This picture shows an interesting comparison between an adult male and an adult female African Elephant. Size is the most significant visual sign of Elephants’ sexual dimorphism.
On the left is one of Thanda oldest and largest bulls (he his almost 50 years old) and on the right is Thanda’s oldest and largest female (she is around 40 years old). The female, a tusk-less African Elephant, is the matriarch of Thanda’s herd of Elephant.
Imagine you are a two month old Thanda Baby Elephant …
“A hot day today. Mum is walking very fast. Grandma wants to find water. So we walk and walk and walk. I wish I had longer legs.
That grass is too high – Being the smallest is no fun 😦
I can’t see a thing – mum wait!!!
OK – That’s better!
Oh, I got an itch! Mummy, don’t move, I am gonna use your legs as a rubbing post.
Yes, yees, yeees – much better!
I am thirsty – let’s go!
Mummy come on – I see the water, I see the water!
Give me a bit of space, pleeeease!
That’s better!
Nice family – what do you think? :-)”
This is a “record” of a walk to water, enjoyed by many Thanda guests on sunny morning.
I would rate this image of Thanda’s youngest Elephant with “Cuteness Factor 100”.
To the delight of all Thanda guests he and his family came for a drink stop at the small pond in front of the Thanda Safari Lodge.
What a morning!
This image, taken on one of my recent game drives with Thanda guests, shows clearly that Elephants have elbows on their front legs and knees on their back legs – just like us 🙂
On the same drive one of our large Elephant bulls appeared just next to us out of the bush. An exciting moment for the guests, not used to the sudden appearance of 6 ton animals. The bull calmly waited for us to get of the road so he could continue to strive in his planned direction – following the herd.
And one of the younger bulls demonstrated his ability to strip the nutrient-rich layer from underneath a tree’s bark, using his tusks and his trunk.
What a great Elephant sighting!
Pictures by Christian Sperka – Specialist Photography Guide and Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Private Game Reserve.
I wish all my friends around the world a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014
Picture: The THANDA Elephant herd on the mountains in the western part of the reserve.
The Thanda guests enjoyed great sightings over the Christmas holidays.
Two young Elephant bulls giving a sparring demonstration …
… a White Rhino mum and her son hosting an Oxpecker party …
… a young Kudu bull in front of a beautiful Thanda vista …
… and Thanda’s dominant male Lion smacking his lips after a big meal!
Happy Holidays!
Pictures by Christian Sperka – Specialist Photography Guide and Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Private Game Reserve.
This small Elephant did not mind the rain. He was moving between all his elders and ended up with mum – demanding his morning meal.
The Thanda guests enjoyed their early morning game drive – despite the summer rain!
In a five-star lodge service delays are not acceptable. So normally the game drives start just in time! But the rules change when the Thanda Elephants get involved.
Today a few of Thanda Elephant bulls were making their way to the Lodge when guests spotted them from the Lodge deck just before game drive.
Everyone waited patiently for the giant creatures to arrive. And only after they finished their drink at the water feature in front of the Lodge did the guests depart for the evening drive.
Half an hour late – quite acceptable when caused by Elephants 🙂
This small Thanda Elephant bull wanted to make sure that we came no further towards the herd. All the adult females were very relaxed when this little one showed us that he is a big Elephant already.
We adhered to his wishes and approach no further. He shook his head in “big bull fashion” and turned away to continue with his feeding.
A very memorable Thanda Elephant encounter 🙂
At the small waterhole in front of Thanda’s Villa iZulu a Spotted Hyena and a journey of Southern Giraffe met and interacted for almost an hour. This image shows Bheki in between the actors in this early morning drama.
… The Hyena had come to the waterhole when the Giraffe interrupted its morning drink…
… It moved off when the tallest land mammals came in to have their drink …
… But not far – at one time the carnivore ventured almost to “kicking distance” …
… We left after watching this scene for almost an hour – On the way back to Thanda’s Safari Lodge we ran into an Elephant road block. The matriarch was having an eye on us while we followed the herd slowly until they made their way through the bush to another waterhole. What a morning!
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 