An eight-year-old boy has been found alive after surviving five days in the Matusadona Game Park in northern Zimbabwe, home to dangerous wildlife such as lions and elephants. According to Mashonaland West MP Mutsa Murombedzi, Tinotenda Pudu wandered 23 km (14 miles) away from his home into the vast, treacherous park.
For five days, he managed to endure the harsh conditions by sleeping on rocky outcrops while surrounded by roaring lions and elephants, and surviving on wild fruits. Matusadona Game Park, known for its high lion population, hosts about 40 lions and is considered one of the areas with the highest lion densities in Africa.
Murombedzi revealed that Tinotenda used his survival instincts and knowledge of the wilderness to stay alive. He dug small wells in dry riverbeds with a stick to find water, a technique taught in this drought-prone region.
The local Nyaminyami community organized search efforts, beating drums every day to guide him back home. On the fifth day, park rangers heard the sound of a vehicle and Tinotenda, hearing it too, ran toward it. Initially missing the rangers, they returned and followed the “fresh little human footprints” to locate him.
The park covers over 1,470 sq km (570 sq miles) and is home to diverse wildlife, including elephants, hippos, zebras, and antelope. Social media users have been amazed by the boy’s strength and resilience. One commenter described his survival as “beyond human comprehension,” while another joked, “He’s going to have one hell of a story to tell when he gets back to school.”
