In 1999, Lawrence Anthony is asked to take in a herd of wild elephants onto his game reserve, Thula Thula, spread across 5,000 acres of bush in the heart of Zululand, South Africa. The elephants are the first in the area for over a century. The title of the book comes from Lawrence’s experiences with the elephants who whispered to him and taught him to listen. From them, he learns that “understanding and generosity of spirit is alive and well in the pachyderm kingdom [...] elephants […] value good relations with humans” (4).

Lawrence hears shots on the western boundary of the reserve and leaves immediately with David, one his rangers, and Max, his dog. He is unable to contact Ndonga, the head of the Ovambo guards on the reserve, over the radio. Poachers have been targeting Thula Thula, the reserve Lawrence owns with his fiancée, Françoise, for a year now.

As they approach the western fence, Lawrence realizes they have been set up: The shots were a decoy, and they hear fresh shots on the far side of the reserve, a 45-minute drive away. By the time they arrive there, it is too late—two nyalas have been taken.