THE MORNING POST – UNUSUAL COLORS

Some colors appear a lot in nature and some colors are rather rare. This is a picture of one of my favorite small birds. It is a Violet-backed Starling. The male features the most magnificent iridecent plumage to attract the ladies.

Enjoy your Sunday!

#Thandasafari @thandasafari

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

THE EVENING POST – A LOVELY ERROR

If you think this effect was accomplished by using photo editing software then you are wrong. When I took this shot I faced the sun above the Elephant which created the rainbow 🌈 effect through my lens. I thought I share this lovely ‘bad picture’ anyway.

Have a good evening!

#Thandasafari @thandasafari

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

THE EVENING POST – WELCOME BACK

Everyone! at Thanda Safari is getting ready to welcoming our guests back as soon as the lockdown is over 😊 I took this picture of one of our Lionesses inspecting our entrance gate!

#Thandasafari @thandasafari

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

THE EVENING POST – CHEWING BONES

In the winter month Giraffes often chew bones to augment the calcium and phosphorus levels in their bodies. This evening I took this short video of a chewing male Giraffe being irritated by an Oxpecker looking for Ticks on the Giraffe’s neck.

Have a good night 💤

#Thandasafari @thandasafari

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

THE MORNING POST – COLD AND MAGICAL

Winter mornings can be quite cold, especially on an open Land Rover driving through the mist. But when sun breaks through it can look magical 😊

Have a good day!

#Thandasafari @thandasafari

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

THE EVENING POST – A QUIET DRIVE

This afternoon’s game drive was very quiet with only a very few sightings. But I got rewarded at the end with a beautiful sunset, Giraffes, Impalas, Wildebeest, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbills and Crowned Lapwings, all on the Thanda Savanna.

Enjoy your evening 😊

#Thandasafari @thandasafari

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

THE MORNING POST – WINTER RAIN

It is the first time since my arrival in South Africa – over eight years ago – that we had rain in June. The over 50mm (about 2″) are very welcome.

For a little while there will be water puddles all over the reserve which the smaller creatures use to quench their thirst and the large ones, like this Cape Buffalo Bull, often use for a cooling mud bath on a hot day. I ran into this impressive Dugga boy during last night’s game drive. Dugga boy is a local term for a single old Buffalo bull which is no longer moving with the herd but stay by himself.

Have a good week!

#Thandasafari @thandasafari

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

THE MORNING POST – TREE ICE CREAM

Elephants love to eat the inside layer of the bark of trees. This is the ‘transport system’ which trees use to move nutrients and water from the roots to the branches and leaves. Judging by the gusto Ellies enjoy the phloem (transport layer) it must be as desirable to Elephants as ice cream is to me 😊

Have a good Sunday!

#Thandasafari @thandasafari

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

THE MORNING POST – ELEPHANT PARADE

This is my favorite Thanda Safari Elephant video clip which I took a while ago. I am not sure if I ever shared it with you. Well, here it is (maybe again 😊).

#Thandasafari @thandasafari

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography