An interesting Lion sighting! Thanda’s North Pride having a late evening drink at a small waterhole, only illuminated by the spotlight reflection.
Reflection
Stalking!
If the vehicle you are on is used by a male Lion as cover in his stealthy approach to a herd of buffalo, you can be sure you are in for an interesting time.
This beautiful creature was slowly following a herd of buffalo. He approached from the back of my vehicle (first image) and then stopped absolutely still beside me (second image) before he followed his prey carefully into the bush in front of my car.
It was too dark to follow up further, nevertheless it was exciting to be in the middle of a drama, where only one of the actors knew what was happening.
A note for the photographers among you: These pictures were taken at very low-light conditions (Picture 1: ISO 6400, f/2.8, 1/90s, hand-held, 300mm / Picture 2: ISO 6400. f/2.8, 1/45s, hand-held, 115mm, -0.50eV)
Happy Easter!
Frohe Ostern Feliz Pascua Joyeuses Pâques Vrolijk Pasen Buona Pasqua Felix Pascha God påske Wesołych Świąt Happy Easter Glad Påsk Maligayang Pasko ng Pagkabuhay hyvää pääsiäistä 复活节快乐 復活節快樂 부활절 축복 받으세요 สุขสันต์วันอีสเตอร์ イースター、 おめでとう Phasika elithokozayo Geseënde Paasfees
From me and my 2015 South African Easter Bunny 🙂
It is actually a Scrub Hare 🙂
Wake up!
This little Lion just woke up from his midday nap and had a bit of a stretch before it started annoying its mother, who was not yet ready to go. I love the look in her eyes: “Ready to go!”
PS: Sorry for blogging so little over the last few weeks, but I was very busy with some local projects on Thanda and had very little time for anything else.
Dancing Elephant ?!
Not really 🙂 This young Thanda Elephant bull was changing direction rather quickly as he was chasing some Cape Buffalo. One of my favorite Elephant shots ever! The Thanda guests enjoyed the very active scene. Elephants chasing Buffalo and Buffalo chasing Elephants.
Flying Venom Video
This is a short YouTube video about a recent snake release. This Mozambique Spitting Cobra mistook the lens of my GoPro for an eye and spat directly onto it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD7R_weiP8I
What do you do all day?
Recently one of my US friends asked me what am I doing all day?
So I thought I describe one of my days on Thanda Private Game Reserve; with a bit of text and some images! This is quite a busy one, but not unusually so!
6:45 Wake-up
Allowed to sleep in today as I am not driving guests this morning. Slept 2.5 hours more than on driving days 🙂 The weather is hot and dry at Thanda House!
7:23 The Call
Before I even get a chance to take a morning shower I get a text message that there is a spitting cobra near the entrance to Thanda’s base camp office. Lets move!
7:45 Catch and Release
Catch the snake and release it again at one of Thanda’s waterholes. It spits venom at my GoPro camera 😦
(Watch out for another blog about this snake release!)
8:45 Exercising with Elephants
Back at my office walking on the treadmill for an hour; while watching Elephants having a morning bath at the nearby waterhole.
9:45 Delayed Morning Routine
Watching Giraffes during a short breakfast of yogurt and fruit, mango&mandarin juice. A bit later than usual = snake delay!
10:00 Social Media
Preparing a Thanda blog message, as well as Facebook, Twitter and Google+ posts. Schedule them to be released tomorrow between 14:00 and 16:30 (2:00pm – 4:30pm for my friends across the sea :-))
10:20 Backup
Looking at my email inbox. Nothing urgent! Starting weekly backup procedures on all my PCs before heading out again.
10:30 Drive
Have to take a short drive across the reserve to the Thanda Tented Camp to give a Rhino lecture. Dealing with local traffic (Warthogs and Zebras).
11:00 All about Rhinos
Talking to a group of guests about the threat to the world’s Rhino population. They are quite interested and ask a lot of good questions.
12:00 Photography Lesson
Teaching “Motion Photography” in the Tented Camp dining area (too hot outside). Great response from the 90 minute session!
14:00 Lunch
Back at Thanda house having lunch. A rocket and watercress salad with olive oil, balsamico (a nice old one!) and some parmesan cheese, cherry tomatoes and a freshly baked ciabatta roll. A bit of fresh fruit for desert. Grape juice and mineral water to drink. Listening to a “Lord Peter Wimsey” audio book by Dorothy L. Sayers – Enjoy that very much!
15:00 A Contradiction in Terms!
Email and rest time, they do not really go together. Lots of emails to answer and no rest!
15:45 Prepare the Game Viewer
Meeting Bheki (my tracker) at base camp to drive to the Thanda Safari Lodge to pick up a family for a Bush Safari Session (this is a photography lesson in the bush, hands-on!)
16:30 Into the Bush, again!
Great sightings on this photography drive. Relaxed Black Rhinos and Cheetahs at sunset.
18:20 Drinks at Sundown
Having fun during our sundown drinks stop. Explain to the young guests some more photo stuff.
18:45 Good bye
Say good-bye to the guests at the Thanda Safari Lodge just after sunset and then head back home. Having a quick dinner of soup (Butternut) and salad (garden greens with tomatoes and carrots) with another ciabatta roll. A Coke Zero on ice with lots of lemon juice 🙂 – my reward for a busy day.
20:00 Back to the office
For a bit of image editing work on the PC while listing to some music (today it is Gilbert & Sullivan). That editing job is never done = current backlog ~2,000 images!
20:02 Power out
Have to switch to my small generator. Due to “load shedding” there is no electrical power for 2-3 hours. That happens on most days. South Africa has huge power problems!
22:23 Power back and good night!
Power is back, air conditioners are working again and I am off to bed to regain energy for another …
Good day in Africa!
Selfie in my office at the end of the day 🙂
Christian Sperka | Resident Wildlife Photographer and Specialist Photography Guide | Thanda Private Game Reserve
Early Dinner!
This small Hippo started its dinner early. It began eating reeds even before nightfall, when it would be climbing with its family out of the water for a night of grazing!
Yesterday and today I took two cruises on the St.Lucia Estuary, taking mainly bird images (watch out for future posts!) and quite a few interesting hippo shots.
Light!
Sometimes the light and not the subject makes for an amazing photography. I like this Cape Buffalo on then move!
Simply beautiful!
No words needed – simply beautiful!
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 