ANTELOPES!

Today: Nyala

Nyalas are predominately browsers which means they mainly eat leaves of trees. They are the most sexually dimorph antelopes on Thanda Safari. Once grown into adulthood the male changes its color from red-brown to grey. Female and male look so different from one another that it is hard to believe they are of the same species.

And the males usually do not fight with their horns, as most other antelope species do, but perform a slow walk with back arched and their white hairs standing up – almost a dance – around one another. I have never been able to determine why one of the two ‘dancers’ is the looser and the other the winner.

But as they often both mate with females after such dances it probably does not really matter 😊 Have a good day and stay safe.

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

STAY-AT-HOME MONDAY

A White Rhino bull was posing on the Thanda Safari savanna in front of the Lebombo Mountains.

This mountain chain stretches from South of Thanda for 800 km (500 miles) all the way to the Limpopo province in the North. The famous Ghost Mountain near Mkuze is part of the Lebombos.

Have a good week, stay safe!

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY 2020

With this picture of a Thanda Lioness and her cub I wish my mum and all the mothers around the world a very Happy Mother’s Day.

May all of you have a good day and stay well!

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

STAY-AT-HOME SUNDAY

I forgot to give the answer to my question posted on Thursday. So here it is now 😊

The question was which picture corresponds to which of the Lions’ actions, so here is the answer.

2 Roaring …

1 Yawning …

4 Loving …

3 Scratching …

5 Growling …

Have a good day. Stay home and stay safe!

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

LOCK DOWN PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI XXXXII

Two Elephant bulls arrived while I was out to watch birds coming to the waterhole for their morning drinks. The DSLR with the long lens got a rest and I recorded this video with my iPhone.

Enjoy the show, stay home and stay safe!

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#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

LOCK DOWN PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI XXXXI

Mariana (our Wildlife Coordinator) and I had a fantastic Cheetah sighting today. Mum and her three cubs are well.

The three little ones love to climb trees and have a lot of energy. This are my two favorite pictures of today.

More to follow soon …

Enjoy your evening, stay home and stay safe!

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

STAY-AT-HOME FRIDAY –

Imagine!

… you get up at 3:00am to see the moon set

… then watch the Milky Way in the dark of the night

… followed by some time spend next to a waterhole to enjoy the sky going from dark blue to red

… and finally see the sun rise through the lifting mist

… what better way to start the day?

And remember: go to bed early to make up for the lost hours of sleep 😊

Enjoy your day, stay home and stay safe!

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

STAY-AT-HOME THURSDAY

Lions facial expressions, captured on a picture do not always correspond to what we think they are doing at the time. So here is a little game. Match the action to the picture 😊

A Roaring …

B Yawning …

C Loving …

D Scratching …

E Growling …

… Lion

The correct answer will be in tonight’s post!

Have a good day. Stay home and stay safe!

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

LOCK DOWN PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI XXXIX

I got some more images of our Lion cubs. After a cold night they were enjoying the morning sun when I took these pictures.

Have a good evening, stay home and stay safe!

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari