Blog – Page 184 – Christian Sperka Photography

2013-12-10

Too wet to ride :-(

I had a great time at Pakamisa (www.pakamisa.com)!

I enjoyed the birding course with Prof. Ian MacDonald, learning a lot about the birds in Kwazulu Natal and – despite the very rainy weather – I got some good bird shots. Staying at this beautiful place in the Zululand hills, enjoying the excellent cuisine and the five star service is a treat. And, as always on Pakamisa, I had the opportunity to take some good horse images.

I was only a bit disappointed that the weather did not allow for my first horse ride. Pakamisa acquired recently a horse which is strong enough to carry a portly gentleman as myself :-).

Well, I hope to be back at Pakamisa soon and I hope the weather will be good enough for my first horse ride 🙂

Picture above: Scarlet-chested Sunbird feeding in the Pakamisa lodge garden.

Pakamisa’s stables.

Two of Pakamisa’s Arabians. Baracka (a mare) on the left and her full brother Jamaal.

“My horse” at Pakamisa. This beautiful crossbred between a Thoroughbred and a Shire named Badger is strong enough for me to ride. I am looking forward to my first ride!

A Ostrich portrait taken in the rain at Pakamisa.

Baby Ostriches grow very fast. The seven youngsters are only three month old, but already almost as tall as their parents.

I (on the left) learned a lot about birds during the course with Prof. Ian MacDonald (on the right).

A Pakamisa bird party. These Weavers and Quelea enjoyed the leftovers from the Ostrich feeding.

A Golden-breasted Bunting chick calling to be fed!

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Keeping up with mum

In this picture the little White Rhino is running along mum towards a waterhole. Mum was a bit agitated, but it had nothing to do with the game drive vehicle in the area. A young bull was giving her some unwanted attention and she got out-of-the-way quickly (with her tail rolled up).

2013-12-05

Just too hot!- and gone for a while ….

Our dominant male Lion gave me “the look” when he was rolling over in a shady spot on a very hot and humid afternoon.

Have a good weekend!

PS: I will be off Thanda for a few days and my blog messages may be less frequent than usually. I am looking forward to participating in a birding course at Pakamisa, one of my favorite places in Kwazulu Natal, and then I will just go where the fancy takes me – that might not be the correct English expression – but you know what I mean 🙂 I will be back working on Thanda on 18 December.

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ISIBINDI – Rhino Parade

The Thanda wildlife team joined Wildlands Conservation Trust representatives at the unveiling of the latest “Rhino Parade Art” at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport.

Happy Thanksgiving!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all my friends in the new world!

2013-11-28

Welcome back!

We had not seen the Thanda Cheetah female and her cubs for quite a while. So it was exciting moment for the Thanda guests, the tracker and the guide when the Thanda Wildlife Management announced over the radio that the three Cheetah had been spotted.

When we arrived at the scene the female had just killed a baby Impala. Her two cubs – a boy and a girl – started feeding immediately while mum kept a watchful eye on the surrounding.

We stayed for almost an hour observing these beautiful cats.

The Cheetah mum catching an baby Impala.

The young boy is smacking his lips after a good meal.

The little girl is having a look at bird flying by.

Cheetah family assembled for breakfast.

2013-11-26

Strange scent!

Some of Thanda’s Cape Buffalo came for their evening drink to a waterhole. And while they were drinking and mud-bathing some of them picked up a scent they did not like. Many heads went up and with ears directed forward they were trying to establish a possible threat.

After a few minutes they all stampeded away from the waterhole. The Thanda guests on my vehicle enjoyed the show, even if we were not able to figure out what had bothered them 🙂

2013-11-22

Want a ride, my dear?

Well, it is Dung Beetle season. In this warm and humid weather these insects are getting very active. This makes for a great “small” sighting during a game drive.

The males of this Dung Beetle species creates a large dung ball which then attracts the ladies. Once a female has approved of a ball she hitches a ride while he rolls it to an appropriate “burial site”.

When a spot with soft soil is found, they stop and bury the ball, then mate underground and the female lays eggs inside the brooding ball.

Dung beetles go through a complete metamorphosis. The larvae live in brood balls made with dung prepared by their parents, feeding on the dung surrounding them.

2013-11-19

In the middle of the night!

Many animals are very active at night – these are some images taken with a camera trap near a small waterhole on Thanda. All these images where taken in the middle of the night.

Can you identify these six species?

I will post the correct answers tomorrow afternoon!

… and this little baby Zebra is also a regular daytime guest at the waterhole.

Post/Collage by Christian Sperka – Specialist Photography Guide and Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Private Game Reserve.

2013-11-17

Zulu People and Zulu Culture (2)

A visit to a Zulu homestead in the rural areas of Zululand can give a great insight into the life of modern Zulu people living within their traditions.

The picture above was taken during such a visit. Bheki Ngubane, one of Thanda’s experienced Zulu trackers, interprets the process of making traditional Zulu beer.

The Thanda guest in the picture is actually my brother Stefan, who visited me from Germany for five days 🙂

One of the ladies at the homestead explains to Stefan the use of the mill to grind the maize.

One of sons of the house insisted on demonstrating the drinking of traditional Zulu beer – and enjoyed it 🙂

And this young family member was very keen on a picture with Stefan.

This is the second blog in a series ZULU PEOPLE AND ZULU CULTURE:

Previous blog message on this subject: https://sperka.info/2013/11/08/zulu-people-and-zulu-culture-1/

Thanda is located in the heart of Zululand. With this location comes responsibility to the Zulu People and the Zulu Culture, which have existed in this area for centuries. Most of the personnel at Thanda come from the surrounding local communities and Thanda has close relationships with the community leaders and the people. Both sides benefit greatly from these good relationships! For the interested guests – from all over the world – Thanda is not only a superb place to experience the African bush but also an ideal base to explore Zulu culture and customs. Visits to a traditional Zulu homesteads and to local schools can enhance the appreciation for the rural life in South Africa. A visit to a Sangoma (Zulu Spiritual Adviser) can give a great insight into the Zulu believes connecting God, Nature and the Ancestors.

If you would like to incorporate an experience of “Zulu People and Zulu Culture” into your Thanda visit contact reservations@thanda.co.za