Zebra Sunset – Hyena Night – Red Sunset – Lion Evening – Hornbill Day – Rhino Sun – Lion Dusk
One picture per day …
Sunday – Zebras at sunset …Monday – Hyena near a Giraffe kill …Tuesday – The most beautiful sunset …Wednesday – Tails in the air …Thursday – Yellow-billed Hornbill …Friday – White Rhino quarrel …Saturday – Very full 🙂Extra – Bheki, his two sons Boy and Lee, my drone and me …
I hope your like my weekly summary. For many more pictures please subscribe to my Instagram channel (ChristianSperkaPhotography).
Off Time – Pakamisa – Sunbirds – Ndumo – Ostriches – Relax
One picture per day …
Sunday – Ready for another day at Thanda …Monday – Looking forward to a week at Pakamisa – this heaven for horses – where dogs are spoiled – and humans are tolerated 🙂 www.pakamisa.comTuesday – Scarlet-chested Sunbird photography – a birthday treat …Wednesday – First time at Ndumo Game Reserve – I like it … – Read more at https://sperka.info/2018/06/22/nudomo-game-reserve-a-birders-paradise/Thursday – Ostriches at the end of the day – and what a day …Friday – My favorite bird picture of the week – a White-bellied Sunbird having a feast …Saturday – On the way home – The Aloes are blooming …
I hope your like my weekly summary. For many more pictures please subscribe to my Instagram channel (ChristianSperkaPhotography).
This week I visited Ndumo Game Reserve for the first time. With its 10,000 ha it is located directly at the Usuthu river on the South Africa / Mozambique border.
I just wanted to get a first impression during this day visit, but I will certainly be back for a few days of bird photography.
Here is a little summary of my Ndumo visit:
I think the best way to experience Ndumo is by booking guided walks and guided drives as one is not allowed to walk on the reserve (they have Buffalo and Hippo). The the really good bird-photography-spots cannot be reached by self-drive. Currently their game drive vehicle is out of service, but the guides are happy to go along in your car. You sould have an SUV (high clearance) to drive the roads in comfort and without damaging your car. A 4×4 is not required during the dry season.
My guide Josef and me walking 🙂 at Shokwe Pan.
I will book at least four such walks/drives during my next visit:
1 – Sand Forest Walk (morning or afternoon)
2 – Pongola River Walk (morning)
3 – Nyamithi Pan North-Shore-Drive (morning)
4 – Shokwe Pan Walk (morning or afternoon)
I did the last two midday, which is obviously not ideal for birding, but it was enjoyable and I got a few good pictures (see below).
The Ezulweni Hide on the south/east side of the Nyamithi Pan (there is only one hide on the reserve) was rather disappointing as it is set too far east on the pan. During normal winter conditions there is no water in front of the hide and most of the photo targets are too far away for good shots.
The Red Cliffs picnic area has a beautiful view of the river and is worth visiting.
Most of the reserve has very thick vegetation. Therefore mammal sightings (general game) are not very good and usually brief.
Conclusion: I will be back and I can recommend the place for any bird lovers. I recommend that ‘regular game drivers’ and mammal enthusiasts go somewhere else (Huluwe-Imfolozi, Tembe, iSimangaliso, Mkuze, Ithala, …).
And here are a few pictures …
Red Cliff Picnic SiteNyamithi PanNyamithi Pan with White-faced Whistling Ducks and lots of CrocodilesJosef in front of a large Sycamore Fig tree at Shokwe PanSycamore Fig Trees and Fever Trees on Shokwe PanEzulweni Hide on Nyamithi PanWater Monitor at Nyamithi PanKnob-billed Ducks and White-faced Whistling Ducks at Nyamithi PanNile Crocodile at Nyamithi PanYellow-billed Stork at Nyamithi PanHammerkop at Nyamithi PanKittlitz’s Plover and Black-winged Stilt at Nyamithi PanAfrican Spoonbills at Nyamithi PanFemale Saddle-bill Stork walking along Nyamithi PanYellow-billed Stork at Shokwe PanBlack-winged Stilt at Shokwe PanWhite-eared Barbet at Shokwe PanSaddle-billed Stork chasing a Wildebeest at Nyamithi Pan
Please let me know if you have any questions or additional comments.
PS: Josef, my experienced Ndumo tails guide, showed me three new bird species for my list, which I had never seen before – White-eared Barbet, Squacco Heron and Kittlitz’s Plover!
This week I visited a crèche for small children in one of Thanda’s neighboring communities.
With the help of some guests’ donations Thanda Safari has built this little school house, provided a water tank, got the material for a fence and the materials to complete the interior.
The crèche is located in one of the poorest areas of Zululand.
I was tasked to take some pictures with camera and drone to document the development progress.
I had not been there before.
At the crèche two volunteer teachers look after around 30 2-4 year old kids every morning for three hours.
When I saw the place in grey with no color, no toys, no teaching materials, no tables , no … I made a decision:
In the next few weeks I will personally get them some materials for teaching, some toys and whatever else I can afford to buy. I will not give them money (as I am afraid that would end in the wrong pockets), but I will buy them things they need.
Some of my friends have already promised me to help with useful materials they got or to help me with money donations to buy stuff.
If any of you – wherever you live in the world – would like to help with a little donation (or not so little 🙂 then please contact me at christian@sperka.com – I have bank accounts in Europe, USA and South Africa and I also have a PayPal account. So transferring any funds would be simple and would not cost a lot. Even the smallest contribution will be very much appreciated.
Be assured that 100% of whatever is donated will be used to buy things for the crèche.
I will post regularly pictures on my social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook and Twitter) and on my blog.
In the great scheme of things this neither big or important, but I hope it will make a difference to these children, their teachers and their parents.
PS: When I (a huge, bearded white man) stepped into the small classroom most of the children started crying. I was a bit puzzled until one of the teachers told me that some of the kids thought I was a doctor coming with inoculations :-). I had – wisely – bought a little drink, an apple and a small snack for each child which I gave to each of them. That calmed them down immediately.
But I really won them over when I flew the drone. They loved it and demanded many take-offs and landings. There were many friendly shouts of good-bye when I left. Modern technology can help in many ways 🙂
Herbivores sometimes consume bone material. This is called Osteophagy. Chewing bones allows animals to supplement phosphorus and calcium.
The body of the Giraffe needs this mineral and this metal to maintain the bone structure and help with many biological processes including energy metabolism, protein synthesis, and lactation.
So if you see a Giraffe chewing a bone it does not mean it has turned into a carnivore, it just takes supplements!
Eight of my pictures were used in a 10 page article for the Priority magazine for Singapore Airlines PPS Club, published by NewBase Content.
Travel Writer Rod Mackenzie wrote a great story called ‘Close Encounters’ about Thanda Safari. I especially like his description of me in the story: A charming combination of Dr.Dolittle and Q from James Bond :-).
Monday – Visit to a crèche – create a project …
Tuesday – Teaching students and a very unusual sighting (Pied Kingfisher @ Thanda) …
Wednesday – Korean Dinner in Durban @ The Crazy Korean – what a treat …
Thursday – A Rhino at sunset – so special …
Friday – Two new Cheetah boys arrived at Thanda …
Saturday – The two males’ first meal …
Sunday – Mating Giraffes – a rare sighting …
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 