A BABOON on Tuesday surprised tourists and National Heritage Conservation (NHCC) staff when it started watering the World Heritage site lawns at the Victoria Falls after quenching its thirst.

A Victoria Falls official photographer Bernard Gani had rare luck and managed to get the pictures.

The Victoria Falls is home to many monkeys and baboons and occasionally receives hippos and elephants while residents of Zesco's Victoria Falls Hydro Power station residential area have had their homes broken into by the primates searching for food.

"The incident happened on Tuesday and we were all shocked at the behaviour of the baboon but we then realised that they watch what we do and they can best be happy to try out our tricks as well," said Gani.

And a tourist from Canada said she was shocked to see the animals handle the hose pipe like a human being.

"I'm here with my husband and children and we have had a nice time to see the Victoria Falls but little did we know that God had another treat for us by letting a baboon quench its thirst and start watering the lawns in our presence, the owners of this place must give it a pay rise," said Susan Peters.