Topic: Cheetah mum with her four small cubs
Technical data: Canon R6 MII with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 1250 | 1/500sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | hand held
#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography
This is a short slide show with pictures taken during the second half of my last Custom Luxury Tour.
These images were taken at Pakamisa Private Game Reserve, in the Kruger National Park, and in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. My guest from Nashville, Tennessee, USA and I had a great time. Enjoy the show with a few impressions of this trip specially designed for my 82-year-old client!
‘Her second Custom Luxury Tour with me as her guide was another trip of a life time’. This is how Irene, my 82 year old guest from the USA, characterized her 20 day stay in South Africa.
The picture above is one of her favorite images I took at Sabi Sabi together with a few trip stats.
I will publish a detailed trip report on my blog soon.
Only four weeks until the start of another incredible Custom Luxury Tour with Irene, a guest (and good friend) from the USA, who did another such tour with me in 2022.
Starting and ending this exciting road trip in Johannesburg, we will listen to the Drakensberg Boys Choir, visit the Nelson Mandela Capture Site and Ardmore Ceramics in the Midlands, stop at the famous Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga, enjoy game drives and Zulu culture at Jumeirah Thanda Safari, relax for a bit at Pakamisa Private Game Reserve, enjoy the most stunning scenery at Kruger Shalati (The Train on the Bridge), and end this tour looking for leopards and wild dogs while staying at Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge (my favorite place in the Sabi Sands).
This will cover some of the very best KwaZulu Natal and the Greater Kruger National Park have to offer!
In case you are interested in my Custom Luxury Tours (www.sperka.info), you can contact me via WhatsApp (0633294323) or via email christian@sperka.com.
PS: This is a link to the trip report from our 2022 tour: https://sperka.info/2022/08/09/a-trip-of-a-lifetime-a-travel-story/
For the first time, I hosted a larger group for one of my Christian Sperka Photography Custom Luxury Tours in KwaZulu Natal and the Greater Kruger National Park.
The usual group size for my tours is one to six guests. This time, a group of six families/friends totaling 24 people booked me to be their host, guide, and wildlife/trip photographer for this 13-day safari tour.
I chartered a Hilton-Ross 52-seater luxury bus with two drivers for our adventure. The group consisted of twelve adults and twelve youngsters between eight and nineteen years old.
I took care of everything from their arrival to their departure (except for flight reservations). I organized all accommodations, excursions, and meals, paid for everything during their stay including tips, and took over 700 pictures of all activities for the group.
Here is a short summary of the itinerary in case you are interested in the details. And if not, then just enjoy the slideshow below 😊.
Day 1
Arrival at OR Tambo International Airport and overnight stay at the five-star OR Tambo Airport Intercontinental Hotel.
Day 2
Excursion to VulPro (Vulture Conservation Project) at Hartebeespoort, north of Pretoria. Another overnight stay at the Intercontinental.
Days 3 – 7
Bus transfer to the four-star Elephant Plains Game Lodge in the Sabi Sands for a four-night stay at the reserve.
Days 7 – 12
Bus transfer to the five-star Thanda Safari for a five-night stay at the reserve (Safari Lodge and Villa iZulu).
Day 9
Visit to a StarForLife school in rural KwaZulu Natal.
Day 10
Day excursion to St. Lucia for a Shakabarker – Hippo and Croc Cruise and beach time on the Indian Ocean. We had lunch at Reef and Dunes, St. Lucia’s best restaurant.
Day 12
Bus transfer to the five-star Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga, KZN. A relaxing day at one of my favorite hotels in the world. Dinner for the adults in the elegant Grill Room and for the kids in the Ocean Terrace Restaurant.
Day 13
Lunch at the Ocean Terrace restaurant overlooking the Indian Ocean. Departure from King Shaka International Airport Durban.
During their stay, my guests went on twelve game drives and many bush walks, encountering the Big Five, Cheetah, Wild Dogs, and a lot of general game (Giraffes, Zebras, Warthogs, Antelopes, etc.).
Hosting this large group was a new experience for me, but I enjoyed it very much. It was a fantastic group of people who made my job very easy!
I would do it again 😊!
I spent the last four days in the Sabi Sands game reserve (Elephant Plains Game Lodge). These are some of the pictures I took during this time. Enjoy the show!
#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography
A Picture Travel Report
I love guiding guests from all over the world through KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), my incredibly diverse home province, and I try to show them the best it has to offer. This is a report of my most recent trip.
As part of my service, my guests received a link to a download library of 850 full-resolution images, which I took with Canon camera equipment and iPhones during our travels.
This is a report with pictures of this 20 days Custom Luxury Tour.
Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments or via direct message on WhatsApp (+27633294323).
For more info about my Custom Luxury Tours go to http://www.sperka.info.
Day 1 – Arrival …
My guests arrived in the late afternoon, and we had an excellent welcome dinner next to the Indian Ocean at Bel Punto, my favorite Italian restaurant in the Durban area. We stayed one night at Lavender Moon Guest House in Umhlanga before we headed off on our tour through KZN.
Day 2 – Into the Mountains …
On our way from Durban into the Drakensberg mountains we stopped at the impressive Howick Falls, the fascinating Nelson Mandela Capture Site Museum, and had lunch at the famous Piggly Wiggly coffee shop in the Midlands. We stayed for two nights at the Dragonview Lodge in the Champagne Valley.
Day 3 – Raptors and Music …
My two favorite activities in the Drakensberg were on the program: The raptor show at Falcon Ridge Bird of Prey Centre show and the Wednesday concert of the world renowned Drakensberg Boys Choir.
Day 4 – Art and Gourmet Cuisine …
While traveling South to enjoy the beautiful setting and excellent cuisine of Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse, where we stayed the next three days, we visited The Platform Gallery with contemporary South African art, and Ardmore Ceramic Art. It was most interesting to observe the local Zulu artists creating incredible ceramic art.
Day 5 – A Walk and A Rest …
This was the first day where my guests got some good rest in a most relaxing and scenic environment. We just went for a short walk on the Highmoor Nature Reserve on a mountain plateau nearby.
Day 6 – A Steep Ascent and an Extra Country…
We went for a full day excursion up the incredibly steep and stony Sani Pass into the Kingdom of Lesotho, and we had a surprisingly good lunch at the ‘Highest Pub in Africa’. My first trip ever into Lesotho!
Day 7 – Into the Battlefields …
We visited the Blood River Battlefield (1838 – Zulu-Boer War). It is a most significant site playing a big role in South African history and in defining the identity of many Afrikaans people. Our battlefield guide was excellent! For the next three nights we stayed at my favorite place in the battlefields, called Fugitives Drift Lodge.
Day 8 – British defeat …
At the battle of Isandlwana (1879 Anglo-Zulu War) the British army suffered the worst single battle defeat in the colonial history of the country. Bryan, our battlefield guide, narrated the visit superbly.
Day 9 – The most Victoria Crosses …
The battle of Rorke’s Drift commenced in the afternoon of the same days as the battle of Isandlwana, and lasted into the early hours of the next day. The most Victoria Crosses for a single battle where awarded to the heroic men who won this battle. Douglas Rattray was our guide to this battle ground and his narration was superb!
Day 10 – Into the Wetlands …
The next two days we spent at Makakatana Bay Lodge in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. I love the environment around Lake St. Lucia with its stark contrast to the Forest Savanna at Thanda Safari.
Day 11 – On the Lake …
Today a Hippo Cruise on Lake St.Lucia was on the program. We had very good hippo and croc sightings and even more impressive bird encounters.
Day 12 – Coming home …
On our way to my ‘home ground’ at Thanda Safari we visited the Crocodile Centre in St. Lucia. The next five nights my guests spent at the Thanda Safari Lodge with Bheki (my tracker) and I introducing them to the Big Five!
Day 13 – Elephants and Cheetah …
… on two game drives at Thanda Safari!
Day 14 – Rhino and Giraffe …
… and many more species during two more game drives.
Day 15 – Lion and Buffalo …
… during two more drives.
Day 16 – Zulu Community …
We visited a Zulu family in a local community. Not a tourist show, just a visit of people from different counties chatting about their respective lives.
Day 17 – The Last Game Drive …
A last game drive in the morning and then we were off back towards Durban/Umhlanga, where we stayed at the unique Oysterbox Hotel for the last three nights of this KZN tour.
Day 18 – Sharks and Co …
The uShaka Marine World aquarium was well worth a visit. We also had a look at the Durban harbour and a short walk along the Indian Ocean beach.
Day 19 – Not the Usual Tour …
The Culture Shock Tour of Durban is a walking tour of downtown Durban. Together with Johnny, a local guide for this adventure, one explores all the local markets and areas where tourists usually do not go.
Day 20 – Goodbye …
A last view of the Indian Ocean
My guests called it a ‘trip of a lifetime’. It is incredible what KwaZulu Natal has to offer!
Here are few trip stats, for the ones of you who like details:
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 