My favorite cat species – Nashville Zoo memories
Same procedure as every year…
Soon I will be leaving South Africa for a few weeks to visit my family and friends in Germany and Switzerland. From mid of this month to mid of next month I will be blogging a bit less about the African Wild. But – as last year – you may expect a-travel-picture-blog-a-day (most of them taken with my iPhone!).
And as every year, I will be visiting a few zoos in Switzerland. I am planning to be at the Zurich Zoo on 2 June (Thursday), at the Basel Zoo on 6 June (Monday) and at the Wildlife Park Arth-Goldau on 31 May (Tuesday). In case any of my fellow photographers or blog-followers would like to meet for a chat at either of these locations, just send a message to christian@sperka.com.
The pictures show a Spectacled Bear at the Zurich Zoo, a Greater One-horned Rhinoceros at the Basel Zoo and a Great Grey Owl at the Wildlife Park Arth-Goldau.
Golden Hour
And one more of my recent favorite posts!
It is called the Golden Hour! As the Thanda Safari guests head out on game drive in the early morning, the sun provides the most beautiful light for the first hour of the day. Photographers love this first light as well as the soft light of the last hour before sunset.
Picture by Christian Sperka – Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Safari
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Habituation
My favorite African cars – Leopards!
For many decades Leopards in KwaZulu Natal have been hunted and killed by humans. When Thanda Safari – Private Game Reserve was established – 11 years ago – a safe haven for these magnificent cats was created. But it takes a lot of patience and time to ‘teach’ these beautiful animals that they can relax around safari vehicles.
It is very important to treat the Leopards with respects and not to push and pursue them, when they decide to leave a sighting. And once they learn that the presence of our vehicles does not mean any threat, more prolonged sightings will become the norm.
This young female lay in the bushes approximately 30 meters from the road. We viewed her from the distance with binoculars and took some pictures until she decided to leave us and move up a hill. We did not follow her off-road and we did not push her. We let…
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HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY
With this electronic bouquet of Proteas I wish my mum (in Germany) and all the mums around the world – in the eighty countries, where this special day is celebrated today – a VERY HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY.
ALLES GUTE ZUM MUTTERTAG !
The sky was on fire!
Today’s sunset was one of the best I have seen since I arrived in Africa almost four years ago. What an evening!
Today’s sunset at Thanda Safari – just fabulous. Imagine yourself creating truly African memories 🙂
Picture by Christian Sperka – Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Safari
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Thanda Safari is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World
The Sun, The Moon and a Giraffe
The ideal sighting for teaching about evening light 🙂
At this time of the year the moon rises very early and is visible above the horizon before the sun has set. So both sun and moon provided the backdrop for these two images of a male Giraffe browsing around our safari vehicle. First posing before the moon and then providing a stunning sunset silhouette.
During the same game drive we encountered and herd of Cape Buffalo, three Black Rhino after the sun had set and a Pride of Lions when all natural light was gone.
What a Thanda Safari evening!
Pictures by Christian Sperka – Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Safari
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Nashville Memories
An artist named Martyn Norris has recently asked for permission to use one of my Clouded Leopard images as a basis for one of his drawings. I really like the result – thanks Martyn!
And looking at this image took me back to when I was working as photographer and photography teacher at Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. I really enjoyed my time in Nashville and I miss my friends in the Music City USA. I hope to visit again, soon.
If you are travelling to Nashville make sure you visit this excellent zoo – http://www.nashvillezoo.org …
… and also have a look at Martyn’s other work (if your are on Facebook 🙂 – http://www.facebook.com/martynfoxart.
A bath to cool down – a drink to refresh …
I really enjoyed this one. Thanks to Ali (Thanda Safari Wildlife Department) for calling me in.
Elephants are smart. First the Thanda Safari Herd of Elephants had a refreshing bath at one waterhole (chasing away some Buffalo to get the tub for themselves). Then they moved to the next waterhole for a drink of clean – non-muddy – water.
How many Elephants do you count? It was the complete herd, and a few adult bulls joining the ladies and the youngsters for the refreshment.
Video and Pictures by Christian Sperka – Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Safari
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Thanda Safari is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World
Happy Easter Everyone!
