A 7-year-old boy miraculously survived five days in a lion-infested game park in Zimbabwe after he lost his way and unknowingly walked into the perilous area.
We may think miraculous interventions of God happened only in biblical times, like when He saved Daniel from hungry lions, protected the three men in the blazing furnace, rescued Peter from prison, and parted the Red Sea for Moses. But this story reminds us that our God never changes.
He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. Just as He protected His people in ancient times, He still performs miracles today and transforms lives through His mighty power.
In this remarkable story of young Tinotenda, we see God’s protecting hand at work, just like He did for Daniel among the lions thousands of years ago.
On December 27, 2024, Tinotenda Pudu, a seven year old boy from rural Kariba in Zimbabwe, lost his way and walked into Matusadona National Park. This vast wilderness spans 1,470 square kilometers and houses one of Africa’s largest lion populations. The park teems with dangerous wildlife including elephants, hippos, and leopards.
When park officials learned about the missing boy, they started searching right away. But heavy rain made their task difficult as it washed away Tinotenda’s footprints.
Each night, Tinotenda found safety by sleeping on high rocky outcrops while lions roared in the darkness and elephants walked past.
God gave him wisdom to remember the survival skills he learned growing up in his drought prone village. He dug small holes called “mufuku” in dry river beds to find drinking water. He kept himself alive by eating wild fruits from the park.
The people of Nyaminyami village refused to give up hope. Every night, they beat drums hoping the sound would lead Tinotenda home. “We beat night drums each day to help the boy hear sound and find his way back home,” said Mutsa Murombedzi, a member of parliament who closely followed the search.
On the fifth day, a wonderful thing happened. Tinotenda heard the sound of a ranger’s vehicle. Though he ran toward it, he missed seeing the rangers. But God had other plans.
The rangers spotted his small footprints in the ground and came back to search the area. They found him on December 31. Park officials said Tinotenda had walked 49 kilometers through dangerous lion territory before they found him.
Medical teams took care of him right away at a local clinic. Though he looked weak and needed IV fluids, doctors say he has now regained his strength. They want to make sure his mind stays healthy too after such a frightening experience.
“What saved him is the technique learned from a young age in dry and drought prone areas of drawing water from a dry river bank,” Murombedzi explained.
MP Murombedzi spoke for all of us when she said, “Above all, we thank God for watching over Tinotenda and leading him back home safely. This is a testament to the power of unity, hope, prayer and never giving up.”
The Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority confirmed that the boy was seven years old rather than eight, as the MP had said.
This amazing story shows us that God still works miracles today. When we face scary situations in life, remember how God protected young Tinotenda in a park full of dangerous animals.
Nothing can shake us when God stands guard over our lives. Let’s thank God for this miracle and keep praying for Tinotenda’s complete healing.
Next time you feel afraid, remember this little boy who survived five nights among lions because God watched over him. Our God remains faithful, and He will never leave us alone in our struggles.
WATCH: 7-Year-Old Boy Miraculously Survives 5 Days in ‘Lion-Infested’ Game Park
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