Words by Robbie Stammers

A blonde, chic Parisienne, Françoise never expected to find herself living on a South African game reserve. However, when she fell in love with renowned conservationist Lawrence Anthony, her life took an unexpected turn.

Lawrence sadly passed away in 2012, leaving Françoise to face the tough reality of running Thula Thula without him, despite knowing very little about conservation. She was short of money, poachers were threatening their rhinos, and one of their elephants was charging Land Rovers on game drives and terrifying guests. There was no time to mourn when Thula Thula’s human and animal family depended on her.

That was 14 years ago, and 28 years since Thula Thula was created. Françoise sums up her journey in one word: “Passion.” Her life is dedicated to the greater good, for both animals and humans, because, as she says, the two cannot be separated. Her recently released book, “Dining with Elephants”, explores the lessons learned from elephants’ social behaviour: life should be about caring, giving, helping, and sharing. It is also an incredible collection of her gastronomic delights, where French cuisine blends with African twists.

This new book follows her two previous international bestsellers, “An Elephant in My Kitchen” (2018) and “The Elephants of Thula Thula” (2022).

Françoise’s commitment to wildlife conservation deepened in 2012. Just two weeks after her legendary husband, ‘The Elephant Whisperer’ Lawrence Anthony, passed away, one of her rhinos was attacked by poachers. The incident crystallised a reality she had long understood: her life would be devoted to protecting vulnerable creatures. Since then, she has reshaped anti-poaching strategies and strengthened wildlife protection on the reserve.

Even during COVID-19, her anti-poaching unit remained vigilant around the clock, underscoring her dedication.

“I don’t believe in the clichéd platitude that everything happens for a reason, but I believe with all my heart that when tragedy hits, we have to find a way to give it reason. To do our best to let good come out of it,” says Francoise admirably.

Thula Thula has grown significantly over the years, expanding from 1,000 hectares in 1998 to over 5,000 today. Françoise has doubled the size of the anti-poaching team to safeguard this larger territory. Yet conservation is not glamorous. It is a round-the-clock commitment, with a rollercoaster of emotions – grief when a matriarch dies, joy at the birth of unexpected new life, and constant vigilance against poaching.

Advanced technology, including tracking collars and soon more sophisticated protection tools, has become essential for the survival of the reserve’s wildlife.

Hospitality through Thula Thula’s lodges supports general operations, but the ongoing protection of rhinos, cheetahs, and other species depends heavily on donors. In 2012, Françoise established the South African Conservation Fund, a non-profit that allows the reserve to sustain its conservation efforts through generous contributions.

Education is another pillar of her mission. In 2018, she launched the Thula Thula Volunteers Academy, an educational centre welcoming visitors from around the world to experience behind-the-scenes conservation work. Participants often describe it as life-changing, and the initiative has been a tremendous success.

“The Volunteers Academy welcomes one young student each month from each of our local communities for free, as part of our educational involvement with our wildlife communities, with the purpose to inspire future young conservationists amongst these young volunteers,” explains Francoise.

One recent volunteer was Katie Huntemann from Columbia, Maryland, USA, who, after reading Françoise and Lawrence’s books, decided to attend the Volunteer Academy with her mother, Mary-Kay, for her 40th birthday celebration.

“It has been a magical, life-changing experience!” says Katie. “I will leave a piece of myself here in Thula Thula and take so much with me back home. I cannot recommend it highly enough!”

Françoise’s passion extends to her staff, many of whom have been with her for 15–25 years. She fosters a culture of inclusion and shared responsibility: game rangers and management collaborate on projects and wildlife management decisions, ensuring that every team member feels ownership of the reserve’s vision. Guests consistently remark on the extraordinary commitment and care demonstrated by the team, of whom 99% comes from the local communities. The majority of them arrived with no formal training at Thula Thula and gained the knowledge to reach higher positions as management or Supervisors.

“The Thula Thula team, much like our herd of elephants, has faced and overcome many challenges since our difficult beginnings,” says Francoise, “And like our elephant family, we have remained united, driven by a shared purpose, bound by the same passion and vision, working not only for our own survival, but for the greater good of both people and wildlife.”

Community engagement is central to Thula Thula’s growth. Through mutually beneficial partnerships, land is leased to sustain elephant populations, provide employment, and support local development projects, including plans for a Zulu cultural village, which will hopefully become a reality by the end of 2026. It will provide training and employment within the community while educating international tourists to Zulu culture and traditions.

With the human population increasing, getting extra land for wildlife conservation has become a necessity. Leasing the land from local communities is the solution.

Despite challenges, Françoise remains unwavering. She reflects on the early years following Lawrence’s death—feeling lonely and doubted by many, but her vision, determination, and love for wildlife have driven Thula Thula forward. The reserve continues to thrive, balancing peace and tranquillity for animals and humans while innovating new projects for conservation and community growth.

“Obstacles don’t block the path. They are the path,” says Françoise wisely.

For Françoise, the message is clear: never give up, never stop learning, and always believe in the impossible. For more information please visit  www.thulathula.com