A rescue team found an eight-year-old boy alive after he survived five harrowing days in Matusadona Game Park, a wildlife sanctuary in northern Zimbabwe filled with lions and elephants. Tinotenda Pudu, the boy, relied on his knowledge of the wild and remarkable survival skills to endure the ordeal, according to Mashonaland West Member of Parliament Mutsa Murombedzi.
A Perilous Journey
Tinotenda wandered 23 kilometres (14 miles) from his home into the sprawling 1,470 sq km (570 sq mile) game park, known for its population of approximately 40 lions. The park once boasted one of the highest densities of lions in Africa, according to the conservation group African Parks.
“Tinotenda spent five days sleeping on a rocky perch, surrounded by roaring lions and passing elephants, while eating wild fruits,” MP Murombedzi shared on the social media platform X.
The young survivor demonstrated resourcefulness by digging small wells into dry riverbeds with a stick to access drinking water, a technique commonly taught in the drought-prone region.
The Community Comes Together
Members of the Nyaminyami community organised a search party and beat drums daily as news of the boy’s disappearance spread, hoping to guide him back home. Despite their efforts, park rangers ultimately discovered Tinotenda on the fifth day of his ordeal.
Murombedzi reports that Tinotenda heard the sound of a ranger’s vehicle and ran towards it, narrowly missing it as it passed. The rangers spotted “fresh little human footprints” and searched the area until they found him, undeterred.
“This is probably his last chance of being rescued after 5 days in the wilderness,” said the MP, emphasising the urgency of the discovery.
Surviving Against the Odds
Matusadona Game Park hosts a variety of wildlife, including zebras, elephants, hippos, lions, and antelope, which makes Tinotenda’s survival all the more extraordinary. He survived on wild fruits during his time in the wild and avoided encounters with predators by choosing safe, elevated sleeping spots.
Social media users have praised the eight-year-old’s courage and resilience, sparking admiration for his survival.
“This defies human understanding,” one user wrote on X, while another commented, “He’ll have an incredible story to share when he returns to school.”
Chikezie Charles Uche wrote on Facebook, “Extraordinary boy. Heaven is interested in him.”
