Arc Earth

Arc Earth We organise and host tailor-made wildlife, bird and conservation safaris across wildest Africa.

20/06/2025

This nimble little leopard decided to use our vehicles as a shortcut to reach her next destination.

Hi! If you're a new fan of ours, we hope you've been enjoying the wildlife facts, camps we love, and reels we share when...
17/06/2025

Hi! If you're a new fan of ours, we hope you've been enjoying the wildlife facts, camps we love, and reels we share when we're on safari!

Whether Gorilla Trekking in Uganda, following the Great Migration in Kenya and Tanzania and photographing superb wildlife and landscapes in Southern Africa, we love guiding guests in Africa.

Meet Matt, our Co-Owner.

A former head guide and “jeep jockey”, Matt was inspired to become a full-time Professional Safari Guide & Photographer after over 10 years of working at one the most prestigious lodges in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa.

Now almost 13 years later, what started as a childhood passion at a game lodge in KwaZulu Natal, has blossomed into Arc Earth, our bespoke Travel Company with a key emphasis on ‘Travel with Purpose’.

We hope you continue to enjoy the ride with us, whether virtual or in real life one day! 🌍📸🐘

A focus on the camps we love: If Rwanda is on your list, get ready to go all out on luxury if that's what makes your hea...
13/06/2025

A focus on the camps we love:

If Rwanda is on your list, get ready to go all out on luxury if that's what makes your heart skip a beat.

There is no shortage of luxury lodges and of course, the exquisite Singita Kwitonda is top of the pops for sybarites.

Snugly situated on the cusp of Volcanoes National Park, this sanctuary quietly emanates uber luxury with the decor, service and farm-to-table food offering layer upon layer of discreet

'Each of the eleven luxurious suites features a private heated plunge pool, wellness treatment area, in- and outdoor fireplaces and large timber-framed windows that welcome breathtaking scenery and volcano views inside.'

The activities are vast and varied from the obvious and most popular:

Gorilla and Golden Monkey Trekking (Golden Monkeys are endemic to the region and highly endangered, making this a truly unique experience).

To

Wellness, yoga, hiking, cycling, and trail running amidst a magnificent and tranquil background of lush greenery and misty mountains.

It's not often a Lodge can successfully create a fine balance between solitude and wellness alongside family holidays, honeymoons and Bucket List Gorilla Trekking but Singita Kwitonda executes seamlessly.







Tucked away in the northeast corner of the Duba concession in a private game reserve, lies Duba Explorers Camp in the Ok...
04/06/2025

Tucked away in the northeast corner of the Duba concession in a private game reserve, lies Duba Explorers Camp in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.

Guests wake up to panoramic views of the Delta floodplains and, during the flood season, flowering water lilies and tall papyrus put on a resplendent display.

The main camp area is set under canvas, on raised decking with an open-concept dining and lounge area. The camp was designed by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, National Geographic Explorers and embodies the golden age of Botswana safari explorations.

At night, let the hippos lull you to sleep with their grunts or listen to to the roar of a lion as it reverberates through the night.

They say a picture paints 1000 words and we think the below sums this up perfectly.

Four bountiful facts about the Okavango Delta in Botswana, a world renowned Unesco World Heritage Site.1. Unlike most ri...
02/06/2025

Four bountiful facts about the Okavango Delta in Botswana, a world renowned Unesco World Heritage Site.

1. Unlike most river deltas that flow into oceans, the Okavango is one of the few inland deltas in the world.

2. Instead of reaching the sea, it spreads into the sands of the Kalahari Desert — creating a lush, seasonal wetland in the heart of an arid region.

3. The delta is home to an astounding amount of living creatures - over 1,000 plant species, 400+ bird species, and over 160 mammal species, including endangered species like the African wild dog, black rhinos, and cheetah.

4. The Delta supports local communities through fishing, farming, tourism, and traditional livelihoods. Eco-tourism provides employment while promoting conservation, making the Okavango a model of sustainable human-nature coexistence.


🐝🐊🦁

19/05/2025

This male elephant was just giving us notice that he is the true boss, definitely not us!

When elephants give signs, we listen.

You'll often hear guides say, this 'male elephant is in musth' - what does this actually mean?

It means he is experiencing a period of heightened sexual activity and aggression, caused by a significant increase in testosterone levels — up to 60 times higher than normal.

🔍 Key Characteristics of Musth in Male Elephants:
Increased Testosterone

Testosterone levels can spike dramatically, driving mating behavior and aggression.

The elephant becomes more dominant and assertive, often challenging other males.

Physical Signs which are easy to spot:

Swelling of the temporal glands (between the eye and ear).
A thick, oily secretion (called temporin) drips from these glands.

Becomes highly restless, travels more in search of receptive female and they may act unpredictably — even elephants normally used to humans (like in parks) can become dangerous, so best to give them a wide berth.

So listen to your guides and respect the wild animals that come across your path!

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14/05/2025

Why do lions sleep so much?

Lions sleep so much-up to 18 to 20 hours a day - primarily to conserve energy for their demanding lifestyle as apex predators. This extensive rest helps them save strength for hunting, eating, and mating, which require significant bursts of energy.

Lions have a slow metabolism and few sweat glands, making it hard to regulate body temperature in the hot African bushveld. Sleeping during the hottest parts of the day helps them avoid overheating and conserve energy for nighttime activity when it is cooler.

Lions also use resting time for social bonding, grooming, and maintaining pride cohesion, which is crucial for their survival and cooperative hunting.

Recently, a friend's daughter from Dubai questioned whether there really are wild animals called 'bushbabies'.The answe...
14/05/2025

Recently, a friend's daughter from Dubai questioned whether there really are wild animals called 'bushbabies'.

The answer is a resounding YES!

Bushbabies are named for their distinctive vocalizations, which sound like a crying human baby; these calls are used for communication and territory marking hence the name.

This led us to a quirky story we know about bush babies that gives everyone a little giggle.

Bushbabies urinate on their feet.

This behaviour, known as "urine-washing," involves the bush baby urinating into its cupped hands and then wiping the urine onto the soles of its feet.

The primary reason for this is territorial marking: as bush babies leap and move through the trees, they leave their scent behind, signaling to others that the area is occupied. This scent-marking helps them establish and maintain territories and avoid conflicts with other individuals.

Additionally, this behaviour can play a role in social interactions, such as males marking females or during encounters with unfamiliar objects or areas.

Bushbabies, also known as galagos, are small nocturnal primates native to sub-Saharan Africa, recognized for their large, round eyes that provide excellent night vision.

They are exceptional jumpers, capable of leaping up to 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) or even 10 feet in a single bound, thanks to their powerful hind legs which make up about a quarter of their body weight

Their diet is varied and omnivorous, including insects, fruits, tree gum, nectar, and sometimes small vertebrates such as birds or reptiles.

Bushbabies are arboreal, spending most of their lives in trees, and have specialized adaptations like elongated fingers, a “tooth comb” for grooming, and strong grip to help them move and feed in their forest habitats.

So, the next time you're on a night drive in Southern Africa, ask your guide to look out for these animals who often will hide in thatch shelters in or near camp but are often found leaping from branch to branch in the thick bush.

12/05/2025

Chimpanzees are masters of communication as you can hear from this reel.

They use over 30 different calls-like hoots, grunts, and screams-to share news, warn of danger, or call friends to a feast.

Their hoots can be heard up to two miles away.

In chimp society, grooming also shows respect. Lower-ranking chimps often groom higher-ups, hoping for acceptance or protection.
The best place to see wild chimpanzees is in Uganda, where there are many primate trekking experiences in places like Kibale Forest National Park and Budongo Forest Reserve, where you can track and observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat.

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09/05/2025

One of our favourite trips in Africa is to both Uganda and Rwanda, where our key highlights are gorilla and chimp trekking through the impenetrable rainforests.

This video shows these serene and gentle giants in their natural habitat - carefree, innocent & uncannily human-like.

It's an incredibly moving experience to watch gorillas and chimpanzees interact in large family groups in their natural habitat.

This once-in-a-lifetime adventure (maybe more than that if you're addicted like us) promises awe-inspiring encounters with the primates as well as exotic birds and smaller monkeys that are found in the lush surroundings.

We mentioned in our last post, your tourism drives an uptick in overall tourism, improving the livelihoods of the local communities, so seriously consider turning your safari into an authentic, responsible connection (ARC) to the wild - we call it Travel with Purpose 🌍🦍🤝

Positive Economic Growth for Rwanda in 2025! The "Land of a Thousand Hills", lush, green rainforests, smiling people, an...
07/05/2025

Positive Economic Growth for Rwanda in 2025!

The "Land of a Thousand Hills", lush, green rainforests, smiling people, and gorillas is predicted to have a bumper tourism year.

Rwanda’s tourism revenue in 2025 is projected to exceed $700 million, building on $647 million generated in 2024, which reflected a 4.3% increase from 2023.

For every $1 million injected by nature-based tourism, approximately 1,328 new jobs are created in Rwanda.

Gorilla tourism is a major contributor, generating $200 million in 2024, a 27% increase from the previous year.

For every $1 million injected by nature-based tourism, approximately 1,328 new jobs are created in Rwanda.

Gorilla trekking provides employment opportunities for local guides, porters, trackers, and staff at eco-lodges and guesthouses.

These jobs offer fair wages and contribute to poverty reduction in rural areas surrounding the gorilla habitats. Eco-tourism initiatives also empower women by creating roles in lodges, craft businesses, and as guides, thus supporting gender inclusion in local economies.

Nothing like a little bit of 'feel good' news to perk one's spirits!

05/05/2025

This reel gives a small window into what rhino darting and tagging actually entails.

Rhino registration and identification is an ongoing intervention and we have been involved in taking guests with us to be a part of rhino immobilisation procedures, purely for rhino conservation and research.

During a rhino registration and identification procedure, you will help immobilise and notch the animal and insert a DNA microchip into the horns and body.

Tissue is collected and the DNA is submitted to the RHoDIS database (Rhinoceros DNA indexing system), a national DNA database maintained by the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at the University of Pretoria that is kept to provide forensic evidence related to the provenance of confiscated rhinoceros horns.

What does one gain from this experience?

Authentic and practical experience with wildlife interventions

A direct role in anti-poaching and rhino survival efforts

Deep understanding of ecological systems and threats

A life-changing adventure that’s nothing like an ordinary safari...

This is what we absolutely relish doing, getting our guests directly involved: Authentic Responsible Connection aka Arc Earth 🌍

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