Spirowiri

Spirowiri

Spirowiri Origin of Name: This tusker was named by Dr Ian Whyte for the Spirowiri waterhole in the Shingwedzi River. (Spirowiri is the Tsonga word meaning ‘two difficult tasks’)Range: Shingwedzi area in far northern Kruger National ParkSpecial Features: Well matched...
Babalala

Babalala

Babalala Photo by Dewald Keet Origin of Name: Named for the Borehole 5km south-east of Vlakteplaas on the banks of the Dungile Spruit and was the name of a former inhabitant of the area.Range: Vlakteplaas, Babalala Waterhole.Special Features: Prominent v-shaped tear...
Mabarule

Mabarule

Mabarule Photo by Johan Marais Origin of Name: During 1999 the Field Rangers and Conservation Students at Mooiplaas started referring to this elephant as “Mabarule” after their Section Ranger Johann Oelofse’s Tsonga nickname. Johann was so named by his fellow workers...

Xilowa

Xilowa (Shilowa) Photo by Keith Begg Origin of Name: Pronounced and commonly spelt Shilowa this bull was named by Dr Ian Whyte after the Shilowa koppie situated near the Mozambique boarder, where it was known that a strange man used to live. (Shilowa is the Tsonga...
Dida

Dida

Dida Estimated Age: 45 to 50 years oldStatus: AliveHerd: Matriarch of a herd formerly of 15 elephants, now 7 members. Has a sub-adult calf.Special Features: Has clean ears with no notches or tears. Has a full patch of tail hair on the inner side of the tip of her tail...

Bachuma

Bachuma Estimated age: 40 plus years Special features: Very thick IvoryScar on left abdomenShorter right TuskNo cuts on his EarsTriangle like Tusks Home Range: sighted mostly in the Emusaya area, TENP. Temperament: He has been approached on the ground a few times, but...