Elephants Never Forget - Especially When It Involves Yummy Mangoes!

They say an elephant never forgets - The owners and guests of a luxury lodge at a National park in Zambia can certainly testify to that. Every November for about six weeks, the lodge is visited by a herd of elephants that zip right past the reception and head straight to the mango groves.

The ritual, which has been going on for over a decade at the Mfuwe Lodge in the South Luangwa National Park, involves a herd of ten elephants, led by their matriarch , nicknamed Wonky Tusk. During the month of November, they all march up the steps of the lodge, straight through the reception and head to a large wild mango tree that is situated near the library on the other side of the reception. For the first four weeks, they come at least twice a day, and then more sporadically for the next three weeks. Sometimes they leave right after their feast. On other occasions, they linger in the reception areas to see what else catches their interest.

According to the lodge owners, the elephants are doing exactly what they have been doing for years - migrating to this tree when mangoes are in season. The fact that the lodge is right in the middle of their migration route is a minor nuisance that the elephants have learnt to deal with.

As for the lodge owners, they have become used to the annual pilgrimage now, and even welcome it, as it has become a major tourist attraction for them and therefore, very good for business.

Sources: DailyMail.co.uk, Mfuwelodge.com