Hwange’s Presidential Elephant Herd: A Symbol of Conservation and Legacy of Protection
A Protected Heritage in Hwange
As the sun dips over western Zimbabwe’s savanna, a line of elephants emerges from the thornbush and pads toward a waterhole. These are no ordinary elephants, they belong to Zimbabwe’s Presidential Herd, a unique clan roaming the Hwange region under a special mantle of protection. Decades of habituation familiarity with safari vehicles mean these giants often approach calmly, sometimes wandering up to lodge waterholes as unwitting ambassadors of wild Africa. Their unhurried footfalls in the Kalahari sands carry the weight of history and hope: this herd was singled out by a presidential decree to symbolize a nation’s commitment to wildlife conservation. What began as a patriotic gesture has evolved into an enduring story of protection, challenges, and stewardship in one of Africa’s great elephant landscapes.
Origins of the Presidential Herd
The story of the Presidential Elephants traces back to the 1970s, when conservationist Alan Elliot, the original builder of our own Sable Valley, first encountered an especially approachable elephant family near Hwange National Park. At the time, heavy poaching had ravaged local elephant numbers, only about 22 elephants remained in the Hwange Estate area by the late 1970s. Elliot noticed that this particular group had become unusually “too friendly” with humans, a double-edged trait that made them delightful to observe but perilously vulnerable. Determined to shield them, Elliot began lobbying Zimbabwe’s leadership for a special protected status. His efforts bore fruit in 1990, when President Robert Mugabe issued a historic decree granting these elephants a unique “Presidential” designation and protection.
By this order, effectively an anointing of a flagship herd, no elephant in their Hwange range was to be hunted or culled, and the herd was to stand as a living symbol of Zimbabwe’s dedication to wildlife conservation. T
In the words of President Mugabe 21 years later, “It is my great pleasure, 21 years on, to reaffirm this Presidential Decree and Zimbabwe’s commitment to the ongoing protection of this wild clan”. By then, the Presidential Elephants had become not only a point of pride but also a litmus test of Zimbabwe’s conservation resolve.
Growth of an Iconic Elephant Clan
Over the decades since 1990, the Presidential Herd grew and thrived. From roughly two dozen survivors that Alan Elliot first named (monikers like Tatty Ear, Inkosikasi, meaning “Queen”, and Skew Tusk became early identifiers), the elephants multiplied under relative safety. By the early 2010s, an estimated 17 extended family groups, about 500 to 600 elephants in total, made up the Presidential Herd. Their core home remains today around the Hwange Estate, a 35,000-acre expanse of unfenced land bordering the national park.
In reality, this estate is part of a mosaic of protected and communal lands. With only an old railway line marking the park’s edge, the Presidential families wander freely between Hwange National Park and adjacent safari areas. Any elephant is considered part of the Presidential Herd while it treads within the estate’s boundaries. Such fluid movement has enriched the gene pool and swelled the herd’s ranks.
Crucially, the decades of protection and non-threatening human presence have shaped the herd’s behavior. These elephants are famously relaxed around safari vehicles and researchers, a temperament once considered unusual for wild elephants. Matriarchs teach their young that humans are not a danger. Visitors witness extraordinary intimate encounters: gentle giants padding around jeeps or drinking calmly at dusk. This trust is a legacy of their protection and a powerful testament to the impact of long-term conservation.
The Herd’s Habitat and Behavior
The Presidential Herd centers around Hwange Estate, a mix of teak forest and open vleis adjoining Hwange National Park. Unfenced and open, the estate allows elephants to move seasonally between national park lands and the estate, making them part of a broader ecological system connected to the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area.
Key measures protecting the herd include:
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Legal Decree: The 1990 Presidential Decree, while not statutory law, remains a strong moral and political safeguard.
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Research and Monitoring: Pincott’s data and the continued work of the Presidential Elephants Research Trust (PERT) help track herd behavior, migrations, and births (1). PERT also trains local researchers and engages communities.
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Anti-Poaching: Joint patrols, intelligence-sharing, and community game guards help deter threats.
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Habitat Protection: The government has blocked destructive projects like coal mining in Hwange Estate, thanks to advocacy based on the herd’s status.
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Tourism and Community Involvement: Sustainable tourism operators like Amalinda Safari Collection provide employment and tourism revenue to local communities, reinforcing the elephants’ value to Zimbabweans.
Intimate Encounters with the Herd
For those hoping to encounter Zimbabwe’s most famous elephants, the Amalinda Safari Collection offers some of the best opportunities. With exclusive access to a private concession on the edge of Hwange National Park, guests can observe the Presidential Herd in comfort and close proximity. At Khulu Bush Camp, elephants frequently visit the camp’s iconic pool—often drinking just meters from where guests swim or relax at the firepit. At Sable Valley Lodge, the underground photographic hide offers a rare, eye-level perspective of these giants as they come to drink under the stars or bathe in the heat of the day. And at Ivory Lodge, a hide overlooking a well-frequented waterhole provides another exceptional vantage point. These intimate, respectful encounters are not only a photographer’s dream, they are a chance to witness history in motion, and to support conservation simply by being present.
A Legacy Under Safekeeping
Zimbabwe’s Presidential Elephants remain a testament to what protection can achieve. They embody the power of conservation when backed by public will, community involvement, and continued vigilance. Their fate is now a bellwether for Zimbabwe’s standing in the global conservation community, and a reminder that even symbolic protection must be matched by daily action on the ground.
Bibliography
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Presidential Elephants Research Trust. https://presidential-elephants-research-trust.org
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Save the Elephants. https://savetheelephants.org
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Hideaways Africa. https://hideawaysafrica.com
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AllAfrica.com
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NewsDay Zimbabwe. https://newsday.co.zw
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Zimbabwe Situation. https://zimbabwesituation.com
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Reuters. https://reuters.com
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Legends and Legacies of Africa. https://legendsandlegaciesofafrica.org
Footnotes
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Presidential Elephants Research Trust. “Our Story.”
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Save the Elephants. “A Voice for Elephants.”
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Hideaways Africa. “Hwange is Home to the Presidential Herd.”
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AllAfrica. “President Mugabe Reaffirms Presidential Elephant Decree.”
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NewsDay Zimbabwe. “Mugabe Elephants at Risk,” “Save Presidential Elephants,” “Elephant Die-Offs in Hwange.”
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Zimbabwe Situation. Excerpts from Sharon Pincott in The Last Elephants.
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Legends and Legacies of Africa. “Sharon Pincott’s Work with the Presidential Elephants.”
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Reuters. “Zimbabwe Poachers Kill 80 Elephants with Cyanide.”
