Author: Christian Sperka

Christian Sperka is a wildlife photographer based at Thanda Private Game Reserve, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. Over the last 11 years, Christian has traveled the world photographing animals in wild game reserves of South Africa and Namibia, the jungles of Costa Rica, in Yellowstone National Park in the USA, as well as zoos in Europe and the United States. His work has been featured in wildlife magazines, in books and in many zoo publications. He actively supports wild cat conservation, working as a partner photographer for Panthera, the world's leading organization devoted to the conservation of all wild cat species (panthera.org). From 2009 to 2012 he has worked as the official photographer and photography teacher at Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, Tennessee, USA (nashvillezoo.org). Christian is also a qualified South African field guide. He now works as specialist photography guide on Thanda Private Game Reserve in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa (thanda.com).

Greetings!

I wish all my friends and followers around the world Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2026, with one picture taken each month in 2025.

They demonstrate the beautiful variety of species living in this amazing part of the world.

Picture of the Day!

Topic: Waterbuck bull at iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Technical data: Canon R6 MII with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 250 | 1/500sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

Picture of the Day!

Topic: African Jacana and a Water Lily

Technical data: Canon R6 MII with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 100 | 1/750sec | f6.3 | ev+0 | 240mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

Picture of the Day!

Topic: Just before sunrise at Thanda

Technical data: Apple 14 Pro Max | Main Camera 24mm | ISO 1600 | 2.1 sec | f1.8 | Night Mode

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

Picture of the Day!

Topic: Who looks for whom?

Technical data: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

Picture of the Day!

Topic: A Malachite Kingfisher in the reeds on a waterhole bank

Technical data: Canon R6 MII with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 500 | 1/500sec | ev-0.5 | WB 6500K | AV Mode

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

Picture of the Day!

Topic: Giraffe and Oxpeckers

Technical data: Canon R6 MII with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 10000 | 1/500sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

Picture of the Day!

Topic: Lilac-breasted Roller, one of my favorite bird species.

Technical data: Canon R6 MII with RF lens f11/800mm

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

Picture of the Day!

Topic: Elephant bull feeding

Technical data: Canon EOS 1D Mark IV with EF lens f2.8/70-200mm L | ISO 400 | 90mm/ 1/125sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

Picture of the Day!

Topic: Male Lion

Technical data: Canon R6 MII with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 4000 | 1/750sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography