Elephant Attack

Elephant Attack

Yesterday an American woman and her infant were killed by an elephant as they walked out of the Castle Forest Lodge near Mt. Kenya.

The name of the woman has not yet been released, but Kenyan authorities said she was the 39-year old wife of a teacher at Nairobi’s International School. The age of the infant was not given.

Reports by Agence France Presse said they were in a small group “casually walking” into the forest, and that the group included her husband who escaped unhurt.

None of the reports has been confirmed by U.S. authorities, but they are likely true.

The Castle Forest Lodge is a downmarket log motel not too far from Serena’s Mountain Lodge, one of Kenya’s five tree hotels. It’s located on the south end of the Mt. Kenya National Park, an area known to have many elephants. Expat workers typical of a U.S. high school teacher frequent the facility. One night with all meals costs $63.

One night with all meals at the nearby Serena Mountain Lodge retails at $260.

I am intentionally implying that the more you pay, the less likely you are to get trampled by an elephant.

The largest group effected by elephant deaths in Africa are not tourists, but Africans in their homes and farms who also do not have the insular experience of a well-run tourist facility. I am not implying that Africans or expats who pay less should be any less protected from elephants than my own Park Avenue clients.

There are some very nasty edges to the make-up of a tourist.

3 thoughts on “Elephant Attack

  1. er, the more you pay? How about The Hide in Zimbabwe, a very lovely upmarket place where two people were killed by an ele whilst walking with an armed guard a couple of years ago? Apparently he decided –or perhaps agreed – to walk closer to the (allegedly) musth bull – a deplorably stupid thing to do

  2. I just think these people were so irresponsible. What was she thinking carrying around a 1-year old child in her arms for a “casual walk” in an African forest. What idiots!!! And they lived in Africa so they knew, presumably, the inherent dangers. And why was she carrying the kid…not dear old Dad. It goes to that old saying “I don’t need to be able to run really fast, just faster than you”. Behavior like this really pisses me off. Everyone will blame it on the lodge but that’s not necessarily the case either. I can remember on my “ladies” safari that one of the girls wanted to walk to the water from the tented camp to get some photos and I stopped her and referred her to the camp manager. He told her (very nicely, of course) that it wasn’t acceptable and why, and she got a little upset until I got into her face…I know that you take some of these walks in certain areas and I would feel safe enough in that regard (even knowing about the ele event in your life) but I have never felt great about the cultural walks some of the places we stay in offers. I did send 2 people off on a run with a Maasai guide at the lodge we stayed in Kenya one year but they ran through the village and I figured they were both marathon runners…not some mother carrying a 1 year old baby!

  3. Walking in Africa is to be in Africa. Africa still has the most diverse species base of any continent and it should be experienced by all who desire to.
    Only responsible persons who are adequately trained and equipped should guide visitors to our continent.
    All our animals are wild and should stay so. They have more right to be in Africa than any visitor so they must be respected in every respect.

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