Tag: christian sperka

Posted on

2016 Travel Journal – Days 27 to 31 – Pakamisa

Me and Thanda - This young horse is named 'Love' the same as my home game reserve ...
Thanda and me – This young horse is named ‘Love’ in isiZulu the same as my home – Thanda Safari – Private Game Reserve.

I spent at few days – including my birthday – at one of my favorite places – Pakamisa Private Game Reserve – http://www.pakamisa.com.

Pakamisa, as most of KwaZulu Natal, is still suffering under the very dry weather conditions. There has not been any substantial rain for a long time and this winter (dry season) will continue to be very difficult for “man and beast”. It is not the lack of water but the lack of food which is the major threat to grazing species during a drought. Pakamisa is now supplementing food to help its grazer population to survive the winter.

These are a few pictures I took during this relaxing stay. I have a few more days to myself before I will be back to work at Thanda Safari!

Pakamisa in the early morning …
Too dry …
On the way to the stables …
The Pakamisa team training young horses …
Prinz – Pakamisa’s stallion – longing for the ladies …
Baraka and Prinz …
Thanda and me – This young horse is named ‘Love’ in isiZulu …
Room with a view – Wildebeest in front of my room …
The Pakamisa anti-poaching team patrolling …
A proud male …
The of cantering …
Gwala Gwala …
Purple-crested Turaco …
Takoff and Landing …
Mother and daughter …
Mother and son …

 

Posted on

2016 Travel Journal – Days 17,18 and 19

There and back again!

Day 17 – QI lunch on the terrace

As many of you know I normally do not watch TV, and certainly no quiz shows. But there is an exception – it is a BBC 2 show hosted by Stephen Fry called QI (‘quite interesting’). All episodes are available online on YouTube. It is a great combination of British humor and many interesting facts about ‘all-sorts’. I watch episodes on my iPhone 6 Plus when I have a bit of spare time.

One of the pictures below shows my delicious ‘QI lunch’ on the terrace of my parents’ house in Germany – with poopy seed rolls, Bündnerfleisch (dried Swiss meat), Emmentaler cheese and Fleischkäse (traditional German lunch meat), followed by some of my mum’s superb poppy seed cake.

Day 18 – Last day in Europe

Today was my last day in Germany – tomorrow morning I will leave from Zurich, Switzerland, to South Africa.

I spend a bit of time in the town of Bad Saeckingen, having a look at the cathedral and the old wooden bridge crossing the Rhine river. I grew up in this area and I went to school there for nine years – a long time ago 🙂

PS: My today’s flight to South Africa got cancelled. Now I flying on a day-flight tomorrow morning – which I am looking forward to – seeing Africa from the sky during the day 🙂

Day 19 – Over the African continent

I enjoyed my trip over the African continent. I departed Zurich around eight in the morning and I landed after dark in Johannesburg.

This very good flight marked the end of an excellent Europe trip. As every year the highlight was seeing all my family and friends (and gaining a few kilos while having many excellent lunches and dinners). Thanks!

Picture marked with a * were taken with my iPhone 6 Plus or my iPhone 5s

Over the Caprivi strip …
* QI lunch …
From the wooden bridge – Bad Saeckingen – the border between Germany and Switzerland …
* Inside the cathedral …
* The organ …
A Bad Saeckingen town wall tower …
The Fuchshoehle – a beautiful old building with a delicatessen store run by friends of mine …
* Waiting for my plane at Zurich airport …
* Takeoff from Switzerland …
* A glimpse of the alps …
Over the wing …
Over the Sahara …
* Many colors …
* Many patterns …
Sunset …
* Back at home after crossing the continent (the long way) …
Posted on

2016 Travel Journal – Day 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13

A few more exciting days in Europe. I visited the Zürich Zoo, I enjoyed Gregorian Vespers Chants and beautiful architecture at the Einsiedeln Abbey, I had more excellent lunches and dinners with friends and family, and I have visited my ‘2000-2007 home town’ of Zofingen in Switzerland over the weekend.

Enjoy the images – more to come!

Peacock @ Zurich Zoo
Egyptian Vulture @ Zurich Zoo
Peacock @ Zurich Zoo
Flora @ Zurich Zoo
Red Panda @ Zurich Zoo
Male Indian Lion @ Zurich Zoo
Masoala Rain Forest @ Zurich Zoo
Giant Day Gecko @ Zurich Zoo
Panther Chameleon @ Zurich Zoo
Scarlet Ibis @ Zurich Zoo
Einsiedeln Abbey
Einsiedeln Abbey
Black Madonna @ Einsiedeln Abbey
Flower shop decoration in Zofingen
Wedding Carriage in Zofingen
A ‘virtual FIFA football’ tournament – no corruption 🙂 at a mall near Zofingen
My favorite cheese store in Zofingen
The Thut fountain near Zofingen’s city hall
Smiling in the rain (in a Swiss army poncho!)
Posted on

2016 Travel Journal – Day 6, 7 & 8

A special day in Germany, celebrating my dad’s birthday. Three days with many lunches and dinners joining family and friend, and two short visits to a small zoo near Lucerne and a wild game park near my former home town of Zofingen in Switzerland.

Enjoy the images – more to come soon!

Very cute …
Very shy …
Very curious …
Very still …
Very observant …
Very sleepy …
Very white …
Very focused …
Very ‘Summer’ …
Posted on

Clean-Up

The cleanup-crew was busy in front of my home (Thanda House) when I left in the early morning hours (6:06am). These three Spotted Hyena were cleaning up a nearby Lion kill.

20160501 - CS3_8356 - E
… and have a look at this recent Thanda Safari blog about our Hyena census project https://thandablog.com/2016/05/18/hyena-census/

Posted on

‘Hello, I am on my way home!’

A journey of Giraffe (8 in total) were crossing the road in front of my home, just as I was approaching. I waited patiently for these graceful giants to move on before I passed through the gate to Thanda House.

20160516 - CS1_8821 - E - 00

Posted on

Morning has broken!

This was the view a few minutes ago when stepped in front of my room at Thanda House – winter is coming and so are the beautiful sunrises and sunsets – Have a good day!

Posted on

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

With this electronic bouquet of Proteas I wish my mum (in Germany) and all the mums around the world – in the eighty countries, where this special day is celebrated today – a VERY HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY.

ALLES GUTE ZUM MUTTERTAG !

IMG_7284

Posted on

50mm

20160503 - CS3_9601 - C - 00

It has been years since I have used a ‘short fixed focus length lens’. Last week, when cleaning my equipment, I picked up my Canon EF f1.4/50mm lens and decided to put in my camera case to give it a try at low light.

And two days ago such a scenario presented itself.

After the sun had set I took this image of our north pride Lions sleeping off a good meal. With very shallow depth of field it creates a special artsy atmosphere. I like it and I think I will use this ‘short beauty’ more often.

Blog at WordPress.com.