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).
Posted on

Incredible Sky!

thandablog's avatar

20150410 - CS2_4413 - E 2

After a light afternoon rain a magnificent rainbow appeared today over Thanda.

The camera can only capture a fraction of the real beauty of this incredible African sky.

20150410 - CS2_4408 - E

Pictures by Christian Sperka – Specialist Photography Guide and Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Private Game Reserve

Never miss a message from Thanda! Sign up to the Thanda Blog and receive an email with every new post – http://thandablog.com/follow-the-blog/ and/or sign up to our Newsletter – http://www.thanda.com/newsletter-sign-up/the-newsletter.htm

Thanda Private Game Reserve is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World

20150410 - CS2_4409 - E

View original post

Posted on

Just a teaser!

I spent Monday and Tuesday on a friend’s Game Reserve. Look out for the stunning images to come …

20150407 - CS3_5177 - F_1

Posted on

Reflection

20150328 - CS3_0009 - E

An interesting Lion sighting! Thanda’s North Pride having a late evening drink at a small waterhole, only illuminated by the spotlight reflection.

Posted on

Stalking!

20150404 - CS2_3806 - E_1

If the vehicle you are on is used by a male Lion as cover in his stealthy approach to a herd of buffalo, you can be sure you are in for an interesting time.

This beautiful creature was slowly following a herd of buffalo. He approached from the back of my vehicle (first image) and then stopped absolutely still beside me (second image) before he followed his prey carefully into the bush in front of my car.

It was too dark to follow up further, nevertheless it was exciting to be in the middle of a drama, where only one of the actors knew what was happening.

20150404 - CS3_4389 - E

A note for the photographers among you: These pictures were taken at very low-light conditions (Picture 1: ISO 6400, f/2.8, 1/90s, hand-held, 300mm / Picture 2: ISO 6400. f/2.8, 1/45s, hand-held, 115mm, -0.50eV)

Posted on

Happy Easter!

 

 

 

 

Frohe Ostern    Feliz Pascua    Joyeuses Pâques    Vrolijk Pasen    Buona Pasqua    Felix Pascha    God påske    Wesołych Świąt    Happy Easter    Glad Påsk    Maligayang Pasko ng Pagkabuhay    hyvää pääsiäistä    复活节快乐    復活節快樂    부활절 축복    받으세요    สุขสันต์วันอีสเตอร์    イースター、   おめでとう    Phasika elithokozayo    Geseënde Paasfees

From me and my 2015 South African Easter Bunny 🙂

It is actually a Scrub Hare 🙂

 

Easter 1 2015

 

 

 

 

Posted on

My Great-Uncle would have been proud!

ul

In the 1950s and 1960s my great-uncle, Werner Knecht, was a well known food photographer in Switzerland. He would have been proud to know that three of my food images were published in a South African magazine called “Urban Life’n Style”.

Have a look at this article about Pakamisa’s Head Chef Thandeka Nxumalo and her recipes at http://issuu.com/urbanlifenstyle/docs/april_2015/68.

pakamisa food

Pakamisa is a private game reserve in KwaZulu Natal focusing on horseback safaris. It features a five star lodge with stunning vistas and an excellent cuisine.

Posted on

Frog Watch


Imagine you drive along the road and suddenly a Frog jumps up from the front of your car, lands in the middle of your windscreen and then keeps staring at you while you keep driving 🙂

This one did that to me!

After a little while I drove close to a branch and gave him a chance to get off. He hang onto this branch for a little while before moving on.

Posted on

Wake up!

20150122 - CS3_0655 - E

This little Lion just woke up from his midday nap and had a bit of a stretch before it started annoying its mother, who was not yet ready to go. I love the look in her eyes: “Ready to go!”

PS: Sorry for blogging so little over the last few weeks, but I was very busy with some local projects on Thanda and had very little time for anything else.

Blog at WordPress.com.