Blog – Page 25 – Christian Sperka Photography

2024-03-17

So very green…

After the recent rains, the Thanda Safari game reserve has quickly turned very green. I was recording the changes following heavy precipitation last Wednesday with shots from the air, and I decided to take a short flight along the Mduna river.

I love the tranquil mood of this short clip (the original video I took is almost four minutes long, documenting a flight from the D242 Mduna concrete bridge to a river crossing, which we call ‘Point of No Return’).

Here is a link in case you would like to watch the complete video:

https://tinyurl.com/csp0003

Enjoy your Sunday and have a great week!

Technical data: DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro Drone | Automatic Mode

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

2024-03-16

Pecking Order

When it comes to cleaning up kills from large predators there is a pecking order in place.

One of the first scavengers to arrive after the killers have left are often Black-backed Jackals (as the one in this picture).

On some occasions they even sneak in while Lions or Hyenas are still on a kill. Especially if the carcass was torn apart during the large predator’s feeding frenzy and the remains had been spread around.

This is a list of the most common members of the Thanda Safari cleanup crew, sorted according to their position in the pecking order:

⁃ Spotted Hyenas

⁃ Black-backed Jackals

⁃ Side-striped Jackals

⁃ Lapped-faced Vultures

⁃ White-backed Vultures

⁃ Hooded Vultures

⁃ Tawny Eagles

⁃ Bateleurs

⁃ Yellow-billed Kites

⁃ African Woolly-necked Storks

⁃ Pied Crows

… and always Maggots

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 1250 | 1/500sec | ev-0.5 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 20% of original image

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

2024-03-15

Osteophagia …

… is the term for a Giraffe behavior which seems rather odd.

Often, these largest land mammals are seen chewing bone material. The reason is to augment any calcium and/or phosphorus deficiency in their bodies. The material is manipulated in and out of the mouth using the tongue while being sucked and chewed.

I took this short video of a Thanda Safari Giraffe looking rather funny, which put me in a good mood for the weekend. I hope you enjoy yours!

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | 4K Video | Hand-held

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

2024-03-13

Tropical Storm!

Starting last night, we experienced an incredible 146mm of rain pouring down on Thanda. Tropical Storm Filipo delivered the welcome precipitation, filling up many of our watering holes.

During the heavy rains, I took a short drive on our main roads (as all the others were impassable due to the soggy ground) but only encountered two animal species. A single Wildebeest bull was guarding his territory, and three African Spoonbills were standing completely drenched next to a waterhole. Most animals seek shelter in dense bushes during downpours.

I followed suit and returned to my home, enjoying this very rainy day!

Technical data for both images: Canon R6 with RF lens, f11/800mm | ISO 3200 | 1/500sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

2024-03-092024-03-09

Large and Small …

Many antelope species in various sizes can be found at my two favorite places in KwaZulu Natal, Thanda and Pakamisa. From the small and very cute Sunis (35cm – 15” shoulder height) to the large and impressive Kudus (155cm – 61” shoulder height).

For all the small antelopes, the males are called bucks and the females are called ewes, and for the large ones, they are called bulls and cows.

Today’s picture shows an Nyala male in high grass (_image taken yesterday at Pakamisa_). It is interesting to note that this is the only antelope species where the males are called bulls and the females are called ewes. This may be because sexual dimorphism (difference between male and female) is more distinct in Nyalas than in any other antelope species.

Here is the list of antelope species found on Thanda Safari and Pakamisa Private Game Reserve in order of their size:

THE SMALL ONES

*Bucks/Ewes*

⁃ Suni (35cm ~ 14”)

⁃ Natal Red Duicker (48cm ~ 19”)

⁃ Steenbok (50cm ~ 20”)

⁃ Klipspringer (60cm ~ 24”)

⁃ Grey Duicker (68cm ~ 27”)

THE LARGE ONES

*Bucks/Ewes*

⁃ Mountain Reedbuck (84cm ~ 33”)

⁃ Common Reedbuck (90cm ~ 35”)

⁃ Impala (90cm ~ 35”)

*Bull/Ewe*

⁃ Nyala (120cm ~ 47”)

*Bull/Cow*

⁃ Waterbuck (130cm ~ 51”)

⁃ Blue Wildebeest (150cm ~ 59”)

⁃ Kudu (155cm – 61”)

()= max shoulder heights (ref. Stuarts’ Field Guide to Southern Africa)

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 25600 | 1/500sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 35% of original image

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography #pakamisagamereserve

2024-03-06

Water…

I had some good sightings over the last few days, but the clear number one was the one of almost fifty Elephants having fun in and around a waterhole.

We watched them for almost two hours until the sun had set and the last bulls had left the water.

It started with two herds rushing towards one of our largest dams at the same time. There was a bit of tension between the two groups which led to some stampeding. A few of them left for a little while, but then returned to the wet.

On this 35°C day (95°F) they obviously enjoyed drinking, swimming, spraying, mudding, diving, sparring, and even a bit of rough playing.

I hope you will enjoy this slide show with a few of my pictures.

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

2024-03-05

Beautiful & Common

Danaus is a genus of butterflies found worldwide. It contains 12 different species, with two of them found in Southern Africa (Danaus chrysippus and Danaus dorippus). I think this is a D. dorippus, but I am not sure as the two species look very similar.

Danaus butterflies are commonly known by many different names, including Tigers, Milkweed, Monarchs, Wanderers, and Queens.

They are among over 650 different species of butterflies found in South Africa.

An interesting fact to distinguish butterflies from moths is that when at rest, moths either fold their wings tentlike over the body, wrap them around the body, or hold them extended at their sides, whereas butterflies hold their wings vertically (as seen in this picture).

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 6400 | 1/750sec | ev-0.5 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 10% of original image

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

2024-03-04

Just now!

This young female lion caught a small warthog piglet for her dinner.

In a new experience for me, she was left alone by her pride of eight other lions to eat it by herself.

After a short chase, all of them except one gave up and did not follow her. The one that stayed waited respectfully until she was allowed to devour a few leftovers.

I am not sure, but I think this behavior was supported by the fact that all of them all had semi-full stomachs and that it is relatively easy for them to make a kill in the current conditions (long grass, abundant prey animals, and all of them participating in hunts).

In contrast, I have a video from a few years back where eight lions fought violently over one warthog. That is the what they usually do over smaller kills.

I never stop learning about animal behavior!

PS: The very bright red (oxygen-rich) blood on her face indicates that the kill happened ‘just now’.

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f/11 800mm | ISO 20000 | 1/750 sec | EV +0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 25% of the original image

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

2024-03-02

The Perfect Parents…

Elephants are amazing parents. In my experience, protecting their young is always their priority.

This picture shows one of the moments when this behavior became obvious. A Thanda Safari herd strolled down an open road at a very fast pace, spread out quite a bit. However, the moment they spotted my vehicle in the distance, they immediately bunched up and placed all their youngsters between them for protection.

Just after I took this picture, I moved out of the way. They then continued their tight formation walk until they disappeared into the surrounding trees.

Another fun fact: When Elephants stop to evaluate a situation they often shake their heads rather violently once they appear to have made up their mind what to do next. I have observed this behavior on many occasions.

Technical data (First): Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 200 | 1/750sec | f6.3 | ev+0 | 190mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 20% of original image

Technical data (Second): Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 160 | 1/500sec | f6.3 | ev-0.50 | 190mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 10% of original image

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

2024-02-28

Binoculars!

This slide show demonstrates why binoculars are so important on game drives. To enjoy the details shown of many of these subjects, one needs to ‘zoom in’.

In my opinion, binoculars are the most important item to take on safari. And it is key to set them up properly for each person (ocular adjustment).

I recommend not sharing binoculars, but getting a pair for each safari-goer. The reason for this is the same as the reason for not sharing prescription glasses between two people with different eyesight.

If you are interested, here are the instructions to set up your binoculars:

1. Close the right eye and adjust the focus on any object (remember this one) with the center-focus-adjustment-dial.

2. Now, do not touch the center-focus-adjustment-dial.

3. Close your left eye and adjust the focus on the ocular-adjustment-ring (usually located on the right ocular) to the same object as in step 1.

4. Open both eyes and only use the center-focus-adjustment-dial to focus on anything from now on. Both your eyes will show the image in perfect focus!

Ready for a ‘close-up’ safari?

PS: All pictures in this slide show were taken at Thanda Safari in the last seven days!

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography