http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/10/02/in-pictures-elephants-check-into-hotel-in-zambia-115875-20765108/

jan,
obviously they start coming at a certain time of year depending on water sources - or better missing of water as waterholes are drying up.
when we spent 2 days at mfuwe lodge (june 2007 shortly after the big rains) we watched a herd of elis right in front of our balkony - just a couple of metres away. there are tiny channels in which the elis use to have a mud bath. but obviously they dry up quickly and then they use the lodge's swimmingpool

The problem is when clients and tourist put food out to eat - get close to take a snap shot with a flash- get hurt and the poor Eli gets the bullet as it is then a "dangerous" animal..... Hope that this does not happen.

The full article is in the October Africa Geographic. Lots of mango trees in the area, but the ellies only want to eat from one certain tree, and the only way to get there is through the hotel lobby. The article said they keep the guests behind barriers when this once a year trek occurs. But everyone gets pretty darn close - brick wall or not.

Guests behind barriers..... now that is the best I have read for a long time. Lodges and camps - make note and do that to all of them.... just kidding!

Sorry friends I'm going to put a spanner in the works!

I also tried to find another topic about banning minibuses / self-drive in Kenya which I wanted to reply to but have been unable to find it.

To ban anything like that would immediately remove me from safari! I do understand the reasoning behind the topic but any ban put in place has affects beyond it's intention.

Now in the case of this lodge I'm unsure if the lodge was built on a regular trail or if the elephants have taken to passing through since it was built.

What is safari if there is no risk involved?

I have found in the past that as long as you let the animal come into "Your space" all is fine. The animal has made the choice!
Ok! Things can go wrong, as with the elephant in our camp covered in the internal posts of this site for members only. But here I am sure the elephant was not hostile but as we were now behind him he felt threatened by the noise of the chair.

It is a hard one to call with luxury safari's becoming the norm, but surely if we make the trip so safe, is it worth taking, might we not be as well going to the "Safari park"?

Do we ban open topped vehicles?
What about insects?
How do we protect from them?

Visitors will eventually be so safe that the safari experience is gone.

Let us make it mandatory to carry an affidavit releasing all blame from animals for deaths or injuries.
"Official, Registered" guides & lodges should also be relinquished from blame as well just so long as the dangers of each activity is bought to the attention of the guest!.

I