‘Stay away from Mosi-oa-Tunya Park’

THE Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has urged tourists and residents to avoid entering Mosi-oa-tunya National Park in Livingstone during the early and late hours of the day to avoid attacks from wild animals.
Recently, two cyclists were attacked by elephants in the night near a place known as Dry Manzi within Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park along the road leading to Sun International Zambia and Victoria Falls world heritage site.
The elephants trampled on their merchandise and destroyed their bicycles but the cyclists managed to flee unhurt.
ZAWA Southern region senior wildlife warden Lusizi Mwale urged tourists as well as members of the public to avoid straying into Musi-oa-Tunya National Park during the early and late hours of the day.
Ms Mwale confirmed two separate incidents where cyclists were recently attacked by elephants but they were unharmed.
“We all know that Musi-oa-Tunya National Park is located in Livingstone town but it is still a National Park.
“Though we don’t have lions, we have elephants and buffalos which are still dangerous. We would advise tourists and members of the public to refrain passing through the Park especially those on bicycles or walking in the early hours before 06:00 hours and after 18:00 hours,” Ms Mwale said.
She also said ZAWA officers were still looking for a lion which was spotted in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park last year.
“We captured the first lion and translocated it to Kafue National Park but our wildlife officers are on the ground trying to find the remaining lion.
“Of late, we haven’t received reports of the same lion. There are indications that the lion might have moved on and probably went to Zimbabwe,” Ms Mwale said.

TimesofZambia