Shingwedzi (pronounced Shing-wed-zi) was named after the river and rest camp where he spent the last few years of his life. The name Shingwedzi means 'place of ironstone' referring to the gabbro rock outcrops common to the area. Shingwedzi was a gentle, tolerant elephant accustomed to vehicles.
He died of natural causes in January 1981, aged around 65. He had collapsed under a sycamore fig tree on the southern bank of the Shingwedzi River not far from Shingwedzi Rest Camp. His master tusk was dug deep into the ground when he was found.
Special Features: Shingwedzi's ivory offers a good example of the classic master servant tusks although the servant tusk which was used most frequently was broken short.
Left (master) tusk: length 264 cm, mass 58.1 kg, circumference at lip 48 cm
Right (servant) tusk: length 207 cm, mass 47.2 kg
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