Christian Sperka Photography

2017-08-19

The Battle of Blood River …

Sorry – I have not blogged for quite a while as I was very busy before I went of my off time.

Earlier this week I visited Nambiti Game Reserve and stayed at Nambiti Plains Lodge. Then I visited the Blood River Battlefield. This battle between the Boers and the Zulus was one of the most important events which shaped South Africa’s history. A very impressive monument – build by the Afrikaans people – and a rather neglected museum – documenting the battle from a Zulu perspective – serve as reminders of this battle. And now I am at Fugitives Drift Lodge near the battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift just above the Buffalo River. One of my favorite locations in KwaZulu Natal.

Here are a few pictures – including some drone images I took during this trip. I hope you enjoy them!

The Blood River Battle Memorial … (DJI Phantom 4 Plus Drone)

Blood River Memorial … (DJI Phantom 4 Plus Drone)

The Laager – Defensive Boer position on the bank of the blood river … (Apple iPhone 7 Plus)

An aerial view from my drone … (DJI Phantom 4 Plus Drone)

A bull in musth at Nambiti … (Canon EOS 1D Mark IV)

A Black-Shouldered Kite at Nambiti … (Canon EOS 1D Mark IV)

The Buffalo river valley and the Fugitives Drift Lodge … (DJI Phantom 4 Plus Drone)

Fugitives Drift – Site of one of the real dramas in the British and South African history … (DJI Phantom 4 Plus Drone)

http://www.nambitiplains.com/

http://www.fugitivesdrift.com/

http://www.bloedrivier.org.za/

http://www.sperka.biz

http://www.sperka.info

2017-08-10

WorldLionDay 2017

Today is Wold Lion Day – a day to celebrate one of my favorite cats!

#LetLionsLive #worldlionday

2017-08-06

Zulu Kids

Today I came across this picture I took at one of the local schools when I visited there with Thanda Safari guests.

These youngsters, as most Zulu children and also most adults, love to pose for a camera!

I am working on a series of blogs about the Zulu community, Zulu culture and Zulu people. Stay tuned …

Enjoy your week!

2017-07-24

The Montagues and Capulets

As in Romeo and Juliet this Lioness has no way to get united with her Romeo. As one can see in the video the young female is in esterous and is keen to mate, but the fences between two game reserve prevent the males from getting to here (the roars in the background are from the males on the neighboring reserve).

The lady is obviously not interested in the perfectly good dominant male on her side of the reserve. The grass seems always greener on the other side of the fence.

Enjoy the video and your week!

Video by Christian Sperka, Resident Wildlife Photographer Thanda Safari

2017-07-19

Amazing Camouflage …

Today I had a great sighting of a Vine Snake at Pakamisa Private Game Reserve. This small specimen was quite relaxed and made for an excellent photo model :-).

Pictures 1/2/3 – taken with a Canon 1D Mark IV and a 28-300mm lens
Pictures 4/5 – taken with an iPhone 7Plus

http://www.sperka.com

2017-07-12

Hold them by the tail!

Posted today on Thanda Safari’s blog …

Thanda Safari

Bheki Ngubane, one of Thanda Safari’s experienced trackers, often shows our guests a scorpion during the morning drink stop. As everyone enjoy their coffee, tea or hot chocolate Bheki has a look around the area for a scorpion resting under a stone. He will pick it up – carefully – by the tail and bring it over for everyone to have look. Bheki and I often let these small predators sit and walk on our hands. When the ‘show and tell’ is finished Bheki replaces the eight-legged creature back in its home, under the stone!

PS: Please do not try this at home! Some scorpions are very venomous and one needs to know with which ones one can perform this show safely 🙂