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-Top 10 tuskers- Duke Dzombo Joao Kambaku Mafunyane Mandleve Ndlulamithi Phelwane Shawu Shingwedzi

All-In-One

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Letaba Elephant Hall - Home of the Magnificent Seven

Past Tuskers

All of the Magnificent Seven, who were born in the 1920s and 30s, have now passed away. They were followed by a number of other great tuskers, including the bearer of the heaviest tusks recorded in Kruger, who have also now passed on.

Scroll down to see and read about each of these great animals, or click on a name below to jump straight to that individual.

• Massunguine
• Mashagadzi
• Mambrrr
• Masbambela
• Bububu
• Mabarule
• Mandleve
• Nhlangulene
• Phelwane
• Shilowa
• Shisangane
• Tshokwane

Mashagadzi

 

Mashagadzi (pronounced Ma-sha-gad-zi) is named after a windmill south of Shingwedzi rest camp, where this big tusker was often seen. He is a very docile bull and is often seen and photographed by staff and tourists.

He was named by staff in the Shingwedzi area. Mashagadzi is historically the name of an individual (probably a Headman) who lived in the area in the past.

 

 

Massunguine

 

Massunguine (pronounced Mas-sun-gui-ne) was first photographed from a helicopter in August 2004 in the Mahlati (Shingwedzi) area. He is named after Phineas Massunguine Maluleke who was a Field Ranger in Kruger for many years.

 

 

 

Mambrrr

This elephant was originally photographed at Leeupan by Dave Jeffery on Wednesday 6th October 2004 and also by Louise &Tony Swemmer on 19th September 2005 along the Salitje road near the Nwatindlopfu drift.

He has been given the name “Mambrrr” in memory of Philemon Chauke who was a Research Assistant for many years in the Kruger National Park based in Skukuza. Chauke (or Mambrrr as he was affectionately known) was involved in most of the projects involving field work, and was well known by many Kruger based and visiting scientists. He was a great character, much loved by those who knew him. He was killed in a car accident in 1984 while assisting me with the field work for my Master of Science degree. He was self appointed guardian of my children when they joined me in the field on school holidays and weekends.

The origin of his name is obscure, but it is believed to come from a locally brewed South African beverage made from peaches known as “mampoer”. The name should be pronounced with a prominent roll of the rrrs so as to resemble an elephant greeting rumble.

Masbambela

Masbambela (pronounced Mas-bam-bela) was only recently 'discovered' as his home range is far away from the main tourist routes, west of Shingwedzi. He has been seen at Gumbandevu (near to Punda Maria) and Red Rocks (by Shingwedzi).

His tusks are probably only second in size to Duke's. He is named after Ranger Ben Pretorius who served most of his working life in Kruger (1966 – 2001). Ben was known by his staff as Masbambela which means 'one who can 'stand his man' in the work place by his physical strength'. Ben passed away in September 2002.

 

Bububu (-1998)

Named after the Bububu windmill in the Shangoni area. He had a long right tusk and broken left tusk and a huge tear in his ear. Bububu died in October 1998.

 

 

Mabarule (c.1948-2004)

Mabarule lived in the Mopani area of Kruger and was given his name by the Field Rangers of the Mooiplaas Section. Meaning 'big feet' in Tsonga, this is also the name given to their tall Section Ranger, Johann Oelofse (pictured here holding Mabarule's ivory).

Mabarule's bones showed that the elephant was afflicted with severe arthritis in many of his joints, and that he must have suffered severe pain in his later years. In spite of this, he was an extremely docile elephant who was often seen and photographed by tourists.

Mabarule died in November 2004, apparently of natural causes as his carcass was found with the tusks still in place. According to the condition of his molar teeth he was estimated to be about 56 years old.

Left tusk: mass 48.8 kg, length: 257 cm, circumference at lip: 46 cm
Right tusk: mass 54.2 kg, length 280 cm, circumference at lip: 48 cm

Mandleve (c.1937-1993)

The greatest Kruger Tusker was named Mandleve, meaning 'ears' in Tsonga, because of the prominent notch in his ear. It is also the name of one of the longest-serving rangers in the park, Louis Olivier, given by his staff as a mark of respect.

This impressive, docile bull ranged in the Skukuza area and into the Sabi Sabi Game Reserve. He was often seen near Paul Kruger gate, the Watergate Road and occasionally when drinking at De Laporte Windmill in the Naphe Road. In his old age he remained around the Sabi River banks and was usually escorted by four young bulls who would help with pushing over vegetation. His tusks were so heavy he often had to support them in the fork of a tree or on the river bank.

He died from old age in September 1993 at approximately 56 years of age. His scattered remains were spotted west of Paul Kruger gate about 10 km from Skukuza during an air census. The last reported sighting was on 6 June that year. Mandleve's ivory is the heaviest ever recorded in the Kruger National Park

Left tusk: length 236.3 cm, mass 69 kg
Right tusk: length 233.3 cm, mass 73.5 kg

Nhlangulene (c.1932-1987)

Nhlangulene is named after the Nhlangulene spruit where this bull spent much of his time. He was secretive and rarely seen. Little is known of this mysterious elephant. Nhlangulene spent most of his time wandering in the wilderness area on the western boundary of the Tshokwane/Satara sections, where only a few visitors and a firebreak crossed his home range.

Nhlangulene's impressive tusks were recovered in 1987 by game guards on Patrol. He had died of natural causes at an estimated age of 55 years. Nhlangulene's right tusk was shorter than the left as it had been broken sometime during his life.

Left tusk: length 262 cm, mass 62.6 kg
Right tusk: length 204 cm, mass 46.9 kg

 

 

Phelwane (-1988)

Phelwane was named after a spruit which crosses the Satara – Orpen road. He measured about 325 cm at the shoulder with a forefoot circumference of 152 cm.

Phelwane frequented the Kingfisherspruit ranger's section, west of Satara. Towards the end of his life, Phelwane adopted the habit of breaking through the Park's western boundary fence where he was often seen in Manyeleti and other nature reserves.

During January 1988 game scout Armand Ndhlovu of the Kingfisherspruit Section reported that Phelwane was in difficulties. His condition was poor and he could scarcely walk. A bullet wound in his neck region had gone septic. The bullet had also shattered his lower jawbone which made eating and drinking very difficult. There was little hope of saving him and it was agreed to end his life.

Phelwane's magnificent tusks are the heaviest pair on display in the Letaba Elephant Hall exhibition, together weighing 135.5 kg

Left tusk: length 257 cm, mass 63.8 kg, circumference at lip 54 cm
Right tusk: length 277 cm, mass 71.7 kg, circumference at lip 56 cm

Shilowa (-1998)

Shilowa means 'the bewitched one' in Tsonga. He was named after a koppie near Mopani. His right tusk was longer than the left and he had a lump high up on his right hind leg.

Shilowa was seen around Mooiplaas and to the south. He frequented the area from Twisappel Waterhole, just South of Malopanyana windmill, to Nshawu dam in the north.

His body was found in April 1998 near the Nshawu No 1 windmill, close to the main road south of Mopani. He had been dead for about 5 days. Although his feet had healed, scars were visible on one hind foot from the sole problems he had suffered from for about two years. There was a large crack along his right tusk and deep grooves on the underside of the left tusk.

Right tusk: length 237 cm, mass 47.3 kg, circumference at lip 47 cm
Left tusk: length 215 cm, mass 38.75 kg, circumference at lip 46 cm

Shisangane (c.1936-1996)

Shisangane ranged in the Satara area. His body was found by the Nwanedzi Ranger in December 1996, between the Kumana and Sweni Windmills, on the Murhundzuluka Spruit. He had been dead for about 3 months. His bottom molars were worn completely smooth, indicating that he had died of natural causes. He was estimated to be about 60 years old. His right tusk weighed 50.5 kg and the stump of his left was 27 kg.

 

 

 

Tshokwane (-1998)

Tshokwane ranged around the Metsi-Metsi area and the picnic site he was named after. He had a characteristic notch in his right ear and achieved dubious fame after he trampled a photographer in the park (but luckily didn't cause any serious injuries).

Both his tusks were broken off before he died and have never been found. About 50 cm of the left tusk broke off in 1993. The right tusk broke (leaving only 50 cm in place) in November 1996 near Metsi Metsi Trails Camp. The local ranger sent out a patrol to find the ivory, but without success.

In September 1998 Tshokwane died near Orpen Dam, from wounds sustained in a fight with another bull.

Download this information as a PDF file [Past Tuskers for printing].