This picture shows me and my guide (His name is Comfort) in a canoe on the Amatigulu River. Amatigulu is also the name of small game reserve on the Indian Ocean coast (between Durban and Richards Bay).
I visited there today before starting on a drive up Route 66, the Zululand Heritage route which leads from the coast across Zululand all the way to Pongola, near the Swaziland border.
I will end the trip tomorrow evening at Pakamisa 🙂 – looking forward to it!
Leopard Photo Night!
My favorite image from this sighting
When Pieter, Thanda’s Head Guide, followed the call of the small Black-backed Jackal it led him and his Thanda guests to an incredible sighting (also see yesterday’s blog message http://thandablog.com/2015/05/27/follow-the-call/):
Not one, not two, but three adult Leopards were competing for the same kill. A large Warthog had been killed by one of them. When the human observers arrived the larger of two males was feasting on the main part of the Warthog. The female had taken her share into a tree and was eating there while the third cat, a smaller male, hung around in the area, obviously agitated at missing out on the food. He even gave the game viewing vehicle a bit of a warning charge before he settled down and waited for his turn.
This incredible situation was observed by all guests on game drive before everyone returned excited to the…
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… no more words, just the image …
A new Thanda Rhino!
Most of the news about Rhinos are about poaching and death. But today we have some good news!
A newly born White Rhino calf.
Thanda guests were delighted to encounter this little Rhino calf with her mum. The little girl is less than two weeks old, but has already an inquisitive nature.
Mum is very protective of her little girl and walked her around the game drive vehicle up to the road. Then both of them disappeared into the bush.
Sightings like these give one hope (Ithemba in the Zulu language), that these magnificent creatures will survive the human desire for their horns!
And, incidentally, this is a picture taken 16 month ago, when the little one was conceived:
Pictures by Christian Sperka – Specialist Photography Guide and Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Private Game Reserve
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These are four images I used in the last part of the campaign celebrating the last few days of Thanda’s 10th anniversary year!
They really show how magical and beautiful the place is.
See also http://thandablog.com/2015/05/18/anniversary-celebration/
There was very little light when shot this image, but he was not moving at all and I was able to get this portrait with my 500mm lens.
A stunning portrait of Thanda’s dominant male Lion observing Cape Buffalo in the evening light.
Picture by Christian Sperka – Specialist Photography Guide and Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Private Game Reserve
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Thanda Private Game Reserve is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World
I enjoyed this photo shoot 🙂
Last night one of Thanda’s largest Elephant bulls showed up at the Thanda Safari Lodge reception. He decided to have a snack at one of the trees in front of lodge buildings. A remarkably uncommon encounter for guests on the way to their suites 🙂
Thanda Private Game Reserve is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World
… and then he had a drink from the small waterhole at the Lodge …
… Thanda guests and staff member were watching this gentle giant from the safety of the Thanda Safari Lodge.
Pictures by Christian Sperka – Specialist Photography Guide and Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Private Game Reserve
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Yesterday morning we have witnessed one of the most beautiful sunrises since I have arrived at Thanda.
The multi-colored light beams from behind the massive clouds creates a stunning effect.
I love Zululand!
It took me thirty minutes to get this picture 🙂
This Common Duiker ran off into thick bush when I came around a corner on one of Pakamisa’s roads. I stopped the car, lowered the window, positioned my 500mm lens and then did not move, as the little antelope looked in my direction.
It was very suspicious of this “new thing” on the road and it took almost 40 minutes before it moved out of the really thick stuff and presented itself. I moved the camera very slowly into position and got only three shots before it decided that hanging around here was far too dangerous. It ran straight up a hill and disappeared from sight.
I like to image, which documents the shy nature of these small and extremely fast antelope.
What does a wildlife photographer – who lives on a big five game reserve – do on his day off work? He goes to another game reserve to spend a day taking more wildlife pictures 🙂 – sounds a bit mad, but I enjoyed myself!
This “Lion-Rhino-Car” encounter is just a teaser for the images to come from my recent off-day at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi National Park!
This picture shows a White Rhino bull walking calmly by a young male Lion. This youngster was part of a large pride of Lions devouring a Buffalo bull, which they had killed in the morning hours next to this road, only 20 meters (50 feet) to the right in thick bush. I drove up to this scene just moments after I entered the park. And a few more minutes after I took this picture cars started piling up at this sighting which made it impossible to take any more good images. I moved on and left the madness behind me.
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 