Elephant kills Vic Falls head guide
Saturday, 18 June 2011 21:59
By Dusty Miller
TRAGEDY struck at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge June 8, when the head guide at
the award-winning Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Tendekai Madzivanzira was
killed by a bull elephant in full musth (ready for breeding.)
Madzivanzira, who was armed with a rifle and had years of experience, had
escorted an international guest from the hotel to the nearby Siduli Hide at
4pm. The hide is close to a waterhole frequented by a variety of game and
while the guest was inside the hide, a number of animals visited the water
hole, including the bull elephant.
The bull chased off another four elephants that were drinking and, after
some time, the bull started to move off. It was about 6pm, while
Madzivanzira was escorting his guest back to the lodge, that the bull
spotted them and began to charge.
According to the unnamed guest, Madzivanzira grabbed her arm and told her to
run but by this stage the elephant was too close. Madzivanzira then told her
to climb a nearby tree and stumbled as he turned to face the elephant as he
fired his weapon. The elephant hit the guide tossing him to the ground.
Efforts by observers and staff whistling and shouting from the lodge’s
balcony to try to distract the charging bull were fruitless. The elephant
eventually ran off and staff members and a medical team were on site to
rescue the guest from the tree and attend to Madzivanzira, who was fatally
wounded.
Senior management from Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and experienced wildlife
experts, in co-ordination with National Parks and Wildlife and ZRP, were
called to secure the area and conduct further investigations.
“This is the first time in the 17 years of the lodge being open that
something like this has happened and as much as we train our staff for a
worst case scenario when living in the bush with wild animals, you still
never think an incident like this is ever going to take place.
“Tendekai was a skilled professional who had the respect of his wildlife
peers and conservation colleagues, along with all clients, staff, and the
community as a whole” Ross Kennedy, Africa Albida Tourism’s chief executive
said.
Counselling for guide’s family
Once news of the incident had reached the hotel owners, Africa Albida
Tourism’s head office by 6:30pm, various management staff were deployed to
assist with contacting family and immediate grief counselling of the guide’s
family and shocked guests.
While in transit to Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Ross Kennedy, Africa Albida
Tourism’s chief executive, said: “It is a very sad and shocking thing to
have happened and we will do everything we can do to provide support for
Tendekai’s family. I’ve been told the staff at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
have been amazing in dealing with the situation and I have to say a big
thank you to all of them.