Arathusa Safari Lodge

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Arathusa Safari Lodge

The way the original safari was intended. http://www.arathusa.co.za

02/11/2024

In the wild, nothing goes to waste. Mike captured this footage of Nhenhe finishing off a kill, relishing every morsel.

29/10/2024

Patience is the name of the game for a scavenger like the jackal. While other predators eat their fill, jackals are used to waiting on the sidelines for their chance to feed; this evening's meal being the remains of an elephant.

29/10/2024

Being able to watch Kuchava's six-month-old cubs grow, slowly developing their own unique personalities and relationships with one another, has been a beautiful thing for us and our guests! They've grown very comfortable around our safari vehicles during sightings – a perfect setting to observe their uninterrupted natural behaviour.

📸 Captured by field guide Geoff.

25/10/2024

The Nkuhumas, Black Dam & Kruger males, and the powerful Kambulas meet at an unexpected place in the Northern Sabi Sand Reserve. A riveting counter ensues...

Head on over to our blog for the full story:
https://www.arathusa.co.za/2024/10/25...

23/10/2024

A piercing stare...

Laluka's tussle with Talamba earlier this month left her with a few injuries on her head and paw, but she's nothing if not resilient and has been healing steadily.

📷 Captured by field guide Geoff.

22/10/2024

Preparation in progress for a new spot! These wild dogs, accompanied by their roughly four-month-old pups, are scent marking around their new territory. The pups will stay relatively close while they get used to the unfamiliar area with guidance from the pack leaders.

📷 Captured by field guide Roy.

18/10/2024

The unmistakable saddle-billed stork.

Males are identified by their dark eyes and two small yellow wattles at the base of their bill, while females - like this one - have yellow eyes.

📸 Field Guide Geoff

16/10/2024

We found the Djuma hyena clan with their 6-month-old cubs, resting at their den site. Cubs are suckled for an unusually long time in the carnivore world – as long as 12 to 18 months.

📸 Field Guide Roy

14/10/2024

This beautifully framed sighting of Nhenhe up high in the boughs of a tree with his duiker kill was a highlight of our day.

📸 Field Guide Roy

12/10/2024

Despite the way of wild being 'each species to its own', sometimes a meal is worth sharing. Tortoise Pan caught a large warthog, catching the attention of a hungry hyena. After Tortoise Pan refused to back off, they ended up eating together and were later joined by Nhenhe, who kept a careful and respectful distance.

📸 Field Guide Roy

10/10/2024

Delicious food comes standard on Safari at Arathusa - for both human and animal, it seems.

This female nyala was clearly enamored with the edible flowers 🌸

09/10/2024

When the lion's away, the vultures will play. After this Kruger male had his fill, it was feasting time for this mixture of white backed, hooded and lappet-faced vultures on the remains of a giraffe carcass.

📷 Captured by field guide Roy.

08/10/2024

Dynamics change so quickly in the wild, so it's a beautiful thing to witness mother and cub at play! Field guide Roy captured these images of Nhenhe and Xidulu during a very pleasurable game drive.

03/10/2024

High-quality rest. All in a day's work for the Nkuhuma pride, before the night's activities begin.

📷 Captured by Field Guide Roy.

02/10/2024

We want everybody to make themselves right at home at the lodge. Nyalas are no exception.

30/09/2024

Kuchava and her five-month-old cubs are getting more comfortable with our safari vehicles. We are vigilantly respectful to earn trust with the wild animals in their natural habitat. We are merely visitors.

📷 Captured by field guide Roy.

29/09/2024

Vigilance, commitment and hard work from up high. Bateleur eagles spend around eight to nine hours a day in the air searching for prey! They also pair for life and inhabit the same nest for multiple years with the same partner.

📸 Field Guide Roy

26/09/2024

Spot anything unusual on this African wild dog?

As an endangered animal species, the tracking collar it's wearing is hugely beneficial to game rangers and conservationists to understand and track territories, monitor feeding patterns, and detect signs of canine disease that could threaten specific packs.

📸 Field Guide Geoff

23/09/2024

We took a little time out with Xidulu to drink in the golden hour light at sunset.

📷 Captured by field guide Geoff.

20/09/2024

A perfect resting spot is the combination of comfort and a good view of your kingdom. Just ask the Nkuhumas.

📷 Captured by field guide Roy.

19/09/2024

Male giraffes will lose the hair on their ossicones when they start necking - the act of using their heads as clubs to dominate other males and woo potential mates.

These two fellas are clearly seasoned professionals.

📷 Captured by field guide Roy.

18/09/2024

A very rewarding sighting of Sibuyi’s young male cub, who we’ve had the pleasure of watching mature into a strong and beautiful adolescent.

📸 Captured by Field Guide Geoff.

17/09/2024

A mid-splash moment, captured by field guide Roy. We estimate the age of the smaller elephant to be roughly a year old - the telltale sign is that its tusks haven’t arrived yet.

16/09/2024

A crisp, early morning rest for the Kumbula brothers before the heat of the day sets in.

📷 Captured by field guide Roy.

14/09/2024

Our striped groundskeepers, hard at work maintaining the lawn and loving every mouthful.

📷 Captured by field guide Roy.

Address

Bushbuckridge
1280

Website

http://www.arathusa.co.za/, http://www.sabisand.co.za/

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Videos

In the wild, nothing goes to waste. Mike captured this footage of Nhenhe finishing off a kill, relishing every morsel. #arathusasafarilodge #southafrica #arathusa #wildlife #leopard #luxurysafari

The Nkuhumas, Black Dam & Kruger males, and the powerful Kambulas meet at an unexpected place in the Northern Sabi Sand Reserve. A riveting counter ensues... Head on over to our blog for the full story: https://www.arathusa.co.za/2024/10/25... #southafrica #arathusa #arathusasafarilodge #wildlife #lion

It's all fun and games over at this hyena den! These cubs from the Djuma clan are full of energy and putting it to good use during playtime with mom. #arathusasafarilodge #arathusa #luxurysafarilodge #luxurysafari #southafrica #wildlife #hyena

The thrill of a nocturnal sighting! We found Nhenhe and Xidulu together, playfully grooming in our torchlight before moving off towards the duiker kill from earlier in the day. 📹 Field Guide Geoff #arathusasafarilodge #arathusa #luxurysafarilodge #luxurysafari #southafrica #wildlife #big5 #leopard #leopardsofinstagram

A beautiful Sunday sighting. We were so excited to find Langa and her cub again, after seeing them on the duiker kill a week ago. #arathusasafarilodge #arathusa #luxurysafarilodge #luxurysafari #southafrica #wildlife #big5 #leopard #leopardsofinstagram

This past weekend brought us one of those rare and raw moments that truly encapsulate the harsh realities of nature. The Mantimahle brothers, a formidable coalition of lions, clashed with a clan of hyenas in a battle over a hippo carcass. Head on over to our blog to see the full story! https://www.arathusa.co.za/2024/08/01/lions-vs-hyenas-a-battle-over-a-hippo-carcass/ #luxurysafarilodge #arathusasafarilodge #Arathusa #lions

Look who we found! We spotted Langa on the move with her two cubs, now around eight weeks old. We suspect that she is currently moving to a new den location. 📹 Field Guide Geoff 25/07/2024 #arathusasafarilodge #arathusa #luxurysafarilodge #luxurysafari #southafrica #wildlife #big5 #leopard #leopardsofinstagram

Makhomsava certainly got Tortoise Pan male's attention! We found them together at sunrise yesterday. Makhomsava is now in oestrus (‘in heat’), and will typically mate with Tortoise Pan multiple times over a few days. They can mate as often as every 15 to 20 minutes during peak oestrus (sometimes up to 100 times over the course of the heat cycle). As you can see, the entire mating process is usually accompanied by vocalisations and other behaviours that signify the female's receptiveness and the presence of a male. During the leopard mating ritual - a very quick affair - the male will bite the female’s neck to ensure her submission. He then quickly jumps off to avoid being scratched. 📹 Field Guide Geoff 23/07/2024 #arathusasafarilodge #arathusa #luxurysafarilodge #luxurysafari #southafrica #wildlife #big5 #leopard #leopardsofinstagram

A beautiful first-time sighting of Tlalamba and one of her cubs yesterday. She was found carrying it back to their den after a kill. Her babies were born just eight-nine weeks ago in the Torchwood region. This was such a special capture because at this young age, no more than one safari vehicle may be present at any given time. Watch this space for more information in a blog post - coming soon! 📸 Field Guide Geoff #arathusasafarilodge #arathusa #luxurysafarilodge #luxurysafari #southafrica #wildlife #big5 #leopard

On Friday morning, June 28, 2024, we encountered two of the Nkuhuma female lionesses. They had separated from the rest of the pride, with the two Plains Camp male lions and the Nkuhuma third sister found further east, and were in a very precarious position! Head over to our blog to read the full story. ↓↓↓↓ https://www.arathusa.co.za/2024/07/03/a-close-call-for-the-nkuhuma-female-lionesses/ #arathusasafarilodge #arathusa #luxurysafarilodge #luxurysafari #southafrica #wildlife #big5 #lion #hyena #safari

All in a morning's drive... #arathusasafarilodge #arathusa #luxurysafarilodge #luxurysafari #southafrica #wildlife #big5 #leopard #safari #lion

Every day in Africa ends with a memorable sunset. After a thrilling afternoon drive, how better to appreciate it than with a chilled gin & tonic or ice-cold beer in hand - in eager anticipation of what nightfall may bring... #arathusasafarilodge #arathusa #luxurysafarilodge #luxurysafari #southafrica #wildlife #safari

"Telling stories is Ronny's passion; he does it to entertain our guests and to keep them well accommodated throughout their stay with us," says Clearance, one of our fantastic staff members. #arathusasafarilodge #arathusa #luxurysafarilodge #luxurysafari #southafrica