Photo of the Month

Panthera – the only organization in the world that is devoted exclusively to the conservation of the world’s 38 wild cat species and their ecosystems – selected one of my pictures as January’s Photo of the Month. I work as partner photographer for Panthera for over 10 years. More information about Panthera at www.panthera.org.

I took this picture of a female Leopard in July 2007 on Phinda Private Game Reserve as part of the Munyawana Leopard Project.

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And this is another shot from the same ‘photo shoot’ 🙂

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@PantheraCats @ChristianSperkaPhotography #Leopards #MunyawanaLeopardProject

A look back!

It is custom to have a look at the previous year when the new one has just started.

For me it has been a good year. I enjoy my life and work in the South African bush as much as when I moved here in 2012. Since then I have led over 1,000 game drives, I have had over 1,600 Big Five sightings, I taught over 900 people my way of motion/wildlife photography and I have written over 900 blog posts.

Today I would like to share with you some of my favorite pictures of 2016: One wildlife picture per month and a bonus scenery picture 🙂 – Thank you for following my blog!

I hope you will enjoy my photographer’s picks for 2016 and I hope that all of us will have a good 2017!

January - Relax!
January 2016 – Relax!
February 2016 - Charge!
February 2016 – Charge!
March 2016 - Run!
March 2016 – Run!
April 2016 - Fight!
April 2016 – Fight!
May 2016 - Neck!
May 2016 – Neck!
June 2016 - Curious!
June 2016 – Curious!
July 2016 - An itch!
July 2016 – An itch!
August 2016 - Evening light!
August 2016 – Evening light!
September 2016 - Wary!
September 2016 – Wary!
October 2016 - Family! (My personal favorite for 2016)
October 2016 – Family! (My personal favorite for 2016)
November 2016 - Age!
November 2016 – Age!
December 2016 - Chase!
December 2016 – Chase!
Scenery 2016 - African Sky!
Scenery 2016 – African Sky!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I wish all of you a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017

… with my favorite scenery image of 2016: The sky over Thanda Safari on 30 December 2016!

Stay tuned for a blog message about my wildlife sightings between Christmas and New Year … coming soon …

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2 Month Old

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During yesterday morning’s game drive we spotted the newest additions to the Thanda South Pride of Lions (seen for the first time, ever). The mother must have introduced the two cubs (+/- 2 month old) very recently to the Pride. The two youngster were very shy at their first vehicle encounter and went into thick bush to wait for the ‘large unknown animal’ to disappear. I was able to take two images before they moved off. Very soon they will get used to the vehicles, observing their mum’s reaction – or lack thereof – to our game viewers. I am sure there will be great sightings to come!

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Pakamisa’s 20 Years Celebration

I really enjoyed being part of this celebration, helping preparing the event and then taking pictures during the evening. Thanks to Isabella and Anthony for their friendship and for having me on Pakamisa so often. The 20 year anniversary celebration was my 30th stay at this magnificent place 🙂
PS: Most of the songs which Lana and Victor performed could have been requested by me. So many of my favorites – from Verdi’s Traviata, over Pucchini’s Turandot, past Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera all the way to Frank Sinatra’s My Way 🙂

Pakamisa Private Game Reserve's avatarPakamisa Private Game Reserve

In 1996, I arrived with some of my horses from Spain with the Lodge opening to the public in 2001. This year we celebrate Pakamisa’s 20 year Anniversary.

Last month we had a special celebration with guests from the Pongola area. As a great surprise Lana English & Victor Siljeur, two superb classical singers, performed beautiful opera arias and musical pieces for an enchanted audience.

From a mountainous Austria ... From a mountainous Austria …

... to the Rolling Hills of Zululand … to the Rolling Hills of Zululand

From a reception with a presentation ... From a reception with a presentation …

... to a festive dinner with classical music … to a festive dinner with classical music

Lana English & Victor Siljeur performing opera arias and musical favourites Lana English & Victor Siljeur performing opera arias and musical favourites

Isabella Stepski and Lana English Isabella Stepski and Lana English, friends since many years

Pakamisa's El Prado restaurant was the perfect venue for this unique 63 guests celebration Pakamisa’s El Prado restaurant was the perfect venue for this unique 63 guests celebration

Pictures by Christian Sperka Photography

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