When we arrived at Arathusa Safari Lodge it was lunchtime. Most meals are served in a large gazebo that overlooks one of the largest ponds (waterholes) in the area. During our lunch we observed four or more Hippos and about a dozen Elephants in the water. At the water's edge there were also some Wart Hogs, some Kudu and Impalas. When we got to our unit there was a Yellow Hornbill bird knocking at one of our windows. Nice start.
Our accommodation exceeded all of our expectations. We have never had a unit/house/cabin that was nearly as nice as this. Our unit (don't know what to call it - cabin, or house, or room, or apartment?? I will use UNIT) is about 800 sq ft with tile floors. In addition there is a partially covered patio that is 400 sq ft including the small soaking pool. We have indoor and outdoor showers. No other units are in sight. We are approximately 1/3 mile from reception. Meals and the bar are further.
Wednesday PM game drive 10/7
Another group found a female Leopard in a tree with her kill, probably a very young Impala. She was sleeping and looking away from us most of the time. She was about 25 feet from us. In addition we also saw African Buffalo (I have previously referred to them as Water Buffalo. That is incorrect. These are African Buffalo, also called Cape Buffalo.) These animals are more likely to kill people than any other animal in South Africa. We also saw Elephants, Giraffes, Steenboks, Waterboks, Wildebeasts, and Zebras. After dinner we had to be escorted to our unit by a ranger because Elephants were near our unit.
Thursday AM
When we got our 5 AM wakeup call we looked out the window by our soaking-pool. There were two elephants drinking water from the soaking-pool and a baby elephant was inching his trunk toward the water when the parents decided to leave, so the little guy did not get any water. There were at least a half dozen elephants in the group. When it was time to leave for the morning game drive our way was blocked by Elephants. A ranger drove one of the safari vehicles to our front door to pick us up.
Thursday AM Game Drive
We found one of the five dominant males in the area near a partially eaten Buffalo. This coalation is reportedly followed by National Geographic with live transmission at their website under "Live Safari". This coalition is called the Birmingham Boys. Our Ranger, Cedric, was surprised that so little of the carcass had been eaten. Then one of the other brothers wandered in and plopped down. He, too, was gorged. Cedric suspected that the second Lion came from another kill. So we drove to where the Lion had come from. When we got there we found the other three brothers. They were also gorged and laying down, breathing hard. There were two dead Buffalo calfs and a full size Buffalo among the Lions. Cedric said he had never seen such wasteful carnage. Nor had any of the other Rangers.
We also saw a baby Elephant with its mother. The baby was still very wobbly on its feet and was lifted up from a lying down position by its mother. It was probably only a day or two old. On that drive we also say Zebra, Buffalo, Wildebeest, and Impalas.
After breakfast we went on a nature hike with Cedric. He showed us some examples of tracks that various animals leave. We encountered Elephants and Buffalo and observed them from a distance. We finished about 10:30. My wife came near to getting heat stroke. I was so tired I took a 1-hour nap - so I did not get any writing done. The temperature was probably about 90 degrees F by that time - headed for over 100 degrees for our afternoon drive.
Babboons
Lion Brothers
Wildebeests
Leopard
Vulture
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