It’s not every day you see a wild elephant standing next to you at the reception of a hotel.
But in the Mfuwe Lodge in the 9,500 sq km South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, the sight of elephants strolling around the lobby is a regular occurrence.
It was unwittingly built on the route to the herd’s favourite mango trees and the pachyderms have seen no reason to change the path trodden by generations before them.
Andy Hogg, 44, director at Mfuwe Lodge, said the herd appears every November as the mangoes ripen: ‘This is a totally natural phenomenon, the elephants come here of their own accord and it is certainly a rare but magnificent sight.’
The herd is led to the lodge each day by the matriarch, Wonky Tusk.
‘There is ten in that herd and it is only that herd that comes through. It is a strange thing,’ said Andy.
Guests are not allowed to get too close to the beasts and there have been no incidents yet.
Associated Newspaper limited
Enchanting! Need to plan a trip.
Reminds me of my childhood experiences. I frequented both parks in Luangwa. I wonder what the places look like now. Got to plan a trip there. Is there anyone out there who would love to join me? Its about time we went out of this bussy city life. Nature……….
quite interesting. such ‘tourist attractions’ must be highly publicised for the much needed forex. need to plan a trip also..
WHAO! GREAT ISNT? WE NEED SUCH STORIES NOT DAILY ITS POLITICS.
Mfuwe Lodge…its great, I have been there once but the hotel room rates are not so good for local people. I love the picture though!
Kris mwape, what do you mean not so good for local people? what are the rates
Yeah I agree with Kris, the rates are so high and quoted in dollars! I have been planning that holiday for a long time:( may be I should join Jinx 🙂
am also going to mfuwe for my working holiday. its nice, no wonder our “friends” are always there.
nice one!
dimples and kris, how high is high? what are the actual rates so that we can do a kambiz trip?
can someone help me listen to phoenix or hot FM please………….
Very interesting discussion going on. I hope u chaps heard that these elephants are also very dangerous. Early this year a cyclist was killed in Mfuwe. Caution…when you see an elephant walking like that in the lobby run…if you can imagine to outrun it coz it does about 60km/h fo along time which judging by the time you chaps spend in front of your PC can not manage for 10minutes..Good luk.
That photo is a classic!
# 12. you are right. Another person was killed here in Livingstone a few months ago. For me Elephants are one of the most dangerous animals in park. Please, stay away from these beasts. On a lighter note,that photo is a classic!
nice scenario and a change from the political cyber-hooligans.
# 11 Ala pa Zed it is chaos, Just to go thru to a number on a cell fone is a mission. Those of us out of the country are reallyfrustrated as we cant communicate with our relatives. Can fone companies do sommething please
#12- You run in a zig zag way or throw chilli at it!
#14 you are so right thats why we need a fresh president maybe things will really change. are we goin to be allowed to vote at the high commision?
No. 15 wikepaishya abanobe
chiza ka mudyaka umozi ohhhhh
Filepaya ifi, beware filanyanta nyanta! you heard it here first
#19; ubufi, elephants are very peaceful people
Ba no. 20 we can arrange an appointment for with the umulembe and see where the peace is.
How can elephants for Gog’s sake be people?
That’s a great scenerio isn’t it guys!
#18- those are some of the tricks that come handy at the eleventh hour! In an elephant infested place it is advisable to carry chilli. Elephants and chilli never cross each other! When attacked by a lion secure your throat and aim at holding its tail or quickly throw your belt at it (lions and snake don’t mix). For a croc, it’s weakest point is the eyes! epompelele bane kalebalika.
“Guests are not allowed to get too close to the beasts and there have been no incidents yet.”
What does this statement above mean? Are you waiting and expecting some major incidence to occur? That has put me off and i was even planning to have my honey moon there next April.
meant #17 in my posting #24
son of a forest ranger a point of correction, you dont throw chilli you sprinkle it. You live in The UK but your English is still in Zambia
eh eh eh…have you seen the tusks on that thing..I will be going there to do some serious poaching!!!!
Yes, nice place, but also find the prices to high. Even if you are not local. One night for 3 people 420 US-$ when we were there. Plus flight, quite costly.
amusing experience,this story was reported in the london lite, a london free parer about 2 days ago.
#27 I’m in Kafue national park, near Nalusanga!!!!
#27 who cares about English in England.Its not shameful to speak zambian English.Thats what makes us Zambian and unique for that matter As long as one manages to communicate thats all that matters.Even the English themselves here dont speak the best English.Its colonial mentality to be copy cats of an Englishman which also you cant manage to do
#20 Ms Zambia, you got humour! Otherwise, this story is indeed a good alternative to the daily political debates…just close your eyes and imagine your bare feet touching the beautiful Zambian soil. I’m drifting…
# 33 a little bit of humour
Surely, Zambia has a lot to offer. We should market such beautiful events to attract more tourists. I certainly want to see this with my own two eyes. Mfuwe, here I come.
Remember Maya? Guys nkaninapo cimo! lol! After all banyenye ni transport.
How proud I am to know that my village is representing. I always knew South Luangwa was the greatest wildlife sanctuary and the fact that it hasn’t been over developed and nature thrives. If you ahve seen Pmhanvu at protea Lodge in Chisamba, that’s where she came from.
God I love being Zambian!!
#32 CHILL
I totally agree with you, them English people aren’t bothered with basic Language skills of foreigners as long as one is able to comminicate and converse. But mayo! in Zambia, read job adverts in our papers ‘ applicates must demonstrate excellent communication skills’- meaning good English. Ala bwafya lets be real and realize that English isnt our language then we will be happy and will even make life easier for ourselves. CHILL cant agree with you more.
Those tusks would fetch some cool $$$$
Can we make a plan… or we can slaughter a couple of elephants … say 3 @ say 1000kg @ $per kg for the meat for you and I get the tusks$$$$$$$$$$$
rael Zedian
#39,we dnt want backward and evil minded people.thez foreignerz r puttin wrong motivez into u and u r willing agreeing 2 it….!And yet we r owez complainin abt thez ignorant,blood suckin,pathetic so called politicianz we hv.
This is an interesting photo; however as those that are in the travel business (like I am) will agree – this is an old photo and story (almost 4 years old). Sorry to be a “spoil spot” and spoil the fun guys. But I think if LT wanted to sensetise or write somethig about tourism; they could have done better, than a cut and past job. Why not do an investigative report into the Tourist Initiative Development Fund (TIDF; which seems to be only accessed by the same people each year who are not even using it for its intended purpose i.e Tourism development and helping travel/tourism businesses which are currently struggling.
#37 i hav sn mphamvu at protea chisamba.inded its a gud ting to c hw nice our zambia is and th potential we have.
If by accident you are swallowed by a whale, have courage kick its intestines inside, struggle a lot. It will be uncomfortable and it will take you to the shore and vomit you out. Whales do not vomit in the middle of the sea. They go to the shore.
#39 Planet Mars very helpful piece of advice, especially considering the fact that we have no sea, or even whales in Zambia!! But things are changing, globalisation might probably result in Zambia having a sea with whales very soon. In that case we might need your advise. Just one more question, what if by accident you happen to die in the process of being swallowed by a whale?
#44 Dark knight as your name suggests why do you have to add gloom to everything.We are all enjoying the picture.If it was 100yrs old I would still enjoy it.Besides the Mfuwe lodge manager said this happens all the time around November.Stop being a pessimist and learn to appreciate the small things in life.Smell the coffee,listen to the birds sing and enjoy the wondrous sight of the majestic elephant strolling through a lodge without checking in.Infact it was checking out since he had his trunk with.
oops sorry meant #41
Ye seili mitolo mina muli kifeela!!! sakala bamutama hape?? Uyu mudala akafwila muchifungo umulandu wakuafwa abena Kafupi. Kizakuipatiseza, ya bad ii but!!!
nice place to be at,how i wish they could be afordable for chaps like me.coz planing a trip to lstone will mean spending a nite at acheap and dirty guess house
Great peace! Foward it to BBC,CNN,CFI and all major media houses. pa zed pali mutendere na vinyamam kumozi?
Careful those are dangerous animals,tekwakusaminwa bamambala!!!!
#11 herbz SA go to coppernet solusions website and listern to phoenex and other radio stations
#38 Thanks for your comment, well appreciated
Apologies #38 i meant #40
#41. whatever the case ZED is ZED and such sights fyani, ni mauzu. LT please get more pictures of places like the Lochinvar Lodge (bird scantuaries) amazing place, hippos at dusk on the Zambezi, the escapements, etc. Zambia mwela – and sure, close your eyes and imaging yourself on the Zambian soils. There is a lot more apart from the friendly faces.
#17 If you ever face an elephant you will get mixed and throw (or sprinkle) chilli in your own eyes. Then try to remember to run in a zig-zag.
#50. Stonie has cheap quality hotels. I went to show my kids the Victoria Falls, went on the boat cruise, the game park and had such a wonderful quality time. You can live at the Zambezi Sun, Royal Livingstone, Write Inn, Little Paradise, Red Cross Hostels,Guest Houses it all your choice – but there is everything for everyone.
#38 wantekunya! wanji bukisha Maya.
# 57 Demodone, you have made my day , funny stuff, but you are right cos when you see that animal you cant’ think properly and you mess up as you say. Reality is different from theory!!
wow, lovely but the sight of it would have me shaking like a leaf
# 47 You have completely missed the pointI was trying to put across. Anywas won’t bother and I will not engage myself in an exchange battle of comments lacking substance. Come back to me with more substantiated comments other than what you have said in your posting.
# 56 Whatever! Continue fantasising –maybe one day; you’ll get to experience the scenarios you’ve described. But again as the saying goes “certain people will only get to see what they fantasise on” – Am sure you know what I mean.
Iwe ka 49 Barotse Buffalo, use english..ala. U think this is your village. Silly lozi boy . SOUTHERN POWER
Kwasu kumalambo nikuweme, that is where my village is. Those days meat was not a problem, our hunters from the village would bring for the whole village but with the coming of the investors you are arrested when they smell you’re cooking game meat. The so called investors are now caging them and making mince meat and sausages becoz they have licenses and our chiefs are getting loyalties, this earth mwebantu is unfair.
#57 you are so crazy and so right! you have made my afternoon
No. 61 Iwe ka ZED GELO. Bwanji ko ka steak…not va shaking like a leaf apa
#64…nyama iliye mutengo….”lol.
No.50 Georgia Russia, when where you were last in Zambia? Accommodation in Livingstone is now affordable. You can get a decent place to stay at a reasonable price. Even places like Sun Hotel have now come up with rates for the locals ( at least those in the middle income group) but you have to save. Even ku vyalo uko kumuli, people just don’t get up ati tikuya ku holiday,yayi. They save. You can do the same and you will not spend a night in a dirty and cheap place as you put it. No, not in Livingstone, not in my country, not anymore.
WHAT A WONDERFUL SITE FOR MY ENGANGEMENT!!! ITS DEFINATELY HOME SWEET HOME LOVE IT
#67 you are talking. Kale nyama achibinda enzopaya chipayepaaye kwenzeve kulipila ndalama yayi, lomba vintu vachinja.
GREAT STAFF THIS ONE
having read most of ur comments, it makes sad reading that ZAMBIANS out there can trash our tourism industry like this instead of promoting it. this is the kind of thing a muzungu would pay for at KRUGER in SA….someone pliz challenge me…..and becoz of some of u, thats y the VIC FALLS is in SA…ZABWINOPLALIBE ZO ONA..and mind u, it’s not only South Luwangwa where u can see such, try LSTONE..
#58 Goodliving mule lila sana, I’m jealous! That’s quality time for sure. I also have 3 kids and they keep asking me when we will all be able to go on Safari but I can’t afford it yet. Still saving!
it’s actually wrong that people build the recption of their hotel on
an elephant trail. this shows you how much the environmental council of zambia know. the locals if consulted would have advised that the lodge was to be built on an elephant trail. the long term effect of this is to disturb an animal and its natural habitat. why didnt they build the lodge so that guests could see the elephants walk by. this demonstrates how dim zambians are as they actually “sell” their wildlife to lodge operators. this wouldn’t have happened in the west.
#74 Torontonian says “…this wouldn’t have happened in the west”. So you think all is well in the West? Do you want me to give you list of man-made environmental calamities in the West much worse than biulding a lodge on an elephant’s trail? I’m afraid the space on this blog wont suffice! But here’s just one example of the white man’s stupidity: he has endorsed the use of cigarettes, alcohol and arms, which together claim millions of lives every year and yet he continues to place a ban on the use of cannabis, which has never killed a single person! Wanna say what now?
I love this story. Will sure plan to see this for myself
#45 now i see how that niga Jonah survived ‘kick dat whale’
ba #69 ‘will u mary me’ in front of the beast? u will end up sayin ‘will u run with me’!
luv u ma Zeds, goodnyt!
That really great.it reminds me of my days in Chirundu when I came home @ 0200hours drunk and found an elephant @ my door step.Need to get a look @ home…….
Do not believe that bloggers, that is a tarmed Elephant.An elephant from the wilderness will never walk so peacefully around human, as you may know that we eat these animals.They will ran so wild away and sometimes even trumple you.