My oldest nephew Alexander is currently on a “post-high school-graduation vacation” in the western part of the USA. Together with his friend Nina they are travelling all over the place. A few days ago he sent me this postcard via email. They took all the images at Yosemite NP and then designed the card themselves. Well, Alexander – as his uncle – seems to have an eye for an image and a bit of talent for photography 🙂
I was sorting and filing images when I came across some recent images Isabella took of me at Pakamisa Private Game Reserve. I miss the place and I am looking forward to going back there soon.
Enjoy the images of my close encounters!
PS: I am sure Badger is waiting – not so much for me, but for the apple treats 🙂 …
… and if you wonder who Badger is – well, he is the horse in all the pictures!
Pictures by Isabella Stepski – Pakamisa Private Game Reserve
Just in case anyone would like to visit me soon – today is a good day to book at Thanda 🙂
As part of our 10th Anniversary celebrations we are offering our friends and followers 10% off all direct bookings made in the next 24 hours! (17 July 12:00pm – 18 July 12:00pm South African Standard Time) Email us now on reservations@thanda.co.za or call +27 35 573 1899 and quote ’TAD01′ to make a booking! Terms & Conditions apply.
Congratulations to all fans of the German National Football Team, the World Champion 2014!
This picture says it all – protect the world’s Rhinos – before it is too late!
This morning I left before sunrise to drive from Pretoria to Thanda. As the mist lifted the African sun appeared and I knew I was back home 🙂
I enjoyed my trip to Europe and the USA very much, meeting with family and friends, gaining a few kilos :-), visiting many “new” and many “old” places. And now it is great to be back in the wild!
PS: Over the next few weeks I will still mix in some “Europe/USA” blog messages as I had no time yet to work on all the images I took!
Imagine you are a twelve-days old Baby Elephant at the new Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park at the Zurich Zoo …
“I have on idea what the fuss is all about? …
… I live in this cool place at the Zurich Zoo …
… and they all treat me like I am royalty or something …
… check out all these people, and just for me! …
… that trunk thing is already working 🙂 – took me a few days to figure it out …
… my mum and my aunties are looking after me very well …
… and that is my daddy in front of our house, big and beautiful, what do you think? …
… and just to let you know, it is our job at the zoo to teach all you guys about my cousins in the wild, even via smart phones 🙂 …
… so, see you at the zoo!”
A few moments in the life of a small zoo Elephant.
Story and pictures by Christian Sperka
I spent two days in the Swiss alps. A former colleague and good friend invited me to stay with him and his family in Innertkirchen, Kanton Berne. And he took time off work to show me around.
We had great fun taking very scenic tours. This picture was taken on the Grimsel pass where the last snow of the season was battling with the sun 🙂
Wolfgang took the picture above – me throwing a snowball in June!
The picture below shows Swiss alps “wild”life – cows in the mountains 🙂
Pictures by Wolfgang Sutter and Christian Sperka
I recently visited the aquarium in Gatlinburg and took this image of a Pacific Sea Nettle, a most impressive creature.
More about Chrysaora fuscescens:
The Pacific Sea Nettle in the East Pacific Ocean from Canada to Mexico. They have a distinctive golden-brown bell with a reddish tint. The bell can grow to be larger than one meter (three feet) in diameter in the wild. The long, spiraling, white oral arms and the 24 undulating maroon tentacles may trail behind as far as 10 feet. For humans, its sting is often irritating, but rarely dangerous.
With the help of three of my best friends in Nashville – Irene, Heather and Rick – I got some incredible images at the Nashville Zoo.
Collage 1 and 2 – Rick Schwartz, President of the Nashville Zoo, and I during a recent snake photo shoot. The model was Rick’s favorite snake, a Boelen’s Python (see also yesterday’s blog message at http://wp.me/p1rzfb-17X).
The images in the third collage were taken during a back stage tour with Heather Robertson, Senior Veterinarian at the Nashville Zoo.
Irene Archambault, my host during my stay in Nashville, took the pictures in the first two collages. Heather and Rick took the picture in the third collage. So for once I am in all the pictures 🙂
Thanks for a great stay to all my good friends in Nashville!
Collage 1
Collage 2
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 