Where the Rumbles Lead...

The Journey of Six Elephants into the Wild

On April 4th, as the morning sun rose over the bush, Paradzayi one of most devoted Wild is Life elephant Carers set out from Gusu Camp Boma on a mission with his team, a Ranger and six rehabilitated elephants who have grown up under our care: Matebele, Sizi, Nkanyezi, Amira, Gusu, and Moses.

Sizi and Gusu were fitted with new collars recently.

These elephants had spent considerable time learning how to be wild walking in the bush, foraging, playing, forming bonds, and discovering the ways of the wild. This group was only a part of the bigger group living in Panda Masuie, and they were selected based on their past experience in the wild. The purpose of the mission was to enable them to interact with the wild elephants further from the bomas, without stressing some of the other elephants with less experience or ability.

The team walked with them deep into Panda Masuie Forest, heading southwest toward Lioness Pan, a solar-powered waterhole nearly 10 kilometers from the boma. Lioness Pan is more than just a water source; it’s a gathering place. A place where wild herds often pass through at dawn and dusk, as shown by our camera trap data.
After the long walk, the elephants drank and foraged peacefully in the area. And then, as dusk approached, faint rumbles rolled in from the South.

“We heard them,” Paradzayi said. “Those wild voices, calling and we led our elephants closer, then stepped back and watched from the shadows. It was nearly dark. We couldn't see much, but we could hear everything as they came to the waterhole, rumbles from both sides, answering, welcoming. They spent some time together at the waterhole, and then, after a while, there was silence. They had gone, melting into the bush with the wild herd.’’

Using GPS collars fitted on Matebele, Sizi, and Gusu, we tracked their movements. The group moved south together. Then, the next day, Matebele went off on his own. Rangers at Firetower later spotted him calmly moving with a wild bachelor herd relaxed and at ease.

The remaining five Gusu, Sizi, Nkanyezi, Amira, and Moses continued south west through Kazuma Pan and towards Matetsi River. For seven days, they explored the Matetsi River and surrounding areas wild and free. After three days Paradzayi and his team, guided by the satellite collars, went to the Matetsi area and checked on them from a respectful distance, the elephants were calm, grazing together. “No fear, only elephants being elephants” as Paradzayi said.

After a week close to the Matetsi river, the group turned North again, passing through Firetower base and Giraffe Pan in Panda Masuie Forest. Their GPS signals drew closer to the boma. We waited, hearts full of hope, wondering if they’d come home but they didn’t at first. They walked right past the boma without pause or hesitation and crossed into Zambezi National Park. The next day, we went to find them. And there they were still together, still strong and this time, joined by two wild elephants. The group was calm, content. They had found friends.

In Zambezi National Park a few days before returning. The group of 5 with two wild elephants and the last time we saw Amira.

Three days after they wandered into the Zambezi National Park, they came back home. They slowly made their way toward Gusu Camp, the rewilding centre. On the way, they met a wild herd of elephants.

From a distance, we heard low rumbles that showed they were communicating with the resident herd, who were showing signs of excitement at their proximity. An hour later, Nkanyezi, Sizi, Gusu, and Samson returned to join the herd. They were calm, and the herd welcomed them with excited rumbles and touches. It felt like they had come home.

Watch the moment they reunited after a few weeks. Watch with sound on!

But Amira didn’t return. She stayed with the wild herd. She looked back only once, then turned to be with them. She had made her choice.

Amira in the Forest a few days before she left the bomas for her adventure!

Rewilding is about patience, trust, and letting go. We will continue to walk alongside these elephants not only to lead, care for and protect them, but to support them quietly from afar, as they take their final steps back into the wild.

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