The Story of Jabulani

Once upon a time – in 1997, actually – a young elephant found himself stuck in the silt mud of a dam. After attempts to free him, his mother and the rest of the herd were forced to leave the three-month old calf to the elements. And that might have been the end of another story in the African bushveld, where only the fittest survive.

Enter Lente Roode – owner of Camp Jabulani and founder of the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre. She took in the exhausted, malnourished and very frightened calf, and offered him sanctuary at the Center and the elephant was slowly nurtured back to health. She named him Jabulani – the isiZulu word for “happiness” or “rejoice”, and that indeed describes Jabulani: always in the lead, with bouncing gait and mischievous eye. Over the years he adapted to the ways of his human friends. All attempts to reintroduce him to the wild failed. He thought of himself as one of us, though in reality he needed his own kind.

All too soon the calf grew into a five year old bull, and a unique opportunity arose to give him a family of his own kind. A rather special herd from Zimbabwe had to be relocated to South Africa to ensure its survival. These elephants had been trained, with patience and kindness, to safely carry people.

Lente Roode launched the rescue mission in March 2002 when Zimbabwe was preparing for an election. She learned that the future of these elephants, and their handlers, was in jeopardy when war veterans began invading farms, including the game farm on which this trained herd was located.

The rescue succeeded, and the herd and its handlers arrived at Kapama. Anxiety ruled the day as Jabulani was introduced to the herd. To great relief the Matriarch “Tokwe” immediately adopted Jabulani as her own. He has become part of this close family. He’s their mascot, and their affection for him is obvious.

Today the herd consists out of 13 full-grown elephants accommodated at Camp Jabulani on the Kapama Game Reserve. Camp Jabulani is the first to offer a luxury elephant experience in South Africa.

 

An elephant-back safari is a life-changing event and one that you will experience on safari with Go Touch Down Travel and Tours.

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