THANDA – Page 103 – Christian Sperka Photography

2013-04-212013-04-23

“Fighting” Mambas

I am convinced!

With all the input for many snake experts around the world I have changed the story 🙂 :

“When we were on the way to pick up our Thanda guests for the afternoon game drive we ran into these two Black Mambas. The two males were fighting for mating rights with a female in the midday sun on one of the main roads at Thanda. Both of them were so engaged in their actions that they were completely oblivious of us. What a sighting!”

About Black Mambas:

The Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is the longest venomous snake in Africa. It is named for the black color of the inside of the mouth rather than the color of its scales which varies from dull yellowish-green to a gun-metal grey. It is also the fastest snake in the world, capable of moving at 4.32 to 5.4 meters per second (16–20 km/h, 10–12 mph). The Black Mamba has a reputation for being very aggressive, but it usually attempts to flee from humans like most snakes, unless it is threatened. Without rapid and vigorous anti-venom therapy, a bite from a Black Mamba is almost always fatal.

2013-04-20

Mum

This is a picture I took yesterday of the mum of our new Cheetah cubs. She was away from the cubs feeding on a kill when I was able to get this image.

2013-04-19

Success!

Great news for Cheetah conservation. A Cheetah female on Thanda Private Game Reserve gave birth to four cubs. Yesterday we managed to get pictures of the five weeks old cubs for the first time. They played around a thicket in which their mum hides them when she goes hunting.

The collage shows a few images of the cubs and the mother. Theses pictures were taken with 910 mm lens length across a valley (hence the marginal quality :-)).

Enjoy your weekend!

2013-04-14

Get a meal!

Imagine you are a Cheetah male!

You have not a had a meal for a while and you and your brother are getting hungry …

… you stalk some newly arrived Impala. It is a good thing (for you not them) that they do not know the area so well yet 🙂 and …

… you got one. And after a good and hasty meal (not touching the prey’s stomach – its smell could attract some nasty company) …

… you can hardly move …

… so you decide to clean yourself up a bit and get some needed rest – A good day!

2013-04-112013-04-11

New Arrivals!

Hundreds of additional Impalas, Wildebeest, Nyala, Zebra and Kudus are arriving over the next few weeks at Thanda Private Game Reserve. This large number of additional plains game will enhance the excellent Thanda Game Drive Experience even further. Besides seeing the Big Five on daily drives it is very exciting to see large groups of these herbivores roaming on the reserve.

Thanda will also receive additional Cape Buffalo Bulls. Together with over 30 Buffalo birth in this rainy season, this will bring the number of Buffalo at Thanda to well over 160.

The images show the release of Impala and Wildebeest onto the reserve…

… and this is a link to a short video from one of the Impala arrivals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67OVEjBepFw

2013-04-10

Growing fast!

I remember Thanda’s North Pride Lion cubs when they were not even four month old; small little cats with tiny teeth, small claws and a very playful nature.

Well, the only thing that is left is the playful nature 🙂

With almost one year of age they have quite formidable teeth and claws and they can play already very rough. They are still youngster, fully depended on mum and the pride to provide food, but they will start learning the hunting trade soon.

This one was keeping an eye on the Thanda guests on my vehicle while the rest of the pride was sleeping after a night’s hunt.

2013-04-02

Symbols of Africa!

For me these are two true symbols for the African bush: Giraffe and Fever Tree! The Thanda guests on my vehicle enjoyed this beautiful scene in the morning sun.

The Fever Tree (Acacia xanthophloea) is a species of Acacia native to eastern and southern Africa. The trees grow to a height of 15–25 m. The characteristic bark is smooth, powdery and greenish-yellow in color It is one of the few trees where photosynthesis takes place in the bark. Fever trees are fast-growing and short-lived.

2013-03-31

Prickly Pear

This youngster of Thanda’s herd of Elephant was trying to use his trunk to get a fruit of the Prickly Pear, but he did not succeed.

We watched the little one for quite a while as he was trying to imitate his mum and his older sibling.

A beautiful sighting in the morning sun!

2013-03-30

Down the Road!

When we left the Thanda Lodge this evening we spotted this Leopard walking down the road. What a start to a game drive!

PS: I will never again complain about my Leopard sightings in Kwazulu Natal. I was very lucky lately 🙂

2013-03-262013-03-26

Always carry …

… not a gun, but a point and shoot camera.

This young female Leopard was standing in the road when I drove towards the Thanda Royal Private Villa. She was curious and waited for me to get closer. She then turned around and walked in front of me for a while before she disappeared into the bush.

I was glad that I always have a point and shoot camera with me, so I got some pictures. Not the greatest quality, but it is evidence 🙂

What a sighting!

… and here is a short video of the young Leopard : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWBd7Ml9moI