… you are sitting quietly in the bush and watching six little Lion cubs playing all around you. Well that is the experience we had on today’s evening game drive. While the adult Lions were sleeping soundly in the thick bush little ones moved about, climbed trees, stalked one another and ran around like all small kittens do.
This picture is my favourite shot from this magic encounter! The little Lion on the left got interested in the clicking of my camera and posed for a portrait.
I promised a few more images from my recent trip to the USA. I am still working on sorting out all the images, but I had to put these four together to a collage. Thanks to Chris M. for taking me around the zoo during my visit to see all my old friends.
As much as I love my cats at home (Lion, Leopard and Cheetah) I miss the Eurasian Lynx, the Bengal Tigers, the Clouded Leopards and the Cougars/Mountain Lions at the Nashville Zoo. Jackson, the old gentlemen in this picture (mountain lion) is one of my favourite (and one of Heather’s favourite, too :-).
Not everyone is a bird enthusiast. But, most guests do not only enjoy experiencing mammals but also enjoy sightings of colourful birds and large raptors. One of the most fascinating birds to watch is the Little Bee-eater. This small insect-hunter often chooses a convenient branch as its base of operation. From this single location it will repeatedly depart to and arrive from short hunts. If the observer is very lucky, he or she can even observe a “kill” :-).
The collage above is a merger of nine hand-held images of this fast flying bird. The camera was set on ten frames per second to record this sequence.
The picture below shows a Bee-Eater and a Bee!
And it is a good idea to bring binoculars, which are a great safari tool for observing small birds, as one cannot get too close before most birds get scared and leave.
My oldest nephew Alexander is currently on a “post-high school-graduation vacation” in the western part of the USA. Together with his friend Nina they are travelling all over the place. A few days ago he sent me this postcard via email. They took all the images at Yosemite NP and then designed the card themselves. Well, Alexander – as his uncle – seems to have an eye for an image and a bit of talent for photography 🙂
The last few days I have been working in my office. Which is not bad, but not nearly as good as being out there on game drives. Even so, staying at Thanda house has its merits, too.
This morning our two male Cheetah came for a visit and acted as gate guards for a few hours.
They also posed as models 🙂
Yesterday, a journey of Giraffes and a dazzle of Zebras was grazing in front of the gate during midday.
And the day before our Elephants had a late afternoon drinking and bathing session at the waterhole on the south side of Thanda house.
So, my time at the office got interrupted by some of my “wild friends” offering good sightings!
I was sorting and filing images when I came across some recent images Isabella took of me at Pakamisa Private Game Reserve. I miss the place and I am looking forward to going back there soon.
Enjoy the images of my close encounters!
PS: I am sure Badger is waiting – not so much for me, but for the apple treats 🙂 …
… and if you wonder who Badger is – well, he is the horse in all the pictures!
Pictures by Isabella Stepski – Pakamisa Private Game Reserve
Just in case anyone would like to visit me soon – today is a good day to book at Thanda 🙂
As part of our 10th Anniversary celebrations we are offering our friends and followers 10% off all direct bookings made in the next 24 hours! (17 July 12:00pm – 18 July 12:00pm South African Standard Time) Email us now on reservations@thanda.co.za or call +27 35 573 1899 and quote ’TAD01′ to make a booking! Terms & Conditions apply.
It is my favourite time of day. When the sun goes down and the light turns golden it is the right time to take photographs.
I was working in my office this afternoon when I heard Elephants trumpeting at the waterhole near Thanda house. I grabbed a camera and sneaked outside towards the fence. The Elephants did not detect me, so I was able to take a few shots on foot before I retreated back to the house. The Thanda guests were watching on game viewing vehicles from the other side of the dam.
This is my favourite shot of this sequence 🙂
Congratulations to all fans of the German National Football Team, the World Champion 2014!
What a sighting!
This afternoon the Thanda guests got a great display of Lion family life combined with signs of aggression!
When Thanda’s dominant male and his family (two adult females and six cubs) walked out onto a savanna area they were greeted by the presence of another adult male Lion.
The older female showed immediate signs of aggression towards the second male. A growling match followed. Thanda’s dominant male just observed the situation and placed himself between the second male and his pride.
They all settled on the side of a road and they remained there for a long time. While the adults had their shouting match the little ones grouped around one of the females, played a bit and had a little snooze 🙂
An exciting day for Thanda’s young Lions and for our guests!
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 