Steeped in an ancient history and influenced by countless people, cultures and communities, the Kruger is as much a place of fascinating history as it is a place of incredible conservation related significance.
A Kruger National Park safari will introduce you to all sorts of park history, and until your safari, you can read more about the famous park figures and their legacy here.
Like most of the people drawn to South Africa, Joao Albasini was born overseas, in Lisbon in fact, in 1813 and lived there until 1830 when at the tender age of 17 he left those shores with his father and ended up standed on the East Coast of Africa where with the help of his father, he started a business. Soon after this his father would go back to Lisbon and would never see his son again.
Determined to make a success, regardless of the threat of malaria and tsetse fly, Joao would during the safer winter months, trade along the ancient trade routes. He would trade clothes, beads, knives, etc, in exchange for ivory which he in turn traded to the visiting ships in Lourenco Marques for ammunition, merchandise and foodstuffs.
Albasini had a sharp intellect and that, coupled with his determination, made him gain respect in the Portuguese Port of Lourenco Marques. Due to his efforts Lourenco Margues was established as a gateway to the sea for the Zuid Afrikanshe Rebuliek. He was also one of the first Portuguese to trade with the Boers in Ohrigstad.
Eager as he was, on his first trip to the town of Ohrigstad, Albasini purchased land from the Kutswe Chief for 22 cattle and set up his first trading post. He made sure that his trading post was situated along the two well used trade routes, making it possible for him to trade with both boers and the local black people. His trading post was called Magashula’s Kraal and he traded there for about two years. This trading post is believed to be the first European settlement in the disease ridden Lowveld.
In 1847 he was drawn to the growing settlements outside Ohrigstad, so he bought a farm there and opened a shop. While in Ohrigstad he married and it was not long after that that he moved to a new town at the foot of the Soutpansberg named Schoemansdal. Here he once again bought a farm, Goedewensch, and this was a very prosperous time for him and his family.
While in Schoemansdal, he was appointed as vice-counsul of Portugal in the ZAR as well as a superintendent of the native tribes of the area. He was vice-counsul for 14 years, during which time a postal service between Schoemansdal and Lourenco Marques was established and not only used by him but also the Boer government.
Sadly regardless of his influence in the country and all the trading he did, not to mention a lot of the infrastructure created by him, Joao Albasini died in poverty in 1888. He was buried on his farm, Goedewensch, near the Luvuvhu River where the Albasini Dam was named after him.
