An 8-year-old boy who went missing for several days was found alive in Matusadona National Park. According to Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, or ZimParks, the young boy went missing on December 27, 2024.
He wandered away from home, got lost, and ended up traveling an estimated 49 kilometers (about 30 miles). While lost in the “lion infested” park he ate wild fruits in order to survive.
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The boy was found alive on December 31.
Mutsa Murombedzi, a member of Zimbabwe’s parliament, wrote about the “true miracle” on X on January 1, 2025. According to her, the young boy spent “5 long, harrowing days in the jungle” and survived in spite of “sleeping on a rocky perch, amidst roaring lions, passing elephants, eating wild fruits and just the unforgiving wild.” Murombedzi added that the whole experience was “too much” for an 8-year-old.
In a follow-up post, Murombedzi added that the young boy's mental health is being prioritized.
“I engaged with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care & the Provincial Medical Director for Mashonaland West called me regarding Tinotenda’s well-being after his harrowing experience,” Murombedzi wrote on X on January 4. They reportedly told her that the boy “has rested & was stabilized.”
“A mental health team will soon assess him, focusing on his mental health, to ensure he has not suffered lasting trauma,” she added.
Because “his mental well-being remains our top priority,” Murombedzi announced in her update that the boy will not be interviewed about his experience at this point in time. “Recounting his ordeal too soon may risk triggering emotional or psychological distress,” she wrote.
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ZimParks confirmed the boy's rescue.
After the 8-year-old was reported missing, ZimParks rangers, people in the community, and Zimbabwe Republic Police began searching for him, ZimParks noted in a news release shared on X. “Heavy rainfall” made their search efforts more challenging, but they found footprints in Matusadona National Park on December 30, 2024. The next day, they found the boy in the park.
He used a common technique to get water while missing.
Noting that it was incredible, ZimParks explained how the young boy managed to survive in the harsh conditions. In addition to eating “wild fruits,” ZimParks explained that he “would dig a small hole along the dry river bank to access underground water to drink.” This technique is “well known in drought prone areas.”
“Remarkably, it is estimated that he walked through the harsh terrain of the lion infested Matusadona National Park for 49 kilometers from his village to the point where he was found,” the news release stated.
'This is a testament to the power of unity, hope, prayer and never giving up,' Murombedzi wrote.
Murombedzi celebrated the miracle and thanked “the brave park rangers” and “the tireless Nyaminyami community” who worked hard to locate and rescue the young child. Additionally, ZimParks noted that “their dedication and quick action highlight the strength of community collaboration in times of need.”
