April Sightings At A Glance.
Our old friend Skumba returns to Arathusa!
The landscape around Arathusa lodge is showing us that Autumn is here. Each season in the Kruger National Park area brings with it its own special visitors, and after a very lush summer we are so happy to welcome back some of our old friends, including Skumba the warthog and Tripod the three-legged-hyena.
Leopard – 77 total sightings
Langa – 7 sightings
Now in her 3rd year, Langa is growing into a strong and impressive lady. She is known by our rangers for her sleek and agile frame. Photographers will be delighted to catch a moment with her and her piercing feline gaze.
Tavangumi – 6 sightings
It was wonderful to see Tavangumi a few times in April, including a beautiful moment at sunset. When we spotted him, he was keeping a wary eye on the Talamati lion pride – and very wisely, keeping his distance.
Xidulu – 27 sightings
Xidulu and her cub are doing very well, and we are so thrilled to see this little guy growing each day. They are both feeling a bit more confident after the denning period, where mum and cubs will hide out in a secluded spot for protection from other predators.
WATCH: Xidulu and her cub spend a relaxed moment with our guests
Tortoise Pan male – 7 sightings
Tortoise Pan is the father of Xidulu’s cub, and now that they are out and about he has been seen a bit less this month. In previous months, he had been seen much more frequently as he patrolled the den site to protect Xidulu and cub. In March, we spotted Tortoise Pan 13 times.
Other leopard sightings:
Cara – 3 sightings, Tiyani – 3 sightings, Laluka – 4 sightings, Makhomsava – 10 sightings, Ntsumi – 1 sighting, Maribye – 6 sightings, Tavangumi – 6 sightings, Watika – 1 sighting, Ngoboswan – 2 sightings
Do you just love leopards? Read all about our leopards and how they are related to each other at The Leopards of Arathusa page.
Skumba returns!
Our old friend Skumba the warthog has returned to the lodge. We haven’t seen him around for a few months, as during the summer there is plenty of lush grazing all around.
We know that summer has come to an end when we see Skumba, as he knows that there is always delicious grass around the lodge to feed on. He particularly likes to munch our lawns! Skumba is quite friendly and is used to having people around, although with all animals, it is best to keep a distance.
Elephant – 87 sightings
As always, our elephants have been plentiful on game drives. We can expect to see them more regularly around the watering hole as the autumn season gets drier.
Wild dog – 11 sightings
We are always happy to see our wild dogs, as they are an endangered species across most of southern Africa. They can be easily identified with their spotted coats and paintbrush-like tails. They seem to be thriving on the Arathusa property – in this video we can see them sharing a successful impala hunt.
Buffalo – 35 sightings
Buffaloes are famously cantankerous and unpredictable, so a wise tracker will always approach them with a healthy respect and a large amount of distance. Buffaloes love to wallow in mud, and we will often find them near water
Hyena – 7 sightings
Our old friend, Tripod has visited us again. This three-legged hyena has survived against all odds, and seems to enjoy the relative safety of staying close to the Arathusa lodge. Just like Skumba the warthog, Tripod is relatively at ease with humans but will scamper away if you get too close. Watch Tripods gallop away in this video.
Lion – 85 sightings
Talamati pride – 18 sightings
Introducing a new cub! Meet the newest addition to the Talamati Breakaway pride, sired by the mighty S8 male. This playful and vocal cub is stealing our hearts at just 8-9 weeks old.
WATCH: Lioness and cub play in the grass
Nkuhuma Pride – 28 sightings
Lions are naturally very social animals and they will often be seen relaxing together in large groups. Here we see the Nkuhuma pride together at golden sunrise.
Other lion sightings: Torchwood Pride – 2 sightings, Avoca Males – 11 sightings, Kruger male – 2 sightings, Imbali Pride – 5 sightings
Find out more about the Safari experience at Arathusa Safari Lodge.
