PAKAMISA – Page 3 – Christian Sperka Photography

2015-03-262015-03-26

My Great-Uncle would have been proud!

In the 1950s and 1960s my great-uncle, Werner Knecht, was a well known food photographer in Switzerland. He would have been proud to know that three of my food images were published in a South African magazine called “Urban Life’n Style”.

Have a look at this article about Pakamisa’s Head Chef Thandeka Nxumalo and her recipes at http://issuu.com/urbanlifenstyle/docs/april_2015/68.

Pakamisa is a private game reserve in KwaZulu Natal focusing on horseback safaris. It features a five star lodge with stunning vistas and an excellent cuisine.

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Looking good!

Well, you can attribute the title of this blog either to me, Badger (the horse I am riding), the Giraffe lady (with her admirer) or the fast growing Ostriches on Pakamisa :-). Have a look at all the images!

I am spending again a few of my off-days relaxing at Pakamisa (in very hot weather!)

Badger and me (with my special safari hat :-). Picture by Isabella Stepski

A lady (left) and her admirer.

Small no longer. Pakamisa’s Ostrich chicks with their mum in the middle.

This young Ostrich was observed by one of Pakamisa’s mares as it moved towards the stables for its evening dinner!

2014-12-09

Baccara and Bohemia

I am back from five days at Pakamisa Private Game Reserve with people-, horse-, food- and wildlife- photography – a full program!

This is one of my favorite shots from this stay: Baccara, one of Pakamisa’s Arabian mares, with her daughter Bohemia in the background. With the help and guidance from Isabella Stepski, the owner of Pakamisa, I am steadily improving my “horse photography skills”.

More to come …

2014-12-07

A light breakfast with Ostrich :-)

An Ostrich female was grazing on the Pakamisa mountain – just below the restaurant – as I had breakfast this morning. What a view and what a way to start the weekend!

The pictures were taken with my iPhone. I got caught without a camera this morning 🙂

2014-11-25

The Horse Photographer :-)

I love Wildlife Photography but I also enjoy taking pictures of horses in action (with riders or without).

The picture above is of …
… me and Kara, a pure Arabian mare, looking at one another after a photo shoot.
… Isabella Stepski – Pakamisa’s owner – holding Kara.
… Mark – a Pakamisa guest – on Zulu (a Boerperd) smiling at the unusual scene with me posing in front of the camera :-).

Thanks to Daan for taking the picture!

Below are a few more images from my last stay at Pakamisa. Enjoy the variety!

Tina on El Dorado “speeding”

Two geldings on the way to dinner

Excitement at the stables

A Wildebeest with war paint 🙂

New arrivals – Impala fawns appearing all over the place

Another picture of me on Badger – having a good time!

Sunset at Pakamisa

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Best of KwaZulu Natal

My brother Stefan visited me from Germany. He stayed in South Africa for the last two weeks.

We had a great time at three of the best places KwaZulu Natal has to offer!

First we enjoyed pure luxury on the Indian ocean staying at The Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga. Then we moved on to my “home ground” to experience the Big Five at Thanda Private Game Reserve in the heart of Zululand. The last five days we spent horse riding and relaxing on Pakamisa Private Game Reserve with its magnificent views over the hills of Northern KwaZulu Natal.

A perfect way to spend two weeks in Africa. What a life!

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Little Bee-Eater

… and one for all the birders. A Little Bee-Eater today on Pakamisa

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A heron, a band of mongoose and the king of Pakamisa

Sometimes a drive from the Pakamisa lodge to the horse stables can turn into a nice game drive. I first encountered a band of mongoose running across the road and I managed to take a picture as they quickly disappeared into thick bush.

Then I had my first ever sighting of a Black-headed Heron perching on of the stable fences.

And last but not least we encountered a beautiful, dark and very large male Giraffe. His name is Rufus and he is considered the king of Pakamisa 🙂

2014-10-13

Pakamisa Dinner Plans!

Two images I took yesterday on Pakamisa.

The first one shows some of the horses looking eagerly out of their boxes for the upcoming dinner.

The second one shows Pakamisa’s Ostrich family at their evening dinner – dad, mum and 16 little Ostriches.

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Well protected!

What a surprise when I arrived at Pakamisa Private Game Reserve this afternoon!

These little Ostrich chicks were on a walk-about with their parents when I got to take these pictures.

The Ostrich mom and dad were very alert to ensure that nothing would harm there young ones. I used a long lens and kept my distance 🙂