James ‘Jamie’ Stevenson-Hamilton, the only son of the first warden of Sabi Nature Reserve, passed away at the age of 93 on September 23.

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He was a patron of the Stevenson-Hamilton Pipe Band, which carried forward a cherished family connection with the band that was named in honour of his father, Lieutenant Colonel James Stevenson-Hamilton.

“Throughout his years as patron, Jamie supported us with generosity and warmth, from providing Hunting Hamilton tartan for our kilts to welcoming us with gracious hospitality at Gibraltar, the family estate,” the band said.

To honour Jamie’s life, the band recorded a special performance that was played at his funeral on October 9 at the Hamilton Old Parish Church in Scotland.

Pioneering warden shapes park history

His father served at Sabie River Nature Reserve for 44 years. The reserve later expanded and was officially renamed the Kruger National Park in 1926. At the age of 63, Stevenson-Hamilton married Jamie’s mother Hilda Cholmondeley on August 13, 1930.

They had three children, Jamie, Anne and Margaret, who sadly passed away just before her fourth birthday of suspected encephalitis. After his retirement, the couple settled at Gibraltar, just outside White River.

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Stevenson-Hamilton was also known as Skukuza, a Shangaan name meaning either ‘he who sweeps clean’ or ‘he who turns everything upside down’. In 1936, the main rest camp’s name was changed from Sabie Bridge to Skukuza to honour him.

Friend recalls warm Skukuza memories

Joep Stevens, a long-time friend of Jamie, recalled when he first met him.

“I was privileged to meet Jamie and his wife, Jennifer, when I was camp manager of Skukuza in 1993, and a very special friendly relationship developed,” he said.

“They were great supporters of the park and contributed to improvements at the Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial Library and Kruger National Park Museum.”

Jamie married Jennifer Habershon in 1960 and had three sons, Hamish (64), Andrew (61) and John (57).

Jamie worked in Kenya and the family stayed there for several years before returning to the family estate, Fairholm, in southern Scotland near Edinburgh, where he practised as a financial broker.

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Jennifer passed away last year at the age of 91. Stevens recalled the couple’s last visit to South Africa in 2024.

“Jamie and Jennifer regularly visited the beautiful family farm Gibraltar, especially to escape the harsh Scottish winters and, almost without exception, they would then visit the park,” he said.

“They were incredibly hospitable and during every visit to the park or the farm, I was invited for a meal or to stay a night at Gibraltar. It was so special talking about the early days of growing up in Skukuza.”

He shared that it was a special treat going through Hilda’s artwork and the Stevenson-Hamiltons’ famous library.

“Jamie was a true gentleman,” he concluded.

He leaves behind his remaining sibling, Anne, his children, Hamish and Jo, Andrew, John and Clare, and six grandchildren.