Abu Camp Remembers
Kitimetse
Kiti, as she was fondly called, was found abandoned by a wild herd in the Okavango after being attacked by a crocodile as a baby. She was taken to Abu Camp and had her wounds treated, before being given the name Kitimetse which means ‘I am lost’ in Setswana. She made a full recovery and was slowly introduced to the rest of the herd where she became fully accepted, forming a close bond with Gikka and Shireni. She was famous for her “blowing kisses” and gentle demeanour, and provided both researchers and guests with important data on elephant behaviour. She is known to have mated with Mafunyane and, in early 2008 gave birth to Lorato. In January 2014, she sadly passed away due to health complications, but her legacy lives on in Lorato and her last-born, Naledi, who was only six weeks old when her mother died.
Benny
Benny was one of the original trio (with Abu and Cathy) brought from America specifically to feature in the film ‘Circles in a Forest,’ which was shot on location in the Knysna Forest in South Africa. Benny was born in the Kruger National Park in 1959 and shipped to the US as a baby. He was found by Randall Moore in a zoo at Fort Worth, Texas. A large, rather timid bull, Benny became a firm favourite with many guests at Abu Camp. His floppy ear added to his sad aspect and endeared him to all. In the Okavango, Benny eventually learned to overcome his shyness of water and in his old age took readily to his introduction back into the wild. Unfortunately, Benny died after sustaining severe wounds in a fight with a wild elephant. He is remembered with great affection by all at Abu Camp.
Mthondo Mbomvu
A stocky, magnificently-proportioned bull with a broad head and splayed tusks, Mthondo Mbomvu was born in Zimbabwe in 1975. As a young elephant he was transferred to the Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa where he had a reputation as a rather troublesome animal, misbehaving along with other youngsters and lacking the parental guidance and control that adolescent elephants require. He joined the Abu herd in 1993 where, under Abu’s firm guidance, he developed into a quiet and dependable adult. Mthondo was introduced back into the world during the last quarter of 2009 and continued to be closely monitored up until the time of his death.
Pula
Born at Abu Camp in 2000 to Shireni, Pula developed into a playful and captivating young bull. His name means ‘rain’ in Setswana, as his birth coincided with a massive and much-needed storm in the Okavango. At birth, he measured 91 cm in height and it was an hour before he took his first hesitant steps. Pula was introduced into the wild in August 2008 and also monitored until his passing.
Seba
As a young bull, Seba was rescued from a Kruger Park cull and went on to star in the Walt Disney production, ‘Whispers,’ an elephant allegory that was filmed in and around Abu Camp. In fact, Seba means ‘whispers’ in Setswana. Always a mischievous and adventurous young elephant, Seba adapted quickly to the Okavango Delta and roamed far and wide, usually in the company of Thando.
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