An eight-year-old boy from Zimbabwe, Tinotenda Pudu, has been found alive after spending five days in Matusadona Game Park, a wildlife sanctuary renowned for its large populations of lions and elephants.
This development was disclosed on X by Mashonaland West MP, Mutsa Murombedzi, who described the park as “perilous.”
According to her, the boy wandered 23 kilometres from his home into the hazardous park, prompting a frantic search involving the local community and park rangers.
She highlighted that the park, located in northern Zimbabwe, is home to around 40 lions and is recognised for having one of Africa’s highest lion population densities. Despite the dangers posed by predators and harsh conditions, Tinotenda managed to survive by applying his knowledge of the wild.
The MP further explained that the boy sustained himself by eating wild fruits and using a stick to dig small wells in dry riverbeds to access drinking water—an essential survival skill in the drought-prone region.
She noted that the Nyaminyami community initiated the search by beating drums each day to guide the boy back home. Ultimately, however, it was the park rangers who located him. On the fifth day, Tinotenda heard the sound of a ranger’s vehicle and ran towards it, though he was initially missed. Fresh footprints later led the rangers to the boy.
In a tweet, she wrote: “A true miracle in remote Kasvisva community, Nyaminyami in rural Kariba, a community where one wrong turn could easily lead into a game park. 8-year-old Tinotenda Pudu wandered away, lost direction & unknowingly headed into the perilous Matusadonha game park. After 5 long, harrowing days in the jungle near Hogwe River, which feeds into Ume river, the boy has been found alive by the incredible rangers from Matusadona Africa Parks. His ordeal, wandering 23km from home, sleeping on a rocky perch, amidst roaring lions, passing elephants, eating wild fruits and just the unforgiving wild I too much for an 8-year-old.
“We are overwhelmed with gratitude to the brave park rangers, the tireless Nyaminyami community who beat night drums each day to get the boy hear sound & get the direction back home & everyone who joined the search. Above all, we thank God for watching over Tinotenda and leading him back home safely. This is a testament to the power of unity, hope, prayer and never giving up.”
Matusadona Game Park spans over 1,470 square kilometres and is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including zebras, hippos, antelopes, and elephants.
