A 7-year-old boy, Tinotenda Pudu, survived five days alone in Zimbabwe’s Matusadona Game Park, surrounded by lions and elephants.

He relied on his knowledge of the wild, eating fruit and finding water in dry riverbeds.

Local villagers searched tirelessly, beating drums daily, while rangers ultimately tracked him down by spotting his footprints, CBS News has reported.

The park, spanning 570 square miles and home to around 40 lions, posed significant dangers.

Written by B.C. Begley