Overview

River of gold is the story of South Africa's most iconic river, described by Rudyard Kipling as the 'great, grey, green, greasy Limpopo all set about with fever trees'. Here for the first time is the only full account of this river's history, its ancient past, wildlife, landscapes, early kingdoms and their people, warfare, trade, slaves, 19th-century hunting, travel and adventures and the conservation efforts of four national parks of which the renowned Kruger National Park is one. The book (and the river) encompasses two world heritage sites, two Transfrontier conservation areas, private game reserves, some of the richest rock art sites in southern Africa with the river's 'source' centred at the site of the world's richest gold deposits ever discovered, Johannesburg. After 1750 km, this amazing river, which to early travellers had neither a beginning nor an end, sharing a border with four southern Africa countries, enters the Indian Ocean 50 km southeast of the town of Xai Xai in Mozambique, first recorded by Vincent Erskine in 1869.Two of the authors, Clive Walker and Peter Norton, in their quest to unearth its secrets have travelled the length of the river from its source to the sea. Not in one journey but several over a number of years while at the same time photographing its unique landscapes, wildlife and people. Only two works have ever been published about the river. The first by Carl Birkby in 1939, Limpopo journey, a journalist and war correspondent, and the artist Walter Battiss in 1965, simply titled Limpopo. Both accounts concentrated on the author's impressions and journeys along sections of the river. River of gold is to be published by Jacana Media, in full colour with some 200 images, numerous sketches, maps and an afterword by Dr John Ledger. This long-awaited publication comes at a critical time with the growing concern for the country's water resources, threats to our rivers, wetlands and catchment areas, loss of municipal water through aging infrastructure and contamination through sewage outflow. Add climate change to the mix and the prospects grow dimmer.If this publication can reveal the magnificence of one of our prime rivers and draw attention to its unique biodiversity and history, this publication will reveal information previously unknown and draw attention to rivers and wetlands and the vital need to conserve them.

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9781431423385

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Mike Gardner's career in the tourism business started in 1967 when he was appointed as assistant to the director of FEDHASA - the Federated Hotel Associations of South Africa. He acquired various diplomas and certificates in advanced tourism studies and in 1970 he applied for and was successful in being appointed as the chief marketing and development office of the then Rhodesia National Tourist Board. He rose quite swiftly to the post of director of tourism and somehow helped to steer the tourism industry through the difficult bush war years in a relatively intact condition. In 1985, they moved to a village near Magoebaskloof and established a tourism research, development and marketing company that still operates today. Mike has explored many wild places in Zimbabwe, Venda and Limpopo Province and he was quick to accept the invitation to become a co-author of the proposed book on the Limpopo river. Peter Norton has worked as a widely respected ecologist deeply rooted in the South African bush. His research spans klipspringer, Cape mountain leopard and mountain reedbuck, among many others. After working as a scientist and researcher for conservation for 20 years, Peter became one of the early people working in ecotourism in the Northern and Eastern Cape, Transkei and in the northern provinces of South Africa. He coordinated for Mapungubwe to be a World Heritage Site, as well as the Cradle of humankind, Limpopo Transfrontier park, and urban tourism in Soweto. Clive Walker is well known for his work in rhino conservation. He is the author of The rhino keepers (Jacana, 2012) He founded the Endangered Wildlife Trust in 1973. He co-founded the Rhino and Elephant Foundation and the African Rhino Owners Association, and served on the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group for close on 14 years. He served as a member of the South African National Parks Board from 2000 to 2006.

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