My last two weeks in wildlife pictures: What a wonderful world! I hope you enjoy them.
#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography
Two weeks!
Canon on EyeLevel – Roaring Lion!
This morning I captured a short video clip of one of Thanda Safari’s male Lions roaring. One of the most impressive sounds to be heard on the African savanna!
Technical data Video: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | 4K video recording | Cropped/sized to HD
Technical data Picture: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 400 | 1/60sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode
#CanonOnEyeLevel
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A Rhino Walk!
Sometimes work related to wildlife conservation can get very exciting.
As part of the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project one of these incredible creatures was relocated from Thanda Safari to a new home to expand the range of the species.
When the Rhino was darted it fell asleep not next to the road, as we had hoped, but a bit down a hillside. So it was decided to clean a path, partially wake it up, and then ‘rhino walk’ it up to the waiting container truck.
This is a short video showing as all hands helped, so this large mammal could get to its new home. A job well done!
#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography
Canon & EyeLevel – Zebras
A dazzle of Burchell’s Zebra at Thanda Safari having a bit of an argument!
#CanonOnEyeLevel
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Nine weeks …
My last nine weeks in wildlife pictures: What a wonderful world! I hope you enjoy them.
#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography
Before sunrise!
Just before sunrise I took this image with my iPhone. I think it has a painting-like quality showing my road to work …
Technical data: Apple 14 Pro Max | Ultra Wide Camera 13mm | ISO 1000 | 1/6600sec | f2.2 | ev+0 | Edit: Shadows enhanced
#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography
Crossing the road!
Black Rhino are usually very shy and do not like to be in the open. Most encounters are a quick look, a fast turn, and a run straight into protective bush.
But last night we had an incredible sighting of this Black Rhino bull calmly drinking at a waterhole and then the crossing the road walking away in a stately pace.
This is my favorite picture from our photo shoot !
Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 1000 | 1/500sec | f6.7 | ev+0 | 150mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode
#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography
Mgazi has passed on!
Two days ago, Mgazi (Totoli Ntshangase) died at the age of 80 at Bethesda Hospital in Zululand.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a highly respected member of his community.
Over many years Thanda Safari guests visited him, his wife Silvina, and his family, to learn about life in a rural Zulu community.
I am honored to have know him as a friend, even if we needed to communicate through an interpreter.
His and his wife’s willingness to open their home to foreigners and welcome them warmly has always impressed me, and I will continue to visit the family whenever I can.
I have written this post because a few of you have known him, or read about him in the book Leon Wobbe and I wrote a few years ago. And I am sure many of you would have enjoyed knowing him.
My thoughts are with his wife and his family during this difficult time.
To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die. Thomas Campbell
Mountains, Battles, Wetlands, Ocean, and The Big Five!
A Picture Travel Report
I love guiding guests from all over the world through KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), my incredibly diverse home province, and I try to show them the best it has to offer. This is a report of my most recent trip.
As part of my service, my guests received a link to a download library of 850 full-resolution images, which I took with Canon camera equipment and iPhones during our travels.
This is a report with pictures of this 20 days Custom Luxury Tour.
Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments or via direct message on WhatsApp (+27633294323).
For more info about my Custom Luxury Tours go to http://www.sperka.info.
Day 1 – Arrival …
My guests arrived in the late afternoon, and we had an excellent welcome dinner next to the Indian Ocean at Bel Punto, my favorite Italian restaurant in the Durban area. We stayed one night at Lavender Moon Guest House in Umhlanga before we headed off on our tour through KZN.
Day 2 – Into the Mountains …
On our way from Durban into the Drakensberg mountains we stopped at the impressive Howick Falls, the fascinating Nelson Mandela Capture Site Museum, and had lunch at the famous Piggly Wiggly coffee shop in the Midlands. We stayed for two nights at the Dragonview Lodge in the Champagne Valley.
Day 3 – Raptors and Music …
My two favorite activities in the Drakensberg were on the program: The raptor show at Falcon Ridge Bird of Prey Centre show and the Wednesday concert of the world renowned Drakensberg Boys Choir.
Day 4 – Art and Gourmet Cuisine …
While traveling South to enjoy the beautiful setting and excellent cuisine of Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse, where we stayed the next three days, we visited The Platform Gallery with contemporary South African art, and Ardmore Ceramic Art. It was most interesting to observe the local Zulu artists creating incredible ceramic art.
Day 5 – A Walk and A Rest …
This was the first day where my guests got some good rest in a most relaxing and scenic environment. We just went for a short walk on the Highmoor Nature Reserve on a mountain plateau nearby.
Day 6 – A Steep Ascent and an Extra Country…
We went for a full day excursion up the incredibly steep and stony Sani Pass into the Kingdom of Lesotho, and we had a surprisingly good lunch at the ‘Highest Pub in Africa’. My first trip ever into Lesotho!
Day 7 – Into the Battlefields …
We visited the Blood River Battlefield (1838 – Zulu-Boer War). It is a most significant site playing a big role in South African history and in defining the identity of many Afrikaans people. Our battlefield guide was excellent! For the next three nights we stayed at my favorite place in the battlefields, called Fugitives Drift Lodge.
Day 8 – British defeat …
At the battle of Isandlwana (1879 Anglo-Zulu War) the British army suffered the worst single battle defeat in the colonial history of the country. Bryan, our battlefield guide, narrated the visit superbly.
Day 9 – The most Victoria Crosses …
The battle of Rorke’s Drift commenced in the afternoon of the same days as the battle of Isandlwana, and lasted into the early hours of the next day. The most Victoria Crosses for a single battle where awarded to the heroic men who won this battle. Douglas Rattray was our guide to this battle ground and his narration was superb!
Day 10 – Into the Wetlands …
The next two days we spent at Makakatana Bay Lodge in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. I love the environment around Lake St. Lucia with its stark contrast to the Forest Savanna at Thanda Safari.
Day 11 – On the Lake …
Today a Hippo Cruise on Lake St.Lucia was on the program. We had very good hippo and croc sightings and even more impressive bird encounters.
Day 12 – Coming home …
On our way to my ‘home ground’ at Thanda Safari we visited the Crocodile Centre in St. Lucia. The next five nights my guests spent at the Thanda Safari Lodge with Bheki (my tracker) and I introducing them to the Big Five!
Day 13 – Elephants and Cheetah …
… on two game drives at Thanda Safari!
Day 14 – Rhino and Giraffe …
… and many more species during two more game drives.
Day 15 – Lion and Buffalo …
… during two more drives.
Day 16 – Zulu Community …
We visited a Zulu family in a local community. Not a tourist show, just a visit of people from different counties chatting about their respective lives.
Day 17 – The Last Game Drive …
A last game drive in the morning and then we were off back towards Durban/Umhlanga, where we stayed at the unique Oysterbox Hotel for the last three nights of this KZN tour.
Day 18 – Sharks and Co …
The uShaka Marine World aquarium was well worth a visit. We also had a look at the Durban harbour and a short walk along the Indian Ocean beach.
Day 19 – Not the Usual Tour …
The Culture Shock Tour of Durban is a walking tour of downtown Durban. Together with Johnny, a local guide for this adventure, one explores all the local markets and areas where tourists usually do not go.
Day 20 – Goodbye …
A last view of the Indian Ocean
My guests called it a ‘trip of a lifetime’. It is incredible what KwaZulu Natal has to offer!
Here are few trip stats, for the ones of you who like details:
- 20 Day road trip (using a Toyota Fortuner SUV)
- 7 Overnight locations
- 20 activities/excursions (w/o game drives)
- 11 game drives with > 25 large mammal species, > 80 bird species, and many ectotherm species
- Route: Durban – Drakensberg – Lesotho – Battlefields – Wetlands – Thanda Safari – Durban – over 2,500 km (1,600 miles) of exploring the province in easy stages absorbing the varying country side
- My services include organizing all accommodations, meals, and activities, hosting and guiding throughout the trip, driving the vehicle, taking pictures of everything on the trip for the guest, and taking care of any issues which might arise during travel
Down the road…
… stood this young Kudu bull. He was stock-still, awaiting my move.
Often, the first reaction of many prey species is not to run when they encounter a predator (or anything else moving about which they are not certain, like me in my Jimny).
Instead, they freeze in place to see if the sighted potential threat continues on a course parallel or away from themselves. If that is the case, they go back to what they were doing before the encounter.
But if the subject of interest (me in this case!) turns towards them or remains still for too long, then they will take evasive action and run away.
This is exactly what happened in this case as I had to continue on the road.
Technical data: Canon R6 with EF lens f2.8/70-200mm | ISO 100 | 1/500sec | f2.8 | ev+0 | 170mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode
#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 