An Autumn Safari at Arathusa Safari Lodge.
When pondering the best time to visit Arathusa Safari Lodge, each season offers its unique appeal. Here's a glimpse into what autumn brings.
When pondering the best time to visit Arathusa Safari Lodge, each season offers its unique appeal. Here’s a glimpse into what autumn brings.
Autumn days at the lodge are delightful. While daytime temperatures remain warm, the oppressive heat and humidity of summer recedes, making way for a gentle breeze. The result? A perfectly temperate atmosphere that’s neither too hot nor too cold. Mornings, on the other hand, often greet guests with a refreshing chill and a misty aura, laying the groundwork for spectacular sunrises. Many guests relish their early coffee and the comfort of snuggling under blankets as they embark on their morning game drives.
The winds of change during autumn aren’t just metaphorical. Throughout the day, breezy conditions prevail, carrying warm currents. As these winds rustle through, they shed trees of their dead leaves, painting the landscape in hues of gold and brown. While this makes the bush a bit noisy – a challenge for trackers trying to silently trail animals – it’s also a period of sustenance for some animals.
Many of the fallen leaves, although dead, are nutrient-rich. This bounty doesn’t go unnoticed. Buffalos, typically grazers, shift their diet to include these leaves and various fodder plants, compensating for the decreasing nutritional value of grass as winter approaches.
This transition from autumn to winter becomes a prime time for observing buffalo. With grass losing its nutritional edge, buffalo herds become increasingly mobile, making sightings ever more frequent and thrilling. Additionally, with the rain being sparse, animals, particularly large herds of elephants and buffalo, congregate around waterholes. The waterhole at Arathusa, for instance, teems with activity at this time of year.
As autumn progresses, the bush starts to thin out, enhancing our safari sightings. This changing vegetation dynamic affects the behaviour of various animals. For instance, leopards, creatures of stealth and surprise, maintain consistent sightings. When the bush is dense, they comfortably roam, using the foliage as cover. But as the landscape opens up, they become more cautious, sticking to areas that offer concealment, especially when hunting.
But autumn at Arathusa isn’t just about the animals; it’s as much about the mood. The season is synonymous with clear starry nights, mesmerising sunrises, and breathtaking sunsets. Occasional dust raised by animals further accentuates the beauty of the skies during dawn and dusk.
In summary, if you’re looking for an experience that combines moderate weather, enhanced wildlife sightings, and ethereal natural beauty, autumn at Arathusa Safari Lodge is hard to beat.
Find out more about the Safari experience at Arathusa Safari Lodge.