This is part of the art in one of the gents at Marula Lodge in South Luangwa National Park.

By NDUBI MVULA, MFUWE.

IT is about 20 minutes past 01:00 O'clock in the evening and you may be wondering as to what the author is doing when others are in their mid-life moment into their deep sleep.

There is some heavy sound coming from just by the window to my chalet at Marula Lodge, in the middle of South Luangwa National Park. It is close and loud like a thousand loan mowers have descended on the just sprouting green healthy looking grass that will never see the flowers or seeds come off then.

This is due to the fact that as the night descends, some beasts from the nearby Luangwa River take to turns in helping the owner of the resort from wasting energy and resources such as fuel for the loan mower to cut the grass.

Upon arrival and after Adam who is at your service saves chilled non-alcoholic drinks to wash down and cool your throat after a long drive to the resort situated in Zambia’s richest natural treasure base, you are cautioned not to loiter outside once you retire to your chalet.

Yes, the richest base of wildlife is the South Luangwa National Park that accommodate this pristine resort structures much to the delight of the holiday maker be it a couple on honeymoon or family on a mission to take a quiet life into the hinterland for relaxation.

Marula Lodge resort is the answer and it's positioning gives one more impetus to realise and appreciate the essence of wildlife conservation which in turn rakes into the national economy more revenue to be cherished by all, countrywide.

It's so amazing to see these beasts doing their gardening round my chalet. Two of them now side by side taking charge of the gardener's responsibility and one wonders what he will be doing when he reports for work in the morning.

Does he get his full salary for the job he was employed to do or it is shared between him and these seemingly angelic beasts that happen to do most of the work in a fashionable way?

Fashionable in the sense that the work is done during the night when all guests, the owner,  staff and gardener are fast asleep or tossing in their cosy beds save for the night watchmen who keep vigil the whole night just in case an overwhelmed visitor attempts to leave their room to capture a glimpse  of the animals outside.

Well, these angelic beasts of burden are the hippos whose nocturnal duties seem to lessen the hassle of mowing the loan as well as slashing in some instances. 

Not only are the hippos that frequent the Marula resort at night, also the waterbucks in their family groupings happen to be regular guests that cherish the evening dinner of the green grass of life.

In turn, for a visitor to this magnificent resort, the entire evening is not boring at all as wildlife can be viewed from one's window without the help of a tour guide unless on a walking, canoeing or drive safari be it in the easily hours of the morning or night.

Also, just to be more careful as one takes a walk to and from their rooms, one needs to be mindful of the camouflaged frogs that could be lacking in the doorway or even inside the room especially the warm corners as they too have a right of way to seek for some comfort inside or outside the chalets.

The experience and many other that are explored in this rich territory of leisure and comfort testifies why the Zambian government and its cooperating partners have put more emphasis on the importance of conservation of wildlife.

Also a heavy roaring sound of a Lion is heard in the nearby wilderness signalling territorial dominance by the King of the jungle, so intimidating that one dares not venture outside but just make an observation of night life under lock and key as solution to safety.

Otherwise, the environment is awesome, soothing and worth whatever amount of money budgeted for.

Indeed this is just a tip on the iceberg in what Mfuwe or betters still the world's declared International National for Sustainable Tourism Development, the first in the entire wide world.