THE DAILY POST – I AM BACK 😊 – WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATER COLONY

After a week at Pakamisa the Green Mamba and I are back on Thanda.

Today’s picture/video post is of a White-fronted Bee-eater colony on Pakamisa.

Enjoy the video and have great week!

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #pakamisagamereserve @pakamisagamereserve #thandasafari @thandasafari

THE MORNING POST – PAKAMISA VIEWS

I stayed a few days with my friends at Pakamisa Private Game Reserve; for the 63th time since my arrival in South Africa in 2012 :-). Besides doing the usual wildlife and horse photography I produced material for some short ‘Pakamisa – Ready for Business’ videos.

This is a drone clip of an interesting 360 degree winter view over the reserve and its surroundings. It shows the tall Pakamisa mountain, the beautiful lodge with its stunning views, the long Pakamisa valley with the horse stables, and the Pongola valley with its vast sugar cane fields.

Isabella and her team are getting ready to re-open for South African guests in September. Just contact res@pakamisa.co.za for more information or to book your stay at this amazing place.

Soundtrack courtesy of ROOT.

Enjoy your weekend!

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #pakamisagamereserve @pakamisagamereserve

THE DAILY POST – WILD PEAR

Very small creatures can be very beautiful – This morning I spent some time watching Bees 🐝 collecting pollen from the white flowers of the Wild Pear tree (Dambeya rotundifolia) which is called Mohlabaphala in isiZulu.

Enjoy your Sunday.

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #pakamisagamereserve @pakamisagamereserve

THE MORNING POST – AERIAL IMPRESSIONS

I have spent the last couple days on Pakamisa Private Game Reserve (www.pakamisa.com) to work on a few photographic projects.

This short video of aerial impressions was one of them.

Enjoy your flight 😊.

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #pakamisagamereserve @pakamisagamereserve

It has been a while …

It has been a while since I wrote my last blog post. As some of you know I was in Europe for a few weeks – for my dad’s 80th birthday – and when I returned I was very busy with one of my Custom Luxury Tours. On Friday, 28 June 2019, I got the very welcome news that my permanent residence permit for South Africa was granted. The message reached me just as I took this picture of a Kudu bull posing in front of the setting sun. I will never forget that moment!

Now I am home on Thanda and back at blogging …

I thought you might also enjoy some of my favorite pictures I took since my last post in May.

A Madagascar Day Gecko at the Zurich Zoo …

A Jellyfish at the Basel Zoo Aquarium …

Young idiots providing enrichment for the Lions at Basel Zoo …

My American friend’s first ride on Pakamisa …

A Pakamisa baby Giraffe having a drink …

A Thanda Elephant getting the best out of a branch …

Two of my best friends got married at Thanda Safari on 19 June (also my birthday 🙂 – It was a dream wedding on a beautiful winter day.

Imaging you walking down the road and this is your oncoming traffic …

Being part of a Rhino de-horning operation on Thanda as wedding present? It works if the bride is a veterinarian 🙂

A rare daytime sighting at iSimangaliso Wetland Park: A Black Rhino …

Grey-headed Gulls at Cape Vidal …

Beach ride at St.Lucia …

An Indian Ocean sunrise at St.Lucia …

A Livingstone’s Turaco at the broad walk on iSimangaliso West …

Spotted from my dinner table at a restaurant in St.Lucia – Hippos roam the streets for the little two every night …

And last but not least one of my favorite images of the bride and the groom enjoying an African sunset during the creative photo shoot after the wedding ceremony …

http://www.sperka.com

The year in twelve pictures!

It seems that the years go faster the older I get. But my mother tells me that is the ‘modern’ world around me going faster and faster. Be that as it may, this busy year went by very quickly.

Here are 12 pictures. One for each month as a reminder of an interesting and eventful time.

I wish all of you a Happy New Year 2019!

In January I took this picture of a Secretary bird during a visit to Ithala Game Reserve. One of my favourite national parks in KwaZulu Natal.

On 19 February we had over 100 mm of rain and the Thanda House waterhole was full to the rim. In my over six years at Thanda I had never seen so much water!

I call March the month of the Lions. All North pride females presented their litters to the world and all the sudden we had 10 new Lion cubs!

One of my favourite subjects to photograph are White Rhinos on the Thanda Safari savanna. I really like this shot taken in April. The savanna was still quite green at the time.

It is always very existing when a herd of Elephants appears around a corner and one has to practice driving backwards to get out of their way. On this day in May the herd was in a hurry to get to a waterhole. And so was I!

Chewing the cud. This Giraffe was supplementing its body with calcium and phosphorous from an old bone by chewing on it. This picture was taken in June, one of the winter month when this behaviour can often be observed.

I love the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Lake St.Lucia. A boat cruise on a day in July presented many opportunities to take pictures of sparring Hippos.

Thanks again to many of you around the world who help me supporting Inkanyiso Creche in one of our local communities. In August I delivered a first batch of goodies (tables, games, pictures, …). More will follow in the new year!

A visit to Tembe Elephant Park is always worthwhile. In September I had the opportunity to visit again and I got some great Elephant and Buffalo images.

October: A bit of hanky-panky in spring. The most natural thing in the world. Making new Zebras! Note the Buffalo in the background watching with interest.

Baby animals are always cute, but little Hyena puppies win this year’s price for cuteness. Since November we had many sightings of them around their den.

Summer rains have started properly and the savanna is turning green again. Our new Cheetah males love the open areas which they share with many species. In this December image Zebras, Impalas and Rhinos are posing in the background for this Cheetah portrait.

And in case you would like to view more of my 2018 pictures just have a look at my images on Instagram – www.instagram.com/christiansperkaphotography

I will now take a few days off relaxing at Pakamisa Private Game Reserve.

I will be back in 2019 with more pictures from Thanda Safari and many other places in the South African Wild.

www.sperka.com | www.thanda.com

Ten Crazy Weeks

The last ten weeks have been by far the busiest since my arrival in South Africa over six years ago. They were exciting, interesting and exhausting.

But there was no time for blogging. Nevertheless here are my twenty favorite images from this period. I hope you enjoy the pictures!

No kidding – that sign is appropriate! | Canon 1D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28-300mm L

A Cheetah chasing an Impala – taken during a photo shoot game drive at a Thanda Wedding in August | Canon 1D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28- 300mm

An aerial image of a painting session in the bush. Johan Falkman, a painter from Sweden, started his three month residency at Thanda Safari’s Intibane Lodge | Drone DJI Phanton IV Pro

Mariana Venter (Thanda Wildlife Manager) opens the cage for a new Cheetah lady arriving at Thanda | Canon 1D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28- 300mm

A happy day – I delivered my first set of goodies to the Inkanyiso Creche | iPhone 7 Plus

One of many images from a multi-day photo shoot at Thanda Tented Camp | Drone DJI Phanton IV Pro

A most pleasant site inspection – Thonga Beach Lodge – A fabulous place | Drone DJI Phanton IV Pro

An afternoon of relaxation at my favorite hide at Mkuze Game Reserve – Bird, birds, birds … | Canon 1D Mark – f2.8 – 300mm L

Photo shoot at Tembe Elephant Park – one of my favorite National Parks | Canon 1D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28-300mm

My favorite image from a two day safari with friends from Richards Bay | Canon 1D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28- 300mm

Zulu Mamas providing entertainment for a group of guests from The Netherlands – what a rare occasion to be able to take pictures of the ladies at daylight | Canon 1D Mark IV – f2.8 – 70-200mm

A few game drives with a Media Group from South Africa – The male Lions ‘performed’ beautifully | Canon 1D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28- 300mm

With a Pakamisa riding and photo group at the beach in St.Lucia – I love the place | Canon 1D Mark IV – f2.8 – 70- 200mm

The busiest week ever – I was hosting a film team at Thanda for seven days to take footage for a new brand film – these are some of the models – three Humans and a Lion | Canon 1D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28- 300mm

A community visit to my favorite homestead – the ‘master of the house’ explaining his daily schedule to the guests | iPhone 7 Plus

And another Media Group – this time from the UK – our Lions were most impressive | Canon 1D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28- 300mm

Two new male Cheetahs on the reserve – the coalition is doing well | Canon 1D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28- 300mm

Our older Cheetah male vocalizing as he met the new-comers – they went their separate ways – no harm done | Canon 1D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28- 300mm

Rutting in October – these Impala males were sparring and fighting at the wrong time of the year 🙂 | Canon 1D Mark IV – f2.8 – 300mm L

And last my favorite shot of them all – Dung Beetles at work – burrowing their ball in the ground – gone in five minutes – macro photography from a distance 🙂 | Canon 1D Mark IV – f4 – 500mm L

http://www.sperka.com

#christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

This week in pictures …

Bee-Eater | Flight | Sun | Set | Walk | Owl | Moon | Rise

One picture per day …

Monday: White-fronted Bee-Eater | Canon 1 D Mark IV – f4 – 500mm L

Tuesday: Giraffe Males fighting | Canon 1 D Mark IV – f4 – 500mm L

Wednesday: Elephant Male on a sunny day | iPhone 7 Plus

Thursday: Sunset @ Thanda | iPhone 7 Plus

Friday: Lion family walking | Canon 1 D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28-300mm L

Saturday: Marsh Owl | Canon 1 D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28-300mm L

Sunday: Male Lion under a full moon | Canon 1 D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28-300mm L

Extra: Sunrise @ Thanda Canon 1 D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28-300mm L

I hope your like my weekly summary. For many more pictures please subscribe to my Instagram channel (ChristianSperkaPhotography).

http://www.sperka.com

#christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

This week in pictures …

Luxury – Surfing – Cleopatra – Gourmets – Giants – Tsessebe – Dung – Flowers – Giraffe

One picture per day …

Sunday: Pure luxury on the Indian Ocean – The Oysterbox Hotel in Umhlanga – https://www.oysterboxhotel.com/ | iPhone 7 Plus

Monday: A rooms with a view – Watching surfers from my room at The Oysterbox | Canon 1 D Mark IV – f4 – 500mm L

Tuesday: What a nose 🙂 – Cleopatra Mountain in the Drakensberg | Canon 1 D Mark IV – f4 – 500mm L

Wednesday: A gourmet’s delight – Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse – https://www.cleopatramountain.com/ | iPhone 7 Plus

Thursday: Egyptian Geese in front of the Giants Castle mountain chain | Canon 1 D Mark IV – f4 – 500mm L

Friday: Running Tsesebe at iSimangaliso Wetland Park | Canon 1 D Mark IV – f4 – 500mm L

Saturday: Dung Beetles at work | iPhone 7 Plus

Sunday: A Scarlet-chested Sunbird feeding on a Sausage Tree flower at Pakamisa – http://www.pakamisa.co.za/ | Canon 1 D Mark IV – f4 – 500mm L

Extra: Resting Giraffe at Pakamisa – http://www.pakamisa.co.za/ | Canon 1 D Mark IV – f4 – 500mm L

I hope your like my weekly summary. For many more pictures please subscribe to my Instagram channel (ChristianSperkaPhotography).

http://www.sperka.com

#christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography