Ontdek ’n regte, egte ’hoekie van die hemel’. Sy naam is Sabiepark ... Buurman van die (Kruger-)wildtuin.

‘n Skat van boswedervaringe is in Buurman van die Wildtuin opgeteken. Party amusant. Ander benouend – soos om skielik op ‘n eensame rivierpaadjie ‘n maanhaar raak te loop of deur grootvoete met wanderlust in die private natuurreservaat Sabiepark in ‘n boom vasgekeer te word.

‘n Mens lag saam oor allerlei verleenthede en penaries wat deur die skrywer Hennie van Deventer in sy geliefde Sabiepark opgeteken is. Hy is een van die gelukkige bewoners van dié bosjuweel op die drumpel van die Krugerwildtuin, twee kilometer van die Krugerhek en direk oorkant die Sabierivier.

Die leser proe self die opwinding en avontuur in Van Deventer se stories. Hy beleef ook hartseer soos wanneer ‘n bloedjong kameelperdjie met sy naelstring wat nog aan hom hang, leeukos word. Eindelik sal elke leser - hetsy Sabieparker, kuiergas of vreemdeling – eenvoudig moet verstaan wat Van Deventer bedoel as hy innig verklaar: “Al wat swaar is van Sabiepark is elke keer se tot siens”.  Klik op foto's vir 'n groter beeld.

Jeanne Hugo skryf in Die Burger: “In vergelyking met die stories wat ‘n man vertel wat eintlik reg in die wildtuin woon, moet die res van ons maar stilbly.” Volgens haar slaag die skrywer goed daarin om sy verwondering oor te dra. “Dit maak van Buurman ‘n baie leesbare boek, veral vir wildtuin- en ander diereliefhebbers.” Hennie se plek

Buurman van die Wildtuin word nou op lesersaandrang ’n derde keer herdruk. Ons bied getekende eksemplare van die die boek (of ’n PDF) met trots aan teen  R150 ’n boek (posgeld ingesluit) of R120 per PDF. Volg net die skakels aan die regterkant van die tuisblad vir nadere besonderhede. Onderneem ’n vinnige ontdekkingstoertjie deur Sabiepark en die boek - wat ’n gawe geskenk kan wees vir Pa of Ma, ’n oom of tannie, kinders wat in die buiteland sit en na die Suid-Afrika van hul herinneringe verlang. Onthou, as u die boek bestel, word ’n PDF dadelik GRATIS aan u gestuur.

Next door to the Kruger

Sabie Stories "Next Door to the Kruger"

You have read Die Buurman van die Wiltuin, now you can read the English version of it. It's called Sabie Stories.

Written by Hennie van Deventer
Translation: George Holloway
Tarlehoet
Melkbosstrand
2007

Just imagine what it is like living next door to the Kruger Park. If a friend phones to report a kill you can be on the scene in minutes. Or you can pop in and out of the Park at will, even if just for a half-hour sunset drive.

One can’t believe that there are people so privileged. Yet property owners in the private nature reserve Sabiepark are. Their reserve is truly next door to the Kruger.Park. It is nestled against Kruger on the banks of the Sabie River – directly next door to Kruger. The unbeatable position and the existence of Sanpark’s Wildcard allow these fortunate people all kinds of unique opportunities to view game and other privileges. Klik op foto's vir 'n groter beeld.

In Sabiepark no fences are permitted so game can roam freely. Morning, noon and night a variety of game appear at your front door. Zebra drink the birdbath dry. Wily kudu make a habit of cleaning up the bird food in a feeder hanging from the branch a strategic spike thorn.

Hyena regularly come and investigate what is on the menu. Owners also have access to a picturesque picnic site on the bank of the river overlooking Kruger and its animals – including the Big Five – coming down to drink. Even lion kills have been observed from this vantage point. Elephants appear daily to frolick in the water. Buffalo are regulars.

One of Sabiepark’s proud home owners is the Afrikaans author Hennie van Deventer. He has diarised many unforgettable experiences in this beloved bushveld retreat of his. The result is his book Buurman van die Wildtuin (Neighbour of Kruger), which reflects all the excitement of living “inside” the Kruger, as it were.

Van Deventer’s love for life in the bush and the leisurely rhythm of nature is reflected on every page of this extraordinary wildlife book. It is a book that warmly mirrors the interaction between humans and animals. Van Deventer writes with compassion and humour. His anecdotes are food for the soul, stories to be told and retold by the campfire.

Explore these sites :

1. Let's share one of the best kept secrets of the bush ...

Sabiepark is just about on the doorstep of the Kruger. Yet people drive by without giving the dark-brick thatch houses scattered among the Bushveld trees another thought. Let the author take you on a private in his "little acre of heaven"...

2. Strange encounters of a wild kind ...

Sabiepark is not a Big Five reserve ... or is it? Fences can't keep out all the dangerous animals all of the time. Encounters with lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo are not uncommon.

3. To know, know, know you is to love, love, love you ...

Living in Sabiepark is like living in the Kruger, surrounded by animals. With some of the smaller ones touching and heart-warming relationships come about. Bush babies (large as well as small) and duikers represent some of man's best friends in the bush.

4. Bringers of joy ...

The Big Five is exciting, for sure. In Sabiepark the "magnificent seven" bring regular joy - or exasperation! - to the human inhabitants with their unannounced visits, walk-by's or fly-in's.

5. Wild, weird and wonderful ...

Life in the bush has its challenges. Ever heard of a manual kreepy-krauley? What do you do when you get locked out of your home on a dark night with all kind of animals lurking around? How do you get rid of a snake seeking warmth in your thatch roof? But life in the bush also has its wonderful compensations, though. The "brotherhood of the bush" is very special to all its members. And to be able to light a campfire every night is sheer delight ...

Meer oor die Kuduzela