THE EVENING POST – PROCREATION

It is the time of the year when many species are ensuring their next generation. Warthogs are usually very shy and run away as soon as one approaches them but these two were rather relaxed 😊

Enjoy your evening!

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THE MORNING POST – JUST A MINUTE

This is an add-on to yesterday evening’s post. As the ladies were chewing bones and showing affection to one another the boys did what boys do: They fought!

These two young bulls were engaged in a long sparring session. I watched them for about 15 minutes and they were not finished when I left. This little video is only a minute so you can get an impression what Giraffe fighting looks like.

In a serious fight between two large adult males the blows to the neck, throat and head can be so severe that one opponent dies of his wounds. These gentle giants are not always gentle!

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THE EVENING POST – A VERY LARGE JOURNEY

The collective noun for Giraffes is a journey. And today I counted 27 of these tall creatures all over Thanda Safari’s savanna. This was one of the largest journeys of Giraffes I have ever seen.

The picture shows two females. The left one is chewing on a bone to provide extra calcium and phosphate for its metabolism and the one on the right is showing her some affection.

Have a good evening 😊

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THE MORNING POST – BATTLE SCARS

Who inflicted all these scars on the face of this male Lion? Most likely his brother. The two males form what is called a coalition. Which means they control their territory together, hunt together, sleep next to one another and very seldom separate.

But they also fight with one another as soon as a Lioness in estrous enters the scene. The stronger and more dominant one gets to mate with the lady. The submissive one has to keep his distance if he does not want a beating. This one obviously got in a bit of a fight a few times 😊

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THE EVENING POST – TRANQUILITY

It was quite foggy and very chilly when I drove this morning to one of the more remote waterholes on Thanda Safari. I spent there a few very quiet hours listening to bird sounds all around me. Only one old Buffalo Bull was coming to drink.

But sometimes ‘not much happening’ is just what is needed 😊

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#lockdownsafari

THE MORNING POST – LITTLE GEM

These little birds are so colorful that they sometimes sparkle in the light like little gems.

I miss my regular photography excursions to Lake St.Lucia in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and to Nsumo Dam at Mkuze Game Reserve where one can find Malachite Kingfishers and many other aquatic bird species.

Have a pleasant day!

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari #lockdownsafari

THE EVENING POST – TRUMPETS AND GROWLS

I had an excellent evening drive. First I spent an hour in between a breeding herd of Elephants feeding all around me and then I experienced some Lion tension between two brothers. One of them was attending to a female in estrous while keeping her away from his submissive rival. A lot of growling and paw-fighting. A not so quiet Sunday 😊!

Have a good week.

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari #lockdownsafari

THE MORNING POST – TWO VIEWS – ONE MOON

These are two pictures of the moon taken from Thanda Safari at exactly the same time in the early morning hours.

The picture on the top was taken with a Canon DSLR and a 500mm lens and the picture below with an iPhone XS Max. These two incredible tools often complement one another rather than compete.

Have a peaceful Sunday 😊

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THE EVENING POST – A BIT OF A SWAGGER

At the end of today’s game drive I took this short video of an Elephant bull following a breeding herd. Like a teenager he walked confidently down the road with a bit of a swagger before turning into the tree-line.

Have a good Sunday!

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THE MORNING POST – VERY WET

This is one of the cutest pictures I have been taking in a long time. This small Baby Rhino was walking with its mum through high grass in the early morning hours. From all the dew on the grass it got very wet and was a bit irritated with the world … and with me 😊

Have a good Saturday.

#Thandasafari @thandasafari

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #lockdownsafari