Tag: THANDA

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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 

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I am back…

Canon at Eye Level – Black Rhino

I have posted very little since early September, and some of you may have wondered what I have been up to.

I have just returned from a fantastic three week trip with two American guests who are also my friends from my time in the USA. We began our journey in the Drakensberg Mountains, visited the Battlefields, explored the iSimangaliso Wetlands, encountered the Big Five at Thanda, and concluded our travels in Durban at the fabulous Oyster Box Hotel to enjoy city life for a few days. 

A few trip stats: 21 days, 7 overnight locations, 19 excursions and activities, and 11 game drives. I will soon be sharing a photo trip report about our adventures.

Upon my return, Thanda Safari and The Royal Thanda Club hosted the most extraordinary five-day event I have ever witnessed in the African bush. It was an extravaganza with over 120 guests from around the world staying in our six new Royal Thanda Club Villas, Villa iZulu, Thanda Safari Lodge, and Thanda Tented Camp. The experience was both exhilarating and exhausting!

This afternoon, for the first time in a while, I had the opportunity to venture out onto the reserve on my own. Just before sunset, I managed to capture this picture of a Black Rhino browsing in a recently burned area. The majestic creature appeared quite relaxed (for a Black Rhino!) and I was able to take a few shots from a distance. After wild cats, this is my favorite mammal species. What an evening!

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f/11, 800mm | ISO 25600 | 1/500 sec | EV +0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode

#CanonAtEyeLevel

#AmazingWildlife #AfricanSafari #SafariGetaway #ChristianSperkaPhotography #ThandaSafari #Big5 #GameReserve #WildlifePhotography #LearnPhotography

If you want to read more of my stories and see more of my pictures, you should visit my blog at https://sperka.info/blog/ 

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Canon & EyeLevel –  Lioness

This young Thanda Safari Lioness was following her mother across a recently burned area. I took this  picture last night just as the sun had set. I love the stark contrast between the cat and the background. 

Technical data: Canon R6 with EF lens f2.8/70-200mm | ISO 16000 | 1/500sec | f2.8 | ev+0 | 200mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode

#CanonOnEyeLevel 

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography 

If you want to read more of my stories and see more of my pictures, you should visit my blog at https://sperka.info/blog/ 

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Elephants & Wedding Day

This was the view morning from the Villa iZulu deck towards its waterhole. A herd of Elephants stopped by for a drink before moving on for more grazing and browsing. It was a most beautiful scene enjoyed up close by the guests on two of Thanda Safari’s game viewers.

And it was a perfect beginning to a Thanda Safari wedding day. The celebration started the previous evening with a romantic dinner under the stars. A moving wedding ceremony with 75 guests in the bush on a hilltop was followed by a creative photo shoot for the couple, a superb wedding reception with a multi-course gourmet meal, ended this morning with a bush breakfast on a warm, sunny morning.

I am happy that I was part of the team that made this happen!

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography 

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An evening swim!

Last night this small herd of Elephants enjoyed an evening swim at my favourite waterhole at Thanda Safari.

The sun had already set when I took this video footage with my long lenses, not disturbing their play in and around the water.

Enjoy your evening!

Technical data: Canon R6 with EF 500mm L 4.0 and with 70-200mm L 2.8 | shot without stabiler using beanbag support

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

If you want to read more of my stories and see more of my pictures, you should visit my blog at https://sperka.info/blog/ 

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Cuteness!

Just a few minutes ago I stopped at a Thanda Safari waterhole on my way home and I encounter our oldest Lioness with her new cubs having an evening drink. As cute as it gets! Enjoy your evening.

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography 

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Canon & EyeLevel – Lion’s Mouth

This picture shows the various types of teeth (a few incisors are missing), the large, rough tongue, and the ripples in the roof of the mouth.

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens | f/11 | 800mm | ISO 5000 | 1/500sec | EV +0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography 

#CanonOnEyeLevel

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Bl**dy Thorns …

… is what this Cheetah male would have been thinking if he were human.

One often sees animals limping and usually assumes a dire injury inflicted by predators during a hunt, broken bones, or a gruesome infection from a wound.

But a lot of times, it is just a thorn, of which there are plenty lying around, which get stuck somewhere in the underside of the feet.

And having no fingers does not help. It can take a long while to get the offending piece out, usually by vigorous tongue-licking, as shown in this picture.

With visible relief, he followed his brother across the savanna after his paw was thorn-free again.

There also a few more images from this sighting below. Have a good week!

Technical data: Canon R6 with EF lens f2.8/70-200mm | ISO 6400 | 1/750sec | f2.8 | ev+0 | 200mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography 

Scent marking – Technical data: Canon R6 with EF lens f2.8/70-200mm | ISO 800 | 1/750sec | f2.8 | ev+0 | 170mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode
Lounging – Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 6400 | 1/90sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode
On the move – Technical data: Canon R6 with EF lens f2.8/70-200mm | ISO 500 | 1/500sec | f2.8 | ev+0 | 180mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode
Claw sharpening – Technical data: Canon R6 with EF lens f2.8/70-200mm | ISO 800 | 1/500sec | f2.8 | ev+0 | 160mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode
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iPhone & Eye-Level – Giraffe

This afternoon, I returned to Thanda House driving along the reserve fence. This large Giraffe bull did not want to step out of my way as he was ‘air-sparring’ with another bull on the neighboring game reserve. Normally, bulls stand next to one another as they spar or fight by hitting one another, swinging their massive heads. 

As these two could not get together, they were swinging at the air! (short video below) I took this eye-level shot as I passed him while he stepped back towards the fence. 

[Taken from my Suzuki Jimny with an Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max using the 24mm main camera at Thanda Safari]

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography 

If you want to read more of my stories and see more of my pictures, you should visit my blog at https://sperka.info/blog/ 

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Canon & EyeLevel – Lions

Using a very long lens (800mm) from quite a distance away, the shooting angle becomes very shallow, even though I was about a meter (3 feet) above the eye level of the two young males. It is not always possible to get at eye level or below, so a bit of distance helps to get close to a good shooting angle.

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f/11 800mm | ISO 5000 | 1/500sec | EV +0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 80% of the original image

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

#CanonOnEyeLevel

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