Abu Camp in Botswana


Abu Camp
Typecamp
Founded1990
First elephant arrived1990
Address Private Bag 332
Place Maun
Region The Okavango Delta
Country Botswana
Website Website
Related persons
Owner 1990-2010: Randall Moore
2010-now: Paul Allen
Directors: Michael Lorentz (manager)
Key People -2000: Andre Klocke (guide)
Veterinarians
Elephant department
Head keepers
of elephants		 2010-2010: Nathan Jamieson
(elephant head-keeper)
2010-03-2010-10: Nathan Jamieson (killed by elephant 2020)
?2018-now: Wellington Jana
Elephant keepers -: Big Joe (elephant keeper)
-: Collet (elephant keeper)
-: Frank (elephant keeper)
-: George (elephant keeper)
-: Itaki (elephant keeper)
Record history
History of updates2024-01-09
Latest document update2024-01-09 15:42:36
Google map
Description

Abu Camp, located at Private Bag 332, in Maun, Botswana , was founded in 1990 and the first elephant arrived in 1990.

Living elephants

At the Abu Camp lives 8 elephants with records in this database: (detail list)
  1. ♂ Abu born 2006-05-24
  2. ♀ Kathy (Cathy) born 1968
  3. ♀ Lorato born 2008-02-11
  4. ♀ Motlotlo born 2018-01-00
  5. ♀ Naledia born 2013-12-00
  6. ♀ Paseka born 2009
  7. ♀ Shirheni born 1986
  8. ♀ Warona born 2011-12-17

Casualties

2 casualties
  1. 2000-05-05: zoologist Andre Klocke fatal attack by Nyaka Nyaka. Well-known South African elephant researcher Andre Klocke, who had monitored the behavior of Kruger National Park elephants before joining luxury elephant-back safari operation at Abu Camp in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, was killed by an African bull elephant at the end of a day-excursion. † Andre Klocke Died 2000-05-05, Okavango Delta, Maun. According to Moore, the elephant, named Nyaka-nyaka, turned on Klocke during a routine unsaddling procedure in the bush, not far from the camp. Klocke had approached the elephant from behind, which startled it. Klocke’s wounds sent him into shock, and he died soon after. Nyaka Nyaka was euthanized Friday on Moores orders.
  2. 2010-10-20: elephant keeper Nathan Jamieson fatal attack by Sukiri. On his return to Abu, Nathan Jamieson began working again with his elephant, Sukiri. Only a few days after he arrived back he left her untethered, and when he walked a little distance to fetch her chains and manacles, turning his back on her, she followed him in the nodding and plodding way of an elephant on a mission, and knocked him flat, crushing him to death with her huge head. † Nathan Jamieson Died 2010-10-20, Okavango Delta, Maun. On hearing of Nathan’s fate, the Botswana government ordered that Sukiri be destroyed. Michael Lorentz vigorously opposed this, and thus began an imbroglio that ended with Michael quitting Abu for good, Abu resuming under new management, and Sukiri, along with the two elephants that had been orphaned with her, being trucked to Johannesburg and flown in elephantine crates to the United States, where they are now housed together in an exhibit at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

Comments / pictures1990: Founded as Abu Camp Elephant Back Safaris by Randall Moore.
2000-05-05: Ride Elephant Kills Handler in Botswana - A 27-year-old African bull elephant, Nyaka Nyaka, used by Elephant Back Safaris in Botswana (run by Randall Moore of the United States), charged and killed a 28-year-old safari Guide, Andre Klocke, the safari company said Friday. Nyaka Nyaka was euthanized Friday on Moores orders.
2010 october: One of the elephants killed elephant trainer Nathan Jamieson from Australia.
2010: Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen bought Abu Camp from Randall Moore.
2016-12-15: From the end of this month, no elephants will be permitted to be ridden in Botswana. Abu Camp, the only facility that allowed elephant back riding in the country, has been directed to terminate its elephant back safaris. Also the website http://www.elephantbacksafaris.com/ was later terminated
2018: Motlotlo was born in January 2018. He is the firstborn of Lorato, which makes him Kitimetse’s grandson and Naledi’s half-nephew. Motlotlo’s name means ‘Pride’ or ‘Proud’ in Setswana.

2018: Video with elephants and manager Wellington Jana (Note: observe elephant behaviour at 1.18)

References for records about Abu Camp

Recommended Citation

Koehl, Dan (2025). Abu Camp, Elephant Encyclopedia. Available online at https://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=968. (archived at the Wayback machine)

Sources used for this article is among others:


Litterature about Abu Camp

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Abu Camp on elephant-news.com

Abu Camp is mentioned on Elephant News:

DateLinks which opens in new window
New baby "love" at abu camp in botswana's okavango delta - Elephant News
2010-10-23Elephant in fatal attack on australian - Elephant News
2013-12-16Abu camp celebrating the birth of a new baby elephant - Elephant News


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