This young juvenile Lioness is playing rough with her brother. I “found” this picture when I was organizing my pictures which I took before the rains. I like the action.
We have two Lion prides on Thanda. One in the North of the reserve and one in the South.
Have a good week!
You may never heard of the Mapogo Male Lion Coalition of the Sabi Sands. For years a six male coalition “ruled” the Lion prides in the Sabi Sands. Two of these (now ten year old) Lions are still alive. Today we found and walked these two legendary males. We took a direct approach in which we made sure that the Lions knew we were there. The picture above was taken during the encounter.
We approached to about 50 meters (~ 130 feet) when one of the Lions showed some sign of “dis-comfort” with our presence. We extracted slowly (and safely) from the sighting. It was one of the most exciting things I ever done in my life!
We then went back and viewed them from our game viewer.
In the last few days we completed walks 6,7,8 and 9. This makes it now 49 km (= 31 miles) and 28 hours walking in the bush during the last week. The two pictures below are sightings of White Rhino and Buffalo on foot.
PS: If you like to know more about the Trails Guiding Course go to http://www.africanaturetraining.co.za. A great experience, even if you do it for fun and not for professional reasons.
To read more about the Mapogo males go to
What a night!
After I finished my evening game drive and after a quick meal at Intebane camp I was ready to go home. It was a dark, warm night with many stars overhead.
Just when I left the camp I heard a Lion’s roar nearby. Just a few hundred meters (yards 🙂 up the road a large male Lion walked towards me in the dark. Once he appeared in my headlights I switched them off, stopped the engine and watched him passing my vehicle just within a few meters (using my red-filtered spotlight).
I turned my car around and started following him. He made his way around the camp and moved to a dried-up waterhole in the valley below. On his way he stopped a few times to listen to the voices from the camp and to scent-mark along the road. He finally settled down in the middle of the waterhole. I switched off my car and my lights and I did let me eyes get used to the dark.
I stay with him for a while – looking at the stars in total silence – just a few meters away from one of the most magnificent creatures on earth.
That is why I love Africa!
These two adult male Lions on Thanda are working on their relationship 🙂
For the last few days they have been “hanging out” together. They have been seen fighting, roaring at one another, scent marking in front of each other and for most of the time just resting in a few meters distance from one another or just walking down the road.
This morning we found them resting on the side of a road, then having a go at one another before settling down to rest again.
It will be interesting to see how this “male bonding” will end!
If you ever thought how it looks from the Lion’s point of view when we photographer’s shoot in the bush. Here is the answer 🙂
We were watching the Thanda North Pride feasting on a Wilderbeest kill. The young male was observing us closely …
… while his sister played with the Wilderbeest tail!
And for the photographers among my blog readers here are the technical info about the images:
Picture 1 – Camera Canon 1D Mark IV – Canon Lens L 28-300mm – at 130mm – 1/1600sec – f/5.6 – ISO 3200 – +1eV – freehand
Picture 2 – Camera Canon 1D Mark IV – Canon Lens L 28-300mm – at 300mm – 1/500sec – f/5.6 – ISO 400 – +/-0eV – freehand
Picture 3 – Camera Canon 1D Mark IV – Canon Lens L 28-300mm – at 220mm – 1/1000sec – f/5.6 – ISO 1600 – -0.33eV – freehand
A lot of people have asked me if they were more images of the Battle at Thanda.
Here is link to a YouTube Video with video footage and with more images of the interaction:
CAUTION: PLEASE DO NOT PLAY THE VIDEO IF YOU ARE DISTURBED BY WILD ANIMAL INTERACTION VIDEOS AND PICTURES!
Thanks to Mariana Venter for letting me use the video footage and some of the images she took at the encounter.
Today’s morning game drive started very slow. It had been a cold night with high winds and most animals had withdrawn into thick bush.
I tried to find Elephants but the only animals I found after 1.5 hours search were a group of Giraffe. But while we were watching them a young Elephant bull walked in on us. After showing his annoyance with a few head-shakes he moved off into the forest and moved away.
For our way home to Intebane camp I had chosen a route over a hill. When we came over the ridge the six Thanda South Pride Lions walk straight towards our game viewer. I stopped the car and told everyone to sit still. The Lions passed within a few feet of our car. Very exciting for the volunteers!
We followed them for a while and I got the beautiful shot of the young south pride male.
I love Lions!
A few people have asked me: Why/how did the Zebra get away.
The answer: With a good kick – as you can see in this picture 🙂
This shot is a bit out of focus, but I thought it is worth posting it to illustrate the strength of a Zebra.
Have a good weekend!
What a day!
At the end of our morning game drive we encountered a Lioness stalking a group of Zebra and Wildebeest.
I positioned the vehicle to the left of the lioness half-way between her and her prey. She singled out the Zebra that had gotten very close to her. The Zebra saw her just before she was able to start her run.
She almost got the Zebra, but in the end she had to give up and the Zebra got away.
Have a look at her face – Pure Focus!
And on the way home a few lions were very close to the road in the high grass. When we drove by (without knowing that they were there) they gave the car a short chase. This was very exciting for my passengers 🙂
For the Zebra it was a lucky Friday, the 13th, and it was for us seeing this scene!
If you ever have seen the YouTube video “Battle at Kruger” here are images of a similar scenario at Thanda Private Game Reserve.
The actors in the drama were a herd of Buffalo, a Buffalo calf, a male Lion and an Elephant bull.
CAUTION: PLEASE DO NOT SCROLL DOWN AND READ FURTHER IF YOU ARE DISTURBED BY WILD ANIMAL INTERACTION PICTURES!
WATCH THE VIDEO OF THIS ENCOUNTER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOEe5QeiKuU
It all started with the herd of Buffalo drinking at a waterhole. A young Buffalo calf had an injury above its left front leg which seem to have resulted in an infection. The calf could no longer follow the herd when they were ready to leave the waterhole.
Its cries for help attracted a male Lion who came to investigate. When he attacked the calf the Buffalo herd returned to the waterhole to defend the calf. The lion ran off.
The herd tried to leave again, but the calf – now also injured from the lion attack – could not follow. The Lion moved in again without actually making contact with the calf. This is my first picture as I arrived on the scene at this stage – the Assistant Wildlife Manager – Mariana – was already on the scene.
The herd drove the Lion off again.
And now an bull Elephant arrived at the waterhole to have a drink. He first ignored the calf now lying on the ground. At this stage I had to leave, so the following pictures are thanks to Mariana, who continued operating my camera in my absence (Excellent job – thanks!)
The lion tried to move in again, but the Elephant now drove him off. The Buffalo returned and guarded the calf for a while with the Elephant watching.
Only after all Buffalos and the Elephant had left the scene did the Lion return. He then carried away the carcass into thick bush.
The most amazing thing for me was that the small calf faced the lion and did not try to run away – a true Buffalo!
Below is a picture of the calf with its mother, which I took four days ago. At that stage the wound was visible, but the calf was still fully mobile.
A bit sad, but this is nature at work!
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 