Abu Camp – The Abu Herd

The Abu Elephant Herd

Warona - Our New Arrival

The latest footage of ‘Warona’ from AfriScreen, kindly filmed by Graham Springer last weekend.

Footage courtesy of AfriScreen and EBS.

Cathy

The matriarch of the herd, Cathy was born in Uganda in 1960. After capture in the Murchison Falls National Park as a baby, she was taken to a safari park near Toronto, Canada, where she was ‘recruited’ by Randall Moore to return to Africa for the filming of Circles in a Forest, a movie set in the Knysna Forest in South Africa and based on the classic novel by Dalene Mathee. With her co-stars, Abu and Benny, she was moved to the Okavango Delta in 1990 to start the very first elephant back safaris in Africa. She quickly acquired the reputation of being the ‘limousine’ of the riding herd as guests found she was the most comfortable of the elephants to ride. Her stable temperament and gentleness made her the natural matriarch and she has always had a steadying influence on the herd, particularly the many youngsters.

Sherini

Her name means ‘where the old cows meet’ and Sherini has grown into a very doting and natural mother in the Abu herd. She gave birth to Raditlou Wantha, the first baby to be born within Abu Camp. Poor little Raditlou was two months premature and sadly died after just 13 days. Sherini quickly mated with a wild bull in the area and presented the camp with Pula (who has subsequently been successfully released), a little bull who has thrived and then baby Abu, another lively young bull. Sherini was one of the original ‘brat pack’ of six young elephant orphans saved from a cull in the Kruger National Park. She has all the necessary maternal attributes of calmness, patience and a loving nature and is a great favourite among the mahouts.

Abu

Known to all as “Baby Abu”, Abu was Sherini's third baby born in 2006. A firm favourite at the camp, this playful and energetic young bull entertains guests with his efforts to keep up with the herd and mimic their conduct during the rides. Abu was, of course, named after the late and much lamented tusker, Abu (see In Memoriam) after whom the original camp was named.

Paseka

Her name means “Easter” in Setswana and refers to the time of year she joined the Abu Herd. Paseka was found in April 2009 abandoned by a wild herd in the Okavango after being attacked by hyenas. She was taken to Abu where she was treated for her wounds and adopted by Sherini who was weaning Abu at the time. She and baby Lorato are always seen playing together and she is now a permanent member of the herd and a firm favourite of those who meet her.

Kitimetse

Was found abandoned by a wild herd in the Okavango after being attacked by a crocodile as a baby. She was taken to Abu Camp and her wounds treated. She made a full recovery and she was slowly introduced to the rest of the herd where she became fully accepted, forming a close bond with Gikka and Sirheni. Her name means “I am lost” in Setswana. Her estimated date of birth was 1996. She is known to have mated with Mafunyane and, in early 2008 gave birth to Lorato.

Lorato

Lorato, Kitimetse’s first baby, was born on 11th February 2008, just a few days before Valentine’s Day giving rise to her name, which means “Love” in Setswana. Brimming with personality and a fast learner, she quickly made friends in the herd, particularly Naya and Gikka who acts as an adopted, doting grandmother.