The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony: book review

The Elephant Whisperer (2009) is set in South Africa from 1999 to 2008 on Lawrence Anthony’s game reserve Thula Thula. It is his memoir of adopting a family of 7 rogue elephants onto his reserve, to save them from being killed after causing trouble on a Mpumalanga reserve.

The original 9 elephants were deemed to be dangerous and serial escapers. Lawrence Anthony reluctantly agreed to accept them, but before he did, the elephants rampaged again and two were shot and killed: the matriarch and a baby. The remaining elephants were traumatized and angry by the time they arrived at Thula Thula.

As soon as the elephants arrived, they planned their escape – to return to Mpumalanga, 600 miles away. Lawrence had no idea how hard it was going to be to look after them.

Lawrence writes about how he eventually bonds with his elephants – the new matriarch Nan and her two youngsters, a bull called Mnumzane (Sir), and Frankie with her two youngsters. His dog Max, his wife Francoise, and other humans – friends and enemies – are involved in this wildlife challenge, for it takes a lot to outwit the intelligent, but belligerent, herd and win their confidence after years of human mistreatment.

The elephant herd transitions from belligerent to peaceful, avoiding poachers and disasters – all of this is described in clear detail. Many other books I have read on the subject of ‘whispering’ often delete the gradual patient process, but Lawrence Anthony focuses predominantly on this theme, step-by-step.

It’s a hefty book with almost 400 pages, and some colour photographs. With its near-death experiences, tensions, and comic situations, this is a well-paced memoir, with much to enjoy and learn about freedom and trust, gentle perseverance, and trial and error – and even some seemingly divine intervention at times.

MARTINA NICOLLSis an international aid and development consultant, and the authorof:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom(2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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