Nature reserve hikers meet up with mythical elephant
The group made its way to the grounds of the Wilderness Leadership School
THE three hour walk held by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s honorary officers through Stainbank Nature Reserve on Saturday, 10 August, was held in perfect conditions, with the recent rains bringing much colour into the reserve amid the new growth of flowers springing up.
The group made its way to the grounds of the Wilderness Leadership School and met with Nomkhubulwane, the female elephant made up from recycled tyres. She was made by the sculptor Andries Botha for the World Wilderness Congress held in Mexico in 2009.
After extensive travel in Mexico and the USA, she arrived at the Wilderness Leadership School in Stainbank Nature Reserve in July. Nomkhubulwane is the Zulu goddess of rain, nature and fertility, and is regarded as Mother Earth.
She is also believed to be capable of changing into different types of animals.
Created out of recycled tyres and standing over three metres tall, and weighing 1,3-tonnes, she is indeed a mythical creature.
