Reserve

As part of the Sabi Sand Reserve and greater Kruger National Park, Arathusa is located in one of the world’s most abundant natural wilderness areas where hundreds of animal species roam free.

Including the much acclaimed Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo – the five most dangerous animal species to be hunted on foot). Leopards, in specific, are abundant in this region with perhaps the globe’s highest population. Arathusa prides itself on its leopard viewing. As these elusive cats are territorial, their regular appearance in the area enables us to plot their movements, and to observe their behaviour. Many of the animals become familiar and are easily recognised. Approximately 14 leopards are seen in the area in which Arathusa operates, six of which are seen on a regular basis.

There are also a number of different lion prides in the area, as well as a few nomadic males. Over 90% of guests will experience sightings of The Big Five – very often in one day, and sometimes on one drive! General “lowveld” game species are abundant in this section of the Sabi Sand Reserve, including giraffe, zebra, warthog, impala, and more.

Within the lodge itself, you can enjoy a safari of its own. The resident bushbuck, nyala and impala roam between the Luxury Suites – with cackling hyena whooping nearby – while elephants and leopards are known to drink from the more remote Suites’s private splash pools. Hornbills may tap on their reflections in the windows, while the cry of the fisheagle signals its presence as it searches for prey.

This region is a bird-watcher’s mecca, and a few of the rarer birds are seen from the lodge itself. One such example is the Horus Swift. One thing is certain, an Arathusa Safari will never disappoint!