Happy New Year
2024 in a few pics!
This is a video slide show with 52 of my favorite wildlife pictures of 2024. Let’s see what 2025 will bring …
Happy New Year to all of you!
#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography
The Green Mamba is back!
https://sperka.info/the-green-mamba-ii/
After almost two years without a dedicated photography game viewing vehicle, I am happy to announce that the new Green Mamba II is now in service.
My sincere thanks to Thanda Safari management for making this joint venture possible.
The expertly converted Toyota Land Cruiser has all the extra features of the retired Green Mamba and some new ones. She is now available to photographers or guests who would like to experience truly luxurious private game drives. As guide and photographer I will not only conduct the private safaris but also provide pictures of all sightings to my guests as part of this special service.
All the details about this exceptional vehicle are available at https://sperka.info/the-green-mamba-ii/
If you will be staying as a guest at Thanda Safari and you are interested in driving with me on the Green Mamba II during your stay, please contact Thanda at reservations@thanda.co.za.
If you have any questions about the new vehicle or my services, you can contact me via WhatsApp at +27633294323.
#TheGreenMamba #amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography
A Christmas Day Sunset
When I returned to Thanda Safari from Pakamisa in the late afternoon, I decided to watch the sunset from my favorite spot at one of our largest waterholes.
After two very enjoyable days with friends, I experienced this beautiful scene under heavy rain clouds.
I hope you had a good Christmas Day and I wish you a relaxing Boxing Day (Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag).
Christmas time …
To all my friends and followers around the world:
I wish you a Merry Christmas
Ngikufisela ukhisimusi omuhle
Ich wünsche Euch ein frohes Weihnachtsfest
Ek wens jou ‘n geseënde Kersfees toe
All the best from rainy and hot South Africa!
Christian
A week!
Some of my favorite images from the last week. I hope you will enjoy them.
#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography
My Camera Setup
If you do not have a DSLR or mirrorless system camera, then I recommend that you simply enjoy the rhino bums picture and ignore this text 😊.
I am frequently asked about how I set up my cameras for Motion (Wildlife) Photography, and I have set up hundreds of cameras over the last twelve years for Thanda Safari guests.
Here is a link to a page with the details for the setup of my Canon EOS R6s and R6 Mark II.
All the notes correspond to the menus of the R6 but can also be used as a guide to set up any other Canon EOS camera and even cameras from other manufacturers.
Note: This is the way I set up my cameras, the way I work to get my images, and the way I teach my photography students. There are many other possible settings which can lead to great results, but this is what works for me.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography #customluxurytours
Mzimkulu Vulture Hide
A visit to the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide in the Southern Drakensberg (near Underberg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa) is a very rewarding outing for any bider, and especially for bird photographers.
This is a short video slide show with some of the images I took during my recent visit.
For more info go to https://www.saveourvultures.com
In just one day!
It took all these pictures today on Thanda. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much I enjoyed taking them.
Have a good weekend!
#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography
Back online! … from my Drakensberg Trip!
After a few days in the Drakensberg I am now back at work and I am back online!
The main reason for my trip to The Berg was to attend a series of concerts of the world famous Drakensberg Boys Choir. I enjoyed all the programmes very much (classical, ‘christmassy’, South African traditional, and contemporary) and will certainly be back for next year’s ‘Christmas in the Berg’ festival (5-7 December 2025).
https://dbchoir.com
I stayed again at Dragonview Lodge and took pictures at Falcon Ridge Bird of Prey Centre, which I visited many times before.
https://dragonview.co.za
And I took the opportunity to check out a few new activities and accommodation options to add to the portfolio which I offer to my Custom Luxury Tour guests.
A Drakensberg Helicopter Tour into the mountains was one of the best heli-excursions I ever did in my life. The various length flights leave from a small airstrip just next to the Drakensberg Boys Choir School. A great way to see the mountains close up, especially if one is not a hiker!
https://bergflying.co.za
I also went for a short walk (not a hike 😊) into the nearby Monks Cowl nature reserve (part of the Maloti-Drakensberg World Heritage Site). From the Monks Cowl ‘base camp’ many hiking trails lead into the mountains (even for multi day hiking excursions).
https://www.kznwildlife.com/ecotourism-home/item/monks-cowl.html
After two nights in the Central Drakensberg (Champagne Valley) I relocated to the Southern Drakensberg (Underberg area). I stayed at Moorcroft Manor Boutique Country Hotel in Himeville. This small, quiet and very beautiful place (with 12 rooms) will be my future base for trips with guests to the Southern Drakensberg (including Sani Pass tours into Lesotho).
https://www.moorcroft.co.za
The Mzimkulu Vulture Hide is only 10 minutes away from the Underberg. I spent 9 hours taking pictures not only of a large group of Cape Vultures but of many other bird species. I highly recommend this activity to any keen bird photographer.
https://www.saveourvultures.com
I will come back soon and I hope I will be lucky next time to get pictures of Bearded Vultures.
Before I returned back home I visited the nearby Kenmo Lake. A small nature reserve with excellent birding opportunities.
It was a very enjoyable time off.
Please let me know if you have any questions about my recent Drakensberg adventures.
#christiansperkaphotography
#customluxurytours
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 