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).
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2016 Travel Journal – Day 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13

A few more exciting days in Europe. I visited the Zürich Zoo, I enjoyed Gregorian Vespers Chants and beautiful architecture at the Einsiedeln Abbey, I had more excellent lunches and dinners with friends and family, and I have visited my ‘2000-2007 home town’ of Zofingen in Switzerland over the weekend.

Enjoy the images – more to come!

Peacock @ Zurich Zoo
Egyptian Vulture @ Zurich Zoo
Peacock @ Zurich Zoo
Flora @ Zurich Zoo
Red Panda @ Zurich Zoo
Male Indian Lion @ Zurich Zoo
Masoala Rain Forest @ Zurich Zoo
Giant Day Gecko @ Zurich Zoo
Panther Chameleon @ Zurich Zoo
Scarlet Ibis @ Zurich Zoo
Einsiedeln Abbey
Einsiedeln Abbey
Black Madonna @ Einsiedeln Abbey
Flower shop decoration in Zofingen
Wedding Carriage in Zofingen
A ‘virtual FIFA football’ tournament – no corruption 🙂 at a mall near Zofingen
My favorite cheese store in Zofingen
The Thut fountain near Zofingen’s city hall
Smiling in the rain (in a Swiss army poncho!)
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2016 Travel Journal – Day 6, 7 & 8

A special day in Germany, celebrating my dad’s birthday. Three days with many lunches and dinners joining family and friend, and two short visits to a small zoo near Lucerne and a wild game park near my former home town of Zofingen in Switzerland.

Enjoy the images – more to come soon!

Very cute …
Very shy …
Very curious …
Very still …
Very observant …
Very sleepy …
Very white …
Very focused …
Very ‘Summer’ …
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Getting There – 2016 Travel Journal – Day 3 & 4

These are a few pictures taken with my iPhone 6 Plus from my window seat on the airplane – Johannesburg at night and Switzerland at dawn.

Switzerland
Johannesburg O.R.Tambo Airport
Johannesburg Departure
Johannesburg Departure
Sunrise
Over the Alps
Sun and Clouds
Snowy Mountains
Landing approach

… and a quick selfie on the plane before I went to sleep! – 10 hour and 30 minutes flight directly from Johannesburg to Zurich, but no time difference 🙂

Before departure
Before departure
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Travel Journal 2016 – Day 1

First day of this year’s annual leave trip. I drove from Thanda to Pretoria to visit very good friends before departing for Europe on Wednesday.
It was a beautiful day and I was quite surprised when I passed a shallow lake with hundreds of Flamingos!

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Bird of the Day – Rainbow Lorikeet

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A colorful parrot: Rainbow Lorikeet – These pictures were taken at Nashville Zoo at Grassmere.

To view more of my Rainbow Lorikeet images go to http://www.sperka.biz/sgb11

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Rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglossus moluccanus) are parrots found in Australia. Their habitats are rain forest, coastal bush and woodland areas. They are medium-sized parrots, with the length ranging from 25 to 30 cm (9.8–11.8 in), including the tail. The plumage is very bright. Juveniles have a black beak, which gradually brightens to orange in the adults.

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Clean-Up

The cleanup-crew was busy in front of my home (Thanda House) when I left in the early morning hours (6:06am). These three Spotted Hyena were cleaning up a nearby Lion kill.

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… and have a look at this recent Thanda Safari blog about our Hyena census project https://thandablog.com/2016/05/18/hyena-census/

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‘Hello, I am on my way home!’

A journey of Giraffe (8 in total) were crossing the road in front of my home, just as I was approaching. I waited patiently for these graceful giants to move on before I passed through the gate to Thanda House.

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