Mbazo

About the Book

Origin of the elephant’s name: Named after Lynn van Rooyen who served in conservation for the South African National Parks for 39 years. Mbazo meaning ‘hatchet’ refers to Lynn’s early years as a Ranger where he was known to lead field patrols armed only with a hatchet.

About the Author

Lynn “Mbazo” van Rooyen started his extensive career on the October 1, 1967, when he was appointed in Skukuza as the first full-time game-capture staff member with the job title of ranger/game capturer. He remained in this position until 1970, when he resigned in order to study further at Stellenbosch University. During this time, he spent every July and December back in Kruger filling in for section rangers who were on leave at the time.

After finishing his studies in December 1972, as planned, Mr. Don Louw retired from the Kruger National Parks and Lynn was appointed in the vacant position as section ranger Shangoni from the January 1, 1973, and remained there until end 1974. In 1975, the then National Parks Board sponsored Lynn to complete his honors degree full time in wildlife management at the Pretoria University. During this absence, Louis Olivier acted as relief ranger at Shangoni.

In 1976, upon returning to the Kruger National Park, Lynn was moved to Tshokwane as a district ranger until 1977, when he was moved to the great north as district ranger based at Punda Maria (before the name change to Maria). At this time, no tourists were permitted in the summer months, and Lynn enjoyed many years there until April 1980, when he was transferred to Lower Sabie as the district ranger for the south of the Kruger National Park, which at that time spanned from Crocodile Bridge to the Olifants River, and he remained there until December 1991.

Lynn was later transferred to the head office in Skukuza in 1992 as manager nature conservation for the Kruger National Park and continued in this position until March 1996, after which he was moved to the Kimberly offices, in the position of manager conservation/head of the Northern Parks.

In January 1998, Lynn made his last move within SANParks to Groenkloof, Pretoria’s head office, still as head of Northern Parks and eventually in the position of Parks director for nine months and lastly as head of biodiversity for all Parks (except the Kruger National Park) as well as head of the Poverty Relief Unit.