Christian Sperka

2014-12-10

Long Walk to Freedom

A great story …

Pakamisa has just released a male & a female serval on to the reserve. The two animals were donated by Durban’s centre for the rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW http://www.crowkzn.co.za). We are looking forward to spotting one of these beautiful creatures on our game drives.

These are a few pictures from delivery to release in October 2014.

The delivery vehicle!

Out of the transport box!

Close ups!

A shy gentleman!

This is the more adventurous lady!

Ready to go!

Successful walk into freedom!

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2014-12-09

Baccara and Bohemia

I am back from five days at Pakamisa Private Game Reserve with people-, horse-, food- and wildlife- photography – a full program!

This is one of my favorite shots from this stay: Baccara, one of Pakamisa’s Arabian mares, with her daughter Bohemia in the background. With the help and guidance from Isabella Stepski, the owner of Pakamisa, I am steadily improving my “horse photography skills”.

More to come …

2014-12-07

A light breakfast with Ostrich :-)

An Ostrich female was grazing on the Pakamisa mountain – just below the restaurant – as I had breakfast this morning. What a view and what a way to start the weekend!

The pictures were taken with my iPhone. I got caught without a camera this morning 🙂

2014-12-05

What a view!

What an exciting sighting for the Thanda guests! This image was taken on Tuesday’s morning game drive. The Thanda North Pride of Lions was strolling up the road just below the Thanda Safari Lodge. We followed the Lions and the two females led us to a fresh Nyala kill. So we were also able to observe the cubs and their father at their meal!

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

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2014-12-02

Modern Zulu – Traditional Zulu – more images …

I promised some more images from my recent photo shoot [ttp://sperka.info/2014/11/29/modern-zulu-traditional-zulu].

Here they are (these versions are in sepia, which I think works very well for such images).

2014-12-02

Youngsters!

Two of Thanda’s youngest guests observe a young White Rhino calf and its mother. Together with their parents they enjoy a private safari vehicle with one of Thanda’s experienced guiding teams.

For more information about kids on safari at Thanda go to http://www.thanda.com/experience/kids-at-thanda.htm

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

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2014-11-29

Modern Zulu – Traditional Zulu

Today I had the opportunity to do a rather special photo shoot. A group of young Zulu dancers from one of the local communities is performing regularly for the Thanda guests. This afternoon I got the chance to take some pictures of the group in daylight, as they normally only perform in the evenings around a camp fire (with not very good light for photography).

But I was not only taking pictures of them dancing in their traditional attire, but I also took portraits and group shots in their modern day-to-day outfits. Nowadays, as in many other cultures, traditional Zulu dress is only used on special occasions and festivities.

I really like these two portraits of this young dancer, one as a modern Zulu and one in traditional attire. Stay tuned for more images from this photo shoot …

2014-11-28

Afternoon Guests

This week, when sitting in my office, I had two repeat guests at Thanda house. On various occasions the breeding herd of Elephants came to drink at the waterhole and Thulani, one of our two large and old Elephants bulls, made his way from the water along the the fence around our garden. And a pair of Striped Kingfishers made their home in our garden. Both birds get very excited about their reflection in my office windows and they knock at them regularly. These good looking little birds are very territorial and obviously not too bright 🙂

2014-11-25

The Horse Photographer :-)

I love Wildlife Photography but I also enjoy taking pictures of horses in action (with riders or without).

The picture above is of …
… me and Kara, a pure Arabian mare, looking at one another after a photo shoot.
… Isabella Stepski – Pakamisa’s owner – holding Kara.
… Mark – a Pakamisa guest – on Zulu (a Boerperd) smiling at the unusual scene with me posing in front of the camera :-).

Thanks to Daan for taking the picture!

Below are a few more images from my last stay at Pakamisa. Enjoy the variety!

Tina on El Dorado “speeding”

Two geldings on the way to dinner

Excitement at the stables

A Wildebeest with war paint 🙂

New arrivals – Impala fawns appearing all over the place

Another picture of me on Badger – having a good time!

Sunset at Pakamisa

2014-11-232014-11-23

Best of KwaZulu Natal

My brother Stefan visited me from Germany. He stayed in South Africa for the last two weeks.

We had a great time at three of the best places KwaZulu Natal has to offer!

First we enjoyed pure luxury on the Indian ocean staying at The Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga. Then we moved on to my “home ground” to experience the Big Five at Thanda Private Game Reserve in the heart of Zululand. The last five days we spent horse riding and relaxing on Pakamisa Private Game Reserve with its magnificent views over the hills of Northern KwaZulu Natal.

A perfect way to spend two weeks in Africa. What a life!