Can you guess which fruit Elephants dread?
on August 26, 2009
Elephant at The Royal Livingstone
As everyone knows, elephants have long migratory routes which they follow through the African bush. From Livingstone they can roam through Zimbabwe, Botswana and even Namibia. At this time of year, many like to be in Livingstone.
The Zambezi River is lower now than it has been for many months and the elephants can swim across. There is a National Park in Zimbabwe, just over the river from The Royal Livingstone, and the elephants have been wandering around there during the rainy season. They may even have walked to Botswana for a while – there are no fences to stop them.
The other day I was leaving town when I noticed that construction on the road had come to a standstill. All the workers were walking away from their jobs and standing near their vehicles. When I got closer I realized why – there, just by the road, was a herd of about twenty elephants.
The elephants were browsing through the trees by the road; some had gone into the Maramba River to get a drink. Many cars stopped.
Unfortunately, many Zambians fear elephants because they come into the farms and villages at night. They can knock down houses and they can either eat or trample crops. We have a company in Livingstone that is developing elephant defenses. And all it is, is the use of chilis. Elephants hate chilis. By using a string fence which has been greased with a chili concoction, and burning elephant dung combined with chilis, the elephants will stay away.
For us in the tourist industry, of course, our wild elephants are very special. It is such a wonder to see them on our roads and in the bush.
Just as I was watching the elephants splash through the river, my cell phone rang. I answered it to find that it was one of my managers from the hotel. He asked me where I was and when I would be back in the office. I said to him, “I am watching a herd of elephants. And this is why we love living in Livingstone. I will come back to the office when the elephants have disappeared from view.” He understood, of course.
The herds of wild elephants truly are one of the million thrills that make The Royal Livingstone special.
