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

THE EVENING POST – NOSTALGIE

This is a bit of a nostalgic picture which I took on 31 December 2004. One of my favorite dad and son pictures.

Enjoy your evening 😊

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

Posted on

THE MORNING POST – THE ULTIMATE CAMOUFLAGE

The markings of a Leopard are one of the most incredible designs of nature. The rosette design of the coats of these elusive cats allow them to ‘disappear’ within meters/yards of the observer.

I have seen Leopards walk of a road into a thicket and just vanish. Only once they move (even as little as an ear or the tip of the tail) I was often able to locate them again. And believe me, they are masters in ‘holding still’ and being patient. Many times they were just gone, as a magician from a stage!

Enjoy your weekend 😊

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

Posted on

THE EVENING POST – VULTURE ARGUMENTS

I have not often heard vultures to be that vocal. There was not much left of this Kudu kill and there were docents of vultures around competing for the food. Listen to their chattering and hissing sounds.

Enjoy your evening 😊

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

Posted on

THE MORNING POST – TOO CUTE

In the Zulu language the words for ‘too’ and ‘very’ must be interchangeable as most of my Zulu friends often mix them up when they speak English. They would say a meal is ‘too’ nice when they mean ‘very’ nice and a flower is ‘too’ beautiful rather than ‘very’ beautiful.

But looking at this image both terms would be quite appropriate, as this little Egyptian Gosling is just *too cute *😊.

I took these pictures yesterday evening at Thanda Safari.

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

Posted on

THE EVENING POST – CLOSE TO POWER

Late this afternoon I passed a small waterhole just as this old Cape Buffalo Bull turned around and came a bit closer to give me a good look. I had my iPhone on eye level with this impressive creature to get this special perspective shot 😊

PS: Please do not try this yourself unless you know how to interpret the buffalo’s moods.

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

Posted on

THE MORNING POST – MESSY DRINKER

Giraffes wiggle their head when they finished drinking and usually spurt water around. Yesterday evening this male did a beautiful demonstration of how it is done 😊

Enjoy your day!

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

Posted on

THE EVENING POST – AT SUNSET

I spent some time with our two Cheetah boys on the savanna. They were looking at some nearby Zebras but we had very high winds today and the two just stayed in one spot for most of the time.

Just as the sun was setting they started stalking some Wildebeest, but it was obvious that they were not serious.

Have a good evening 😊

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

Posted on

THE MORNING POST – HORNS

Horns of antelopes, goats, cattle … are normally made of keratin with a life bone core. But there are exceptions. Rhino ‘horns’ are made of keratin only and are structured like compressed hair.

Giraffe ‘horns’ are actually called ossicones and are part of the skull (bone) covered with furred skins. And deer antlers are not true horns either as they are dead bone without any covering.

So not all that looks like a horn is a horn, but you do not want to get in contact with any of them 😊

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

Posted on

THE EVENING POST – LEFT-OVERS BREAKFAST

This Black-backed Jackal enjoyed his left-overs breakfast of an Impala kill. Our arrival had conveniently spooked a Hyena and all the Vultures who were feasting on the antelope remains. So this little one moved right in and got his fair share 😊

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

Posted on

IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME …

… since you heard from me about the Inkanyiso Crèche. Due to the country-wide COVID-19 crisis lockdown the Crèche is closed since March. But yesterday we delivered a lot of needed sanitizing materials and our teacher Lungi had started cleaning the crèche to prepare it for re-opening. We hope that this will be possible in the next few weeks.

Lungi is getting ready and is looking forward to welcoming back all the kiddies.

We would like to thank again all friends of the Inkanyiso Crèche around the world who enable us with their donations to help these children.

Thanda Safari guests and our followers on social media often ask about the possibility to help with donations. For more information you can contact louise@thanda.co.za or me at christian@sperka.com.

Louise is project manager for the Thanda Foundation Trust who helps to coordinate the support for the crèche.

Any donation – small or large – helps to make the life of these little ones a bit better.

inkanyisocreche @inkanyisocreche

Blog at WordPress.com.