Besides game drives Thanda guests are offered many additional activities.
The most popular is the Elephant Interaction on a neighboring property.
The first image shows me with Rambo, the 4 ton bull who is the largest of the three Elephants which guests interact with.
The second image shows young Jabulani reaching out for her treats.
And the the third image features Jabulani’s mum Rachel getting her fair share.
A very special experience 🙂
Imagine you are a Baby Elephant …
“Well, today is a very windy and cold morning. We were all were pretty thirsty and moving towards a waterhole …
… when grandma spotted a Lion …
… We do not like them! …
Mummy started walking really fast, trumpeting and everything. Great! …
… I love a good chase and I ran as fast as I could – keeping up with mum. But we did not get him 😦
Grandma decided to turn back towards the water.
Maybe next time 🙂 “
This is a “record” of an exciting Elephant/Lion chase at Thanda Private Game Reserve, enjoyed by many Thanda guests on a very windy morning.
Being close to wild animals has its thrill. But sometimes the best sightings are observing animals from a distance. The Thanda guests on game drive were fascinated to see one of Thanda’s largest Elephant bulls following the herd while crossing a recently burned area. Strong winds and the evening sun created a very special twilight atmosphere!
Thanda guests and Thanda Lions are enjoying the morning sun together!
Seeing these magnificent creatures makes a great start for the day.
We saw the Thanda Cheetah mum today with her two cubs. Both of the cubs have grown a lot and are looking very healthy – they look like real Cheetah now 🙂 – What a sighting!
During the same game drive I got my first picture of a Pygmy Kingfisher and we had sightings of our two male Cheetah, three Lions and two Spotted Hyena feeding on a kill.
When this young Lioness saw Thanda’s dominant male approaching she got very upset. She started growling in his direction and her four cubs ran for cover. She then prevented the male from following the cubs by blocking his way.
All of this happened under a beautiful morning sky with a colorful rainbow. What a sighting!
These young Lions were sitting still and watching their mother, aunts and older sister going off hunting.
The guest on my vehicle were very exited when the complete Thanda North Pride moved around the car towards their prey. The Lions just came from a meal – judging from their reddish fur – but they were looking for a second course. As long as we watched them they were not successful. Better luck the next time!
Today is Wold Rhino Day – This is a chance to raise awareness and support for these prehistoric creatures. Over 600 rhinos have been killed this year in South Africa alone, that is more than 2 each day!
The Thanda Foundation is a founding member of Project Rhino Kwazulu Natal, an organization dedicated to the fight for Rhino survival.
Please show your support by sharing this message and/or by actively supporting Project Rhino (http://www.projectrhinokzn.org). Thank you!
Picture by Christian Sperka – Specialist Photography Guide and Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Private Game Reserve
Africa has lost more than 100,000 Rhinos in the past 45 years – Over 2,000 Rhinos have been killed by poachers in South Africa since 2008 – Over 600 this year alone.
The Thanda Foundation is a founding member of Project Rhino Kwazulu Natal, an organization dedicated to the fight for Rhino survival.
Show your support during this official Rhino Week by sharing this message and/or by actively supporting Project Rhino (http://www.projectrhinokzn.org). Thank you!
Today’s Rhino Image: A crash of Square-lipped Rhinoceros (White Rhino) is crossing a road on Thanda.
The face of Lions change completely if they are looking up at the sky and follow birds.
One of the Thanda guests on my vehicle suggested that this Lioness must really love birds – I am sure she does 🙂
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 