WELLINGTON JANA - ELEPHANT MANAGER

In his home city of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Wellington started working with elephants at Wild Horizons in 1995. He began as an elephant handler and worked his way up to elephant management by 2005.

In 2011, Wild Horizons was recruited by Wilderness Safaris to bring in their expertise of elephant management to transition the elephants of the Abu Herd from the previous owner’s training style to one based on positive reinforcement. By minimising the elephants’ physical exertion during guest activities, Wellington was instrumental in bringing the Abu elephant experience more in line with the values of Wilderness Safaris.

Wellington’s many accomplishments include the successful introduction to the wild of previous Abu Herd members Gikka and Naya, as well as ensuring the survival and welfare of the Abu Herd’s newest member, Naledi, after her mother’s sudden death. A true elephant man, Wellington enjoys spending time with the elephants when he is here in Camp, especially watching Naledi grow into a healthy and happy adult.

FRANK SHAMKUNI

Frank hails from Kasane, Botswana. He was first introduced to Abu Camp by his grandfather who was an elephant handler. Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, he eventually joined the team and has now been a handler living amongst Abu Herd since 1996. In his free time, he alternates between relaxing and going to his cattle post.

CHRISTOPHER ‘CHRIS’ BAETI

Chris was born and raised in Maun, Botswana and started working at Abu in 2006 as a mokoro poler. Knowing he wanted to work with elephants every day, he transferred to the elephant handler team. Chris enjoys spending his downtime with with the Abu Herd and finds being with them the most relaxing part of his day. Away from the elephants, he loves to bike and fish.

AAKANYANG ‘AKA’ MOSABATA

AKA began his career at Abu Camp as a waiter, before realising that he just loved being around the Abu Herd and requesting a transfer to the elephant handlers’ team. Just six months after he arrived at Abu, he joined the handlers and has been with them ever since. He enjoys working with, training and rewarding the elephants. Born and raised in Maun, Botswana, AKA is a traditional singer, and loves reading, playing his guitar and dancing.

ONKEMETSE ‘ONX’ TSELE

Onx comes from Maun, Botswana and has been on the Abu Concession since 2005. He began his career as a tracker before moving into the inspiring field of elephant handling. He loves the fact that one can learn new things about the elephants every day, and is always amazed at how friendly these large creatures can be. While on leave, he likes reading books about animals, trees and birds, and listening to music.

WITNESS KEEME

Born and raised in Francistown, Botswana, Witness has been working at Abu Camp for over seven years and particularly enjoys walking with the Abu Herd. He is amazed at the way that trust can be built between elephants and humans; in fact, he maintains that real relationships can be created between the two species, and he is testament to this fact. In his free time, Witness enjoys relaxing with his friends, partner and new baby daughter.

LAZARUS ‘LAZZIE’ KAMASENA

Lazzie, from Maun, Botswana, has been at Abu Camp since 2008. He loves working with the Abu Herd as he gets to enjoy the bush with the elephants, whether walking next to them or swimming with them in one of the crystal-clear channels of the Okavango Delta. When he’s not busy with the elephants, Lazzie likes reading, and watching and listening to the myriad birds that call the Okavango home.

ONKOBETSE ‘ONKS’ MOTLAMMA

Onks has been fascinated by elephants ever since his childhood, which was spent in Gweta, Botswana. He has been at Abu Camp since 2009 and really loves swimming with the elephants and watching them have mud baths.
He considers the Abu Herd to be a part of his family. He loves his job as he gets to meet interesting people from all over the world and he enjoys sharing his knowledge about these pachyderms with them. Reading books and fishing are his other loves.

THATAYAONE ‘TT’ BAPATI

Before arriving at Abu Camp in 2009, TT worked at several other camps in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, his jobs ranging from waiter to maintenance worker, before he settled on being an elephant handler at Abu. His work inspires him as he loves learning from the elephants themselves and learning about the bush while out with them, to say nothing of appreciating their intelligence. Coming from Maun, Botswana, he uses his free time to read books on birds and animals, as well as to watch soccer and listen to reggae music.

MICHAEL ‘MIKE’ MOHULATSI

After joining the Abu team in 2011 as an elephant stable hand, Mike showed great promise and dedication to the elephant programme. He quickly rose to be an elephant handler under Wellington’s training and has been a natural fit ever since. In his spare time, this Maun, Botswana native most enjoys reading and playing soccer.

TSHOLOFELO ‘TWO’ KAMASENA

Born and raised in Maun, Botswana, Two has been working at Abu Camp since 2012. Previously, he travelled across the length and breadth of southern Africa learning about its amazing wildlife. He loves working with the Abu Herd – and elephants in general – because of their intelligence and how responsive they are to their training and education. In his free time, Two loves playing soccer and dancing, or just relaxing with family and friends.

SANE ‘SUNNYBOY’ MPHO

Sunnyboy hails from the Tswapong district of Chadibe, Botswana. Prior to his arrival, he spent time training to be a guide throughout the Okavango Delta before deciding he wanted to work at Abu Camp. Here, he started out as a barman before getting his wish and moving over to the elephant handlers’ team as a stable hand. He particularly appreciates the herd’s respect for one other and the very clear intelligence that they show. In his free time, Sunnyboy enjoys traditional music and dancing as well as reading books about the Okavango.