It is a lonely elephant that has a real bad temper.
At the war time, the genocide, most animals were very scared, so they ran away to the neighbouring countries for safety. The elephants went to Tanzania, the nearest country to the side of Akagera Park in Rwanda, but one elephant refused to go. UMUTUARE did not leave the country. Consequently, it survived the war, but became a very isolated elephant. At the military area in the park, a family started to feed him with beer, kasava and banana. After the war, the herd of elephants returned from Tanzania and UMUTUARE found very difficult to join them. He is now an old, unfriendly, very grumpy and angry elephant. It is so angry that it can overturn a car with ease. It is lonely and does not know how to act. (This story was told by Anaclet, our safari guide).
So, suddenly we heard a furiously loud elephant noise coming toward us. I was on the top of the Jeep. I could see it. How exciting! A Rwandan shouted in Kinyarwanda, ‘drive away’, ‘no’, ‘stop’, ‘ahead’, ‘back’… poor chouffer! That was desperation, fear and anxiety. He stopped the Jeep in front of the bushes. I had half of my body hanging out of the Jeep and my camera ready for a shot. No words could explain that moment full of excitement, happiness, surprise and fear. It is not because you live in Africa that you can see the wild life easily. For most Rwandan I met, they never had a chance to see an elephant.
UMUTUARE is known all over the world and many visitors want to see it. I was very lucky! I saw UMUTUARE (HERO in Kinyarwanda).
