To Whom It May Concern,

Agents, Associates, Friends of The Hide.

It is with deep regret that we inform you that two of The Hide Safari Camp’s guests were tragically killed on Saturday morning.

The guests were walking with a guide who is a qualified professional hunter inside Hwange National Park. During the walk at approximately 10:45 am on Saturday the 24th of March 2007, the group was approached by a young elephant bull in musth which charged them.

The guide was knocked over after discharging his rifle but he was unable to stop the elephant. He is in hospital in a physically stable condition and fortunately a third guest with the group was not physically harmed.

As a result of this tragic event, The Hide has suspended all walking in the park from its list of activities until further notice. We have commenced a full investigation into this incident so that we can piece together a better understanding of the sequence of events.

The Directors, Management and Staff of The Hide Safari Camp have been severely shocked by this incident. While we are trying to come to terms with and fully comprehend this tragedy our foremost concerns and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones.

The Directors, Management and Staff - The Hide Safari Camp
zimbabwe

the guide was a professinal hunter!
maybe the elephant recognised him ......but only the tourists had to pay the bill in case it was meant a packbayk on the elephant's side!

last year there was an english groom killed by an elephant at richard's camp in the massai mara!

how many incidents happen of which we don't get aware?

as far as i am concerned i won't be brave nor stupid enough to execute game walks anymore!

People think, as long as the camp offers a bush-walk, it must also be safe.

You are not allowed to (or at least not adviced to) get out of your car whilst on safari, but bush-walks are safe??

From a Zim Parks official by email:

"More details are emerging...

Andy Truvello was the Guide. He is a qualified PH and quite a good one. In terms of Zim PH licenses a PH is also alowed to guide.

Andy is still in hospital and cannot be faulted for putting himself first in line to protect his clients- why the elephant didn't stop to finish him and deliberately went after the two women can only be guessed at. The elphant was in Musht and if it was that time of the month...I know that is a problem with female clients and lions but don't know about elephants.

If Andy can be faulted it was the "usual" PH turned pro guides mistake of trying too hard not to shoot an animal in self defence in case of being blacklisted as a bloodthirsty hunter. I don't know the animals body language -I wasn't there. Andy got a shot off as the ele hit him and he went down under it trying to reload. The elephant didn't even pause but took off asfter the daughter and killed her, then szought out the mother who was hiding and killed her, ignoring the husband. Poor bloke then got the vehicle, drove it to the scene and helped andy to it.

No Doubt we will get the low down in due course - like what rifle Andy was using- but gather he couldn't get a head shot in anyway- the elephant charged over an ant hill and came down over the top of him."

From a news article:

"Killer elephant 'was wounded'
27/03/2007 09:53 - (SA)
Harare - A British woman and her 10-year-old daughter were killed by a rogue elephant while her husband escaped unhurt during a hunting tour in southwestern Zimbabwe, state media reported on Tuesday.
The state-controlled Herald quoted an unnamed parks and wildlife authority official as saying Veronica Poker, 47, and her daughter Shallot died on the spot when they were attacked by a lone elephant which is believed to have been wounded, during a guided tour in the Hwange game park on Saturday.
It happened on Saturday mid-morning "when the three tourists who were accompanied by a tour guide were watching a lone elephant while they were hiding behind an anthill," the newspaper quoted the official as saying.
"It is reported that the elephant could have seen the people and started charging towards them."
He said wardens were deployed following the tragedy to track the elephant believed to be wounded.
"Wounded elephants are those that are normally aggressive," the official told the newspaper.
The official said the guide fired a shot to scare away the elephant but it kept on charging towards the touring party and trampled the guide who suffered a fractured pelvis before turning on the tourists.
National police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena referred questions to the police commander for the Matabeleland north province who could not be reached for comment."

hmm, looks like he just didn't want any woman around

thank you bwanamich for all the details!
the news article speaks of a "hunting tour" ????

zim is quite a wild lawless place these days but i would not have thought they allow kids under 12 on any safari not to mention a walking safari

and carsten you are perfectly right: leaving a vehicle in the savannah or bush is just suicidal! also accompanied by a local guide!
we cannot predict the behaviour of our domestic dogs and cats. how can a human claim being able to predict wildlife's reactions.......

walking safaris not for me anymore - thanks but i am yet not ready