Ndlulamithi
In his latest book, Tracking Evil, author Tony Maxwell makes frequent mention of an enormous bull elephant known to Detective Inspector Andre Meyer's father as Ndlulamithi, a traditional Tsonga word meaning `Taller than the Trees.`
While woven into this work of fiction, Ndlulamithi actually existed and is a proud member of the Magnificent Seven Tuskers in the Kruger Park`s Elephant Hall of Fame at the Letaba Rest Camp.
To be part of this privileged few, these seven bull elephants had to be carrying tusks weighing more than 110lbs each!
Ndlulamithi easily qualified. His handsomely curved tusks, the left one sweeping low and well forward, were significantly more twisted than those of the other large bulls. When he died of natural causes in the Shangoni area of the Kruger Park at the estimated age of 58 years, his left tusk weighed 142lbs and the right 126lbs.
His magnificent tusks are proudly on display in the Elephant Hall of Fame at Letaba Camp.
And how tall was he I hear you ask?
He measured a shade over 11ft at the shoulder by the best estimates. Truly Taller than the Trees!
While woven into this work of fiction, Ndlulamithi actually existed and is a proud member of the Magnificent Seven Tuskers in the Kruger Park`s Elephant Hall of Fame at the Letaba Rest Camp.
To be part of this privileged few, these seven bull elephants had to be carrying tusks weighing more than 110lbs each!
Ndlulamithi easily qualified. His handsomely curved tusks, the left one sweeping low and well forward, were significantly more twisted than those of the other large bulls. When he died of natural causes in the Shangoni area of the Kruger Park at the estimated age of 58 years, his left tusk weighed 142lbs and the right 126lbs.
His magnificent tusks are proudly on display in the Elephant Hall of Fame at Letaba Camp.
And how tall was he I hear you ask?
He measured a shade over 11ft at the shoulder by the best estimates. Truly Taller than the Trees!
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