instead cut off the remaining thumb with his pocket knife.
- He led the Boers
1800s South African history is something not as well-known as its more recent history. Paul Kruger was a farmer and a soldier and he rose to the ranks of statesman and leader of the Boer people right around the time of the war with the British. He championed for his people to be release from the British Empire and ultimately led the Boers into war.
- He had no education
Paul Kruger never received a formal education but he could read and write, two skills he was taught by family. He was taught religion by his parents and much of the rest, such as his battle tactics, he taught himself.
- He faced difficulty because of the gold rush
Kruger had many policies that were anti-mining or which at the very least made mining difficult. When more gold was discovered, he faced many threats and challenges that ultimately cut his presidency short.
- He died in exile
During his time as president he was eventually driven into exile. Shunned to Switzerland, he would never see his beloved South Africa again and died in exile at the age of 78.
