History
THULA THULA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE is situated in the heart of Zululand, in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal. This 4500 ha, malaria free wildlife reserve was established in 1911 and has been operational as Thula Thula since 1998. It is home to a wide variety of game like elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard, hippo, giraffe, birds and many more. Thula Thula, with its centuries of cultural and wildlife heritage, takes pride in tracing back its origin to the private hunting grounds of King Shaka, founder of the Zulu Empire. The first historic meeting between Shaka and his father (Senzangakhona), which set the stage for the creation of the Zulu nation, took place at the Nseleni River at Thula Thula.
The Zulu name Thula Thula literally means peace and tranquility.
Meet the Wild Team
Read the whole story in our best selling books:
Timeline of Events
Lawrence & Francoise purchase a small game reserve of 1500 ha called Windy Ridge.
Francoise at the Boma after the herd arrives at Thula Thula
The main farmhouse where we lived and where the herd arrived in our garden
The main farmhouse where we lived and where the herd arrived in our garden
The Elephant Safari Lodge opens it doors
Lawrence Anthony leaves for Baghdad, March 2003
Cared for 24/7 by our dedicated rangers in our guest room
After 17 years of life together, Francoise Malby and Lawrence Anthony marry.
The book Babylon's Ark is published
Lawrence Anthony receives the United Nations Earth Day Medal for his work in Baghdad
Our Luxury Tented Camp opens.
Numzane the herd's dominant male dies
2008 Kwa Zulu Natal Parks Board, now Ezemvelo, gives us the rights to drop the fences and take over with the adjoining community land of Fundimvelo, adding a further 1000ha to Thula Thula game reserve.
By Lawrence Anthony was published in English (now translated into 12 languages)
Poaching of our last rhino Heidi, a female white rhino
The arrival of our two rhino orphans arrived. Thabo arrived first,followed by Ntombi.
Gobisa is introduced as the herd's dominant male
A partnership with neighboring land owner’s increases Thula Thula with a further 1500ha
Mkhulu dam (means grandfather in Zulu and named after Lawrence) was built on the Fundimvelo land. This was Lawrence spiritual place where he would meet his elephants.
Lawrence Anthony passed away at the age of 61
The elephants march to the main house to pay their respect to Lawrence after his passing
The Last Rhino was published
Lawrence was posthumously awarded honorary Doctor of Science degree by College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science
The Thula Thula Rhino Fund was created as a non-profit organisation by Francoise, to raise awareness and for anti-poaching actions for the protection and conservation of rhinos.
Thula Thula has reached its maximum capacity in terms of habitat for the growing herd.
The elephants march to the house on the anniversary of the death of Lawrence, exactly same day and same time as precedent year.
Horn infusion with poison and indelible dye for Thabo and Ntombi as additional protection against poachers
The Thula Thula Rhino orphanage is created, as the first rhino sanctuary in Kwa Zulu Natal
The elephants return for the 3rd consecutive year to mourn Lawrence. Same day and the same time as the two previous years.
Creation of the South African Conservation Fund by Francoise Malby Anthony, as the Thula Thula non-profit organisation, to raise funds for the expansion of the land for our elephant’s habitat.
Birth of our 29th elephant., Themba, which means faith and hope, a symbol for hope in the African elephant crisis and the heavy poaching in Africa, killing one elephant every 15 minutes.
Dehorning of Thabo and Ntombi as poaching escalates in Kwa Zulu Natal
Attack of the Thula Thula rhino orphanage by poachers, killing two young rhinos.
The sequel of The Elephant Whisperer, written by his wife Francoise, “An Elephant In My Kitchen”, is published and becomes a bestseller.
Francoise receives the Trophee des Français de l’etranger in Paris at the Ministere des Affaires etrangeres.
Arrival of two female rhinos, Mother and daughter, Mona and Lisa, in the hope of increasing rhino population at Thula Thula
The release of the French version of An Elephant in My Kitchen
An Elephant in My Kitchen released in paperback in the UK
Mona surprises us with the most unexpected birth of baby Sissi.
South Africa in total lockdown due to Coronavirus. Thula Thula closes its doors to guests.
Juliet our hippo gave birth to her third calf, that we named Jo
Rhino dehorning every 14 months as part of our anti-poaching measures.
Beginning of the first phase of our land expansion program.
The sad passing of Frankie the matriarch
The first Cheetah back on Thula Thula since 1941
Savannah was released from the boma to roam free in the game reserve.
Marula, Frankie’s daughter, has taken over as Matriarch of Frankie’s family.
Proactive anti-poaching measures to protect our Rhino
Thula Thula private game reserve and the UBIZO CPA signed an agreement to join their land for the purpose of a greater conservation land.
Another step forward in making the Thula Thula Land Expansion a reality.
Fertility tests and OPU (Ovum Pick-Up) procedure performed
Introduction of a new dominant male rhino.
Francoise is awarded the prestigious Medaille de Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merite (Knight of the National Order of Merit) for her work in Conservation in South Africa.
Chinese version of "An elephant in my Kitchen" released March 2023
with the title LA SAGESSE DES ELEPHANTS
02 May 2024
A historical day at Thula Thula on this 25th of May 2024, with the dropping of the fences between Thula Thula and the new land of Dube Ridge, in the presence of Inkosi Cebekhulu and Thomas Cebekhulu, Chairman of the Ubizo CPA. In cooperation with the local community, 25% more land was added to Thula Thula, now reaching a size of more than 5000 hectares and providing additional space for our special elephant family. This new savanna grass land will also allow for new species to be introduced. A historical moment that was spearheaded by Francoise Malby Anthony, MD of Thula Thula and her vision for conservation. This initiative is not only great for conservation, but will create additional employment and opportunities for the local communities.
We’re excited to share the arrival of four hippo females at Thula Thula, all the way from Limpopo. Two mothers and two baby girls, are settling in beautifully joining our resident hippo family of seven.
We’re thrilled to welcome these magnificent creatures to the Thula Thula family as we celebrate the arrival of a female cheetah and a coalition of two males.
We are honoured that Françoise's French edition of The Elephants of Thula Thula, titled La Sagesse des Éléphants, has been awarded the 2024 Prix Littéraire 30 Millions d’Amis, on 12 November 2024. This is a prestigious French literary prize celebrating works dedicated to animals.
