This impressive African Elephant bull followed a breeding herd away from a local waterhole.
In the background is the Intibane Lodge, the home of Ulwazi Research, which is Thanda Safari’s Volunteer Program.
In case you are interested in volunteering: https://www.ulwaziresearch.com
Enjoy your week!
… and as a bonus picture the family group he followed …
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Last night I was at the right place at the right time!
I was able to take this ‘fairy tail’ picture of one of our male Lions at one of Thanda Safari’s waterholes.
An hour later the skies opened and we got 50mm of much needed rain.
When I got home I very much resembled a drowned, but happy, rat.
Enjoy your weekend
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Five Little Bee-eaters were snuggling up for a good night’s sleep as I took this picture during a night safari at iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
With an average length of 15–17 cm, this species is the smallest African Bee-eater.
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There are 19 species of formally described Chameleons within South Africa, 17 species of Dwarf Chameleons and 2 Typical (Large) Chameleons.
The specimen in this picture is a Flap Necked Chameleon, a large chameleon, reaching 35 cm (14 in) with colors ranging through various shades of green, yellow, and brown.
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This week an additional female Cheetah was released onto the reserve. The young cat, which came to Thanda with a serious leg injury in October, spent four months in a boma (=fenced-in area) to recover.
But she obviously lost none of her skills. Less than an hour after her release she gave a Scrub Hare a run for its money. She almost caught the nimble creature. And on the day after her release she made her first kill and even climbed a tree to mark the occasion of her recovery.
We wish her all the best in her new home and hope she will meet our Cheetah gentlemen, soon.
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Giraffe male on the way to a waterhole at sunset.
Giraffes are multiple record holders. They are the tallest living terrestrial animals and the largest ruminants. They feature the longest tails and the largest eyeballs compared to all other land mammal.
Enjoy your weekend!
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… are found in eastern and south-eastern Africa.
Alternative names used are Yellow Weaver, Olive-headed Golden Weaver, and African Golden Weaver.
Males use their beaks to weave nests and the females choose their mates based on the males’ weaving skills.
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… are very attractively marked and are one of the *Small Five* (Ant Lion, Leopard Tortoise, Elephant Shrew, Rhino Beetle and Buffalo Weaver).
They are often seen on roads just before or during rain. This morning I took this picture with my iPhone, just a few hours after last night’s rainfall.
Unlike most land tortoises, which tend to sink when they fall into water, this species actually likes to swim.
They are one of my favorite *Ectotherms*!
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One of my favorite pictures taken this week: A *Lioness* having an evening drink.
Enjoy your Sunday and have a good week!
… and a few extras from the same sighting …
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A few days ago I took this picture of a male Lions as he was resting on the road crossing our savanna.
A ‘King of the Animals’ pose by one of my favorite cats.
Enjoy your weekend 😊
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Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 