In the Park there is a huge mango grove which is a source of food for elephants, and the Mfuwe Lodge happens to have been built next to the mango grove. Since time immemorial, this particular family of elephants have always visited the mango grove where they would indulged themselves when the fruits were ripe and ready.
On their returned one year, as they were being led by the matriach to the Shangri-La of mangoes, to their astonishment, they found the luxury accommodation which was unwittingly built in the path of their migration trail to be an obstacle.
Being big and fearless, the leader decided that since they have been using the trail long before mankind, they would not use alternate routes to have a long awaited feast of that ripe tropical fruit with juicy aromatic pulp.
Just like in the movies where things are always there in a time of crisis;(eg. the actor is in a locked room, totally void of anything, and suddenly he finds a crowbar which he uses to open the door.)
the entrance to the lodge was opened and big enough for easy passage of the behemoths. I tell you friends, not only do the elephants have a good memory, but they are smart as well.
So, they simply walked through the lobby and out the back door to reach their beloved grove of trees.
But not before check at the front desk.
"The animals come in two-by-two", said hotel staff who have gotten used to the elephants' impromptu strolls through the lobby. Now the family group, headed by matriarch Wonky Tusk, return every November and stay for four to six weeks to gorge on mangoes - up to four times a day.
Andy Hogg,44, the lodge director, has lived in South Luangwa National Park since1982.
But in all his years of dealing with wild animals he has never seen such intimate interaction between humans and wild animals.
Living in the 5,000 square mile national park, the ten-strong elephant herd is led to the lodge each day by Wonky Tusk.
The hotel was built directly in the path of the elephants' route to one of their favorite foods ....mangos.
"The most interesting thing about these wild animals," explains Andy, "is that this is the only herd that comes through, and they come and go as they please."
Mfuwe Lodge consists of seven camps and the base camp where the elephants walk through. "The elephants start coming through base camp in late November each year to eat the ripe mangos from our trees." said Andy. Employing 150 staff, the management of the lodge report that there have been no incidents involving the wild elephants to date.
"The elephants get reasonably close to the staff, as you can see in the pictures of the elephants near the reception area," Andy explains. "But we do not allow the guests to get that close."
"The elephants are not aggressive but you wouldn't want to tempt them. It is the elephant's choice to be here and they have been coming here for the last ten years.
