Arathusa Safari Lodge blog

Sunday

Although this morning was fairly quiet, we did manage to find the two Kahuma lionesses and their two cubs feeding on a giraffe. The afternoon drive was considerably more rewarding however. We saw a male rhino and an elephant bull, and we also ran into an impressive herd of about 200 buffalo. We went back to the lions and found that the two Kahuma males had since joined their sisters, and were feeding amiably alongside them. We were surprised to find them there as they have been on their own for quite some time now. The females and cubs seemed comfortable enough with them, and no aggression was displayed by any of the parties either. We ended the drive with a nervous and shy young male leopard on a young wildebeest kill close to the lodge.

Monday

It was already very warm by the time we set out on drive this morning. We bumbled along slowly, stopping to admire some White-backed vultures resting in the early morning light. They were waiting for the thermals to pick up so they could start searching for food. Sightings were great. We came across the Kahuma lion pride enjoying the warm early morning sunlight. The cubs stretched and played, while the adults looked on lazily. We also came across a small parade of elephants enjoying the lush foliage in a river crossing. The Fork-tailed drongos eagerly snatched up the insects that filled the air as a result of the elephants’ foraging. A little further along we bumped into six buffalo bulls enjoying the lush and abundant green grass. Giraffe sightings were equally splendid. We spent a good thirty minutes watching these long-necked giants browsing on Knob-thorn acacia leaves. We ended the day off with a glimpse of a male leopard moving stealthily along the drainage lines in some very thick bush.

Tuesday

This morning got off to a rather quick start, as we woke up to find three of the Tsalala lionesses resting on the open area in front of the lodge. It was apparent from their nice full bellies that they had killed something in the early hours of the morning. After leaving them we bumped into three rhinos grazing quietly together. Mvula was resting in a large tree with a young impala kill. We watched in awe as the big guy ate his fill, and then splayed out on a branch and instantly fell fast asleep.

It was very hot this afternoon, so it took a while for things to get going. But once they did we were literally inundated with animals. Rhino, buffalo and elephants all made their way to the various waterholes and pans for a late afternoon drink and wallow. The three Tsalala lionesses were still fast asleep on the open area, and just as it started getting dark we discovered three leopards together. The new young male with orange eyes, and two females, Ntima and Kwatile. Ntima was right up with the male, and looked very keen on mating. He was having none of it however, and kept trying to walk around her. Kwatile watched the goings-on from a safe distance, preferring to avoid the larger female as far as possible.

Wednesday

This morning we found the two Kahuma male lions sleeping close to the kill, although by then there was nothing left of the giraffe apart from a few small bones. We found the females and cubs as well, but they were resting quite far east from the males. It seems that their reunion was short-lived. We also came across Mafufunyane. He is still in very bad shape and we aren’t sure if he will recover.

This afternoon we found a group of three rhinos and two buffalo bulls. We also saw a herd of 25 elephants and a large herd of buffalo. The two Kahuma lionesses and their two cubs were sleeping in the same place as this morning. There was no sign of the two males however, confirming our suspicions that the get-together was only temporary. Shortly before returning to the lodge we came across Jordaan wandering about close to the airstrip.

Thursday

What a start to the morning! We’d barely left the lodge when we were intercepted by two of the Majingilane males. Their massive manes still damp from walking through the dew-laden grass. These two big males were ending off their nightly patrol, so we followed them from a distance, watching as they moved silently through the bush. After a few kilometres they met up with one of their brothers, the third member of the four-strong coalition. With the necessary greetings out the way, the trio settled down beneath an evergreen Guarrie bush to do what lions do best…sleep!

The afternoon was fully loaded, with some really fantastic sightings. These included a female leopard doing a spot of scent marking while out on territorial patrol, some rhinos, and an abundance of elephants enjoying the summer grass and foliage on the Marula laden crests. All in all…yet another superb day of game viewing in the Sabi Sand.

Friday

We enjoyed another quick start to the morning when we discovered the two Kahuma lionesses and their two cubs on the airstrip. It seemed only fitting that we watch the sunrise with them. Much to the cubs’ amazement, a large rhino bull came wandering past. They literally gaped in awe at the behemoth herbivore. We then got word that the Styx pride was with the Dark-mane Majingilane on a recently killed female buffalo in the eastern sector. We arrived to find only two of the cubs feeding, as all the others had already gorged themselves and were resting in the shade. On our way back west we found Mafufunyane resting in the drainage line close to where we saw him yesterday afternoon. He didn’t look well at all, so we left the old man to himself. A herd of elephants and some buffalo bulls also made an appearance as we headed home.

After a bit of rain during the day, and the promise of more to come, game viewing was a little more challenging this afternoon. Althoug we did manage to find a herd of elephants enjoying a mud wallow in one of the drainage lines, destroying one of our roads in the process mind you. Next we bumped into Karula, one of our female leopards. She was clearly unimpressed with the wet weather, and had rolled herself up into a tight ball in an effort to keep dry. We also watched a large herd of buffalo coming down to one of the larger dams to drink. We didn’t stay with them for long though, as it started raining quite hard, sending us scurrying back to the lodge for cover.

Saturday

This morning we went back to the buffalo kill, but only one of the Styx females was present. She’d been left behind to guard the carcass against a solitary hyena and a whole bunch of vultures. A second hyena eventually arrived on the scene, and the lioness decided to err on the side of caution and abandon the remains. As soon as she moved off the loitering scavengers tucked in.

In the afternoon we saw a large rhino bull and then later, another two buffalo bulls. The Styx lionesses and their five cubs were sleeping quite far south from where they had killed the buffalo. We ended the drive with Karula and her two cubs. Mom was sleeping, but Xivambalana and Xivindzi were both wide awake, playing and chasing each other up and down trees. A very special sighting.

And that brings to an end yet another spectacular week! Remember to visit our Facebook and Flickr albums to see more photos from our game drives.

Until next time,

The Arathusa Team