Tinotenda Pudu, 7, went missing from his village in the north-west of the country on December 27.

The search for the little boy was impeded by heavy rainfall in the northern region, which made it difficult for rangers to spot his footprints.

On December 30, footprints were discovered in an area of the park and Tinotenda was found in the early hours of the next day.

She said the child had “wandered away, lost direction, and unknowingly headed into the perilous Matusadonha Game Park”.

According to the MP, Tinotenda at one point heard the park rangers’ vehicle and tried to run toward the noise – but was late to reach them. Fortunately, the rangers came back to the area and saw “fresh little human footprints”, which led them to the boy.

“This was probably his last chance of being rescued after five days in the wilderness,” Murombedzi wrote.

The national park once had the highest density of lions in Africa, according to the non-profit African Parks, and is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including elephants, zebras, hippos, lions and buffalo.

Tinotenda is thought to have walked through 49 kilometres of lion-infested terrain during his five-day ordeal, surviving on wild fruit and ground water.

“It is estimated that he walked through the harsh terrain of the lion infested Matusadonha National Park for 49 kilometers from his village to the point where he was found,” Zimbabwe Parks said in a statement.

“During this period, he survived on wild fruits and would dig a small hole along the dry riverbank to access underground water to drink, a technique that is well known in drought prone areas.”

Tinotenda was taken to a local clinic for preliminary examinations following the rescue and was later moved to a hospital for further medical evaluation.

He is set to be assessed by a mental health team to ensure he has not suffered any lasting trauma as a result of his ordeal, she added.