Category: THANDA

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Video of the Day!

Topic: Iphata and his askaris

Yesterday morning Iphata, Thanda Safari’s oldest elephant bull, was approaching a waterhole where his askaris were drinking. He showed them who was boss just by his presence. One of the youngsters even ran away before returning humbly to join Iphata and the other young bull for a drink.

If you wonder why they were all trying to drink at the same place at the waterhole, it was because of a pipe outlet which provides fresh water being pumped into the dam. 

Elephants love clean water!

An askari is a younger male elephant that accompanies an older, dominant elephant bull. The term comes from Swahili and means “soldier” or “guard.” In elephant society, askaris are younger bulls that associate with an older, experienced bull, often forming a loose bachelor group.

Technical data: Apple 17 Pro Max | using all three cameras

#christiansperkaphotography

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Picture of the Day! – Southern Tree Agama

Topic: A very colorful Southern Tree Agama (Acanthocercus atricollis or Black-necked Agama) was displaying to a female and forgot to run and hide as usual. So I was able to get a series of interesting portraits of this small lizard.

Technical data: Canon R6 Mark II with RF lens f4.5-7.1/100-500mm | ISO 640 | 1/500sec | f6.7 | ev+/-0 | 500mm | WB 6500K

#christiansperkaphotography

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Big Five and Little Five

For the first time since I started taking pictures of wildlife, I captured a Leopard and a Leopard Tortoise in the same picture series.

This Leopard female was ‘guarding’ the small reptile for quite a while. It looked like she was hoping for a pleasant meal. But when the large cat relaxed, the tortoise walked quietly off, leaving the Leopard behind with a longing look on her face. The armour on the small creature was too strong to penetrate.

Leopards are one of the BIG FIVE, together with Lions, Elephants, Rhinos, and Buffalos.

Leopard Tortoises are one of the LITTLE FIVE, together with Antlions, Elephant Shrews, Rhino Beetles, and Buffalo Weavers.

And the little one won today!

#christiansperkaphotography

#thandasafari

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Picture of the Day!

Topic: A Thanda Lioness leading her five cubs along the road.

Technical data: Canon R6 Mark II with RF lens f4.5-7.1/100-500mm | ISO 640 | 1/320sec | f5.6 | ev+/-0 | 360mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode

#christiansperkaphotography

… and a few ‘blog bonus pictures’

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Pictures of the Day!

Topic: Have a look! One of Thanda’s dominant male Lion checking up on the Lion ladies nearby.

Technical data: Canon R6 Mark II with RF lens f4.5-7.1/100-500mm | ISO 6400 | 1/500sec | f5.6 | ev+/-0 | 360mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode

#christiansperkaphotography

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Picture of the Day!

Topic: Thanda’s two oldest Elephan bulls and a young ‘colleague’ were walking last night across the savanna as I drove to the Thanda Tented Camp to give a photography lesson. What a sight!

Technical data: Apple 17 Pro Max | Telephoto Camera 16.9mm/100mm | ISO 20 | 1/640sec | f2.8 | ev+/-0

#christiansperkaphotography

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No rest for the wicked …

I have felt a bit like this for the last few weeks!

After six days with private photography guests in early June, the four-week film project on Thanda started, with filming days involving around 80 crew members on Savanna, hot-air balloon launches in the early morning hours, and all-day game drives with elaborate camera rigs and large drones.

I also spend a few days on Pakamisa helping prepare the 30th anniversary presentation.

In between coordinating the film project, I photographed a wedding of friends in the Drakensberg Mountains, was involved in a traditional Zulu Umabo ceremony and wedding reception with 160 guests on Thanda, and taught a landscape photographer from Sweden my method of wildlife photography. During the same period, I also did two guest photo shoots on Thanda.

Tomorrow, I am off to attend Pakamisa’s 30th anniversary celebrations. I am very much looking forward to this bit of a break!

Above is a video slide show with images I took during this busy time!

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No worries!

A few of you have asked if everything is OK, as I have not posted for a while. All is well, but I have been very busy coordinating a major film production for Thanda Safari, so I have had very little time for photography or social media.

In between, I photographed a wedding in the Drakensberg Mountains, and after the film production we have another very large wedding on Thanda. But after 17 August I will be back on social media.

In the meantime, here is a small collage of photos I took while working with the film crew.😊

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Video of the Day!

Topic: A Thanda Safari Lion mum with here three tiny cubs. Seen for the first time. What a wonderful world!

Technical data: Canon R6 II with RF lens f11/800mm

#christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari

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Picture of the Day!

Topic: Thanda Safari’s male Lion  coalition warming themselves in the mid-morning sun

Technical data: Apple 17Pro Max | Telephoto Camera 120mm | ISO 40 | 1/640sec | f2.8 | Portrait Mode

#christiansperkaphotography 

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