Gondwana Reserve’s lush terrain with a majestic elephant herd near luxury lodges under cloudy skies.
In a tragic accident, South African multi-millionaire FC Conradie, the owner of the world-famous Gondwana Private Game Reserve, died after being crushed by an elephant. The Daily Mail reports that the accident occurred on July 22 in the morning, when Conradie tried to relocate a herd of elephants from the tourist lodges at the reserve at about 8 am.
The tragic incident became fatal when a six-ton bull elephant charged Conradie unexpectedly. The creature allegedly pierced Conradie with its tusks and repeatedly trampled him. The rangers next to him immediately tried to save him, but they were not able to do so.
Conradie was recognized for his passion for elephants and nature. His employees remembered how often he used to go out to shoot the animals he loved. Besides managing the game reserve, Conradie was also CEO of the Caylix Group, a sports management firm. He had honours degrees in zoology, animal sciences, commerce, and marketing and was regularly referred to as a keen entrepreneur with a strong affinity towards wildlife, NDTV said.
A high-ranking source at Gondwana, as cited by NDTV, said, "Because he is the boss man, everyone has been warned to say absolutely nothing, or they will be out the same day. It is a big clampdown. FC was a fantastic boss to work for, and he adored his elephants, who were his favourites, and he believed he had a bond with them, but you must never forget they live in a reserve but are wild. He will be deeplymissed by everyone here."
In remembrance, the Gondwana Game Reserve issued a statement remembering Conradie as a beloved leader, mentor, and visionary. They defined him as a committed husband and father of three. The reserve requested that the public respect the privacy of the family and avoid speculation during the current investigation.
The luxury Gondwana Private Game Reserve, just outside Mossel Bay on South Africa's Garden Route, is a 5-star safari resort famous for its "Big Five" wildlife encounters. Lions, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards, and Africa's southernmost elephant herd call the reserve home. It costs almost £900 for two people a night. The reserve was booked solid when the horrific attack happened. It is unknown if any visitors were present to see the attack.
This is the second deadly elephant-related accident at the reserve in more than a year. Another employee, 36-year-old David Kandela, was killed in March 2023 while guiding elephants through the area of the Eco Tent Lodge. Kandela was allegedly gored and pulled into the bush by the elephants, among them a retired circus elephant called Bonnie.
Conradie’s sudden demise has reignited concerns over safety protocols at wildlife reserves. Experts caution that no matter how experienced or passionate an individual is, wild animals like elephants remain unpredictable and potentially dangerous. As NDTV noted, even seasoned professionals must take extreme precautions when working around such creatures.
