The last ten weeks have been by far the busiest since my arrival in South Africa over six years ago. They were exciting, interesting and exhausting.
But there was no time for blogging. Nevertheless here are my twenty favorite images from this period. I hope you enjoy the pictures!
#christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography
Sun | Speed | Mamba | Relax | Cross | Wet | Rain | Walk | Anger | Lazy | Color
One picture per day …
For the last ten days I hosted a private photography safari guest on Thanda Safari. The lady from Switzerland had booked nine nights of private photo drives and photo lessons. These are a few of the best pictures which I took during her stay. We had a great time!
I hope you like my summary for these 10 days.
For many more pictures please subscribe to my Instagram channel (ChristianSperkaPhotography).
Monday – Day 1 | A beautiful Thanda Safari sunset | Canon 1D Mark IV – f4 – 500mm L
Tuesday – Day 2 | A speed run after a Wildebeest resulting in a kill | Canon 1D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28- 300mm
Wednesday – Day 3 | The Green Mamba 1 at Thanda’s largest waterhole | iPhone 7 Plus
Thursday – Day 4 | Lion cubs relaxing in the warm morning sun | Canon 1D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28- 300mm
Friday – Day 5 | An Elephant her crossing the Mduna River | Canon 1D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28-300mm L
Saturday – Day 6 | A wet Brown-hooded Kingfisher at the kuMasinga hide on Mkuze Game Reserve | Canon 1D Mark – f4 – 500mm L
Sunday – Day 7 | Vervet Monkey on a rainy day | Canon 1D Mark IV – f4 – 500mm L
Monday – Day 8 | Little Elephant and her mum walking towards my vehicle | Canon 1D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28-300mm
Tuesday – Day 9 | Angry dad! A male Lion telling a youngster to keep his distance | Canon 1D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28-300mm L
Wednesday – Day 10 | A lazy Cheetah male in the early morning | Canon 1D Mark IV – f4 – 500mm L
Extra | One of my favorite shots: A Knob-thorn tree and a Giraffe in the morning light | Canon 1D Mark IV – f3.5-5.6 – 28-300mm L
#christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography
Luxury – Surfing – Cleopatra – Gourmets – Giants – Tsessebe – Dung – Flowers – Giraffe
One picture per day …
I hope your like my weekly summary. For many more pictures please subscribe to my Instagram channel (ChristianSperkaPhotography).
#christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography
Elephant – Baobab – Sunset – Airport – Lion – Rhinos – Barbet – Bushbuck – Oysterbox
One picture per day …
I hope your like my weekly summary. For many more pictures please subscribe to my Instagram channel (ChristianSperkaPhotography).
PS: Based on recent requests I have added some camera information.
#christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography
I am currently sorting through hundreds of my bird pictures which I took since 2002. Most of them I was able to ID positively.
But there are quite a few for which I either cannot find an ID at all or which I am not able to give a clear ID (multiple options).
If you would like to try to ID some of them for me then have a look at my bird ID page. I have uploaded the first 26 images, more to come soon 🙂
Click here to view the page https://sperka.info/id/
Thanks for the help from all the birders!
Arrival – Surroundings – Big – Majestic – Snakes – Creche – Ultraviolet– Crazy
One picture per day …
I hope your like my weekly summary. For many more pictures please subscribe to my Instagram channel (ChristianSperkaPhotography).
PS: Based on recent requests I have added some camera information.
#christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography
A perfect way to experience the South African wilderness ‘hands-on’ is to spend a few weeks on Thanda as a volunteer.
Thanda Safari’s volunteer organization is called ULWAZI. They have just released their program dates for 2019: https://ulwaziresearch.com/dates-rates/
For more general information go to https://ulwaziresearch.com/ or send an email to ulwazi@thanda.co.za.
PS: My oldest niece and two of her friends participated in the program last year and loved it!
PPS: And I provide free photography lessons to all volunteers 🙂
Zebra Sunset – Hyena Night – Red Sunset – Lion Evening – Hornbill Day – Rhino Sun – Lion Dusk
One picture per day …
I hope your like my weekly summary. For many more pictures please subscribe to my Instagram channel (ChristianSperkaPhotography).
#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography
One picture per day …
I hope your like my weekly summary. For many more pictures please subscribe to my Instagram channel (ChristianSperkaPhotography).
#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography
This week I visited Ndumo Game Reserve for the first time. With its 10,000 ha it is located directly at the Usuthu river on the South Africa / Mozambique border.
I just wanted to get a first impression during this day visit, but I will certainly be back for a few days of bird photography.
Here is a little summary of my Ndumo visit:
I think the best way to experience Ndumo is by booking guided walks and guided drives as one is not allowed to walk on the reserve (they have Buffalo and Hippo). The the really good bird-photography-spots cannot be reached by self-drive. Currently their game drive vehicle is out of service, but the guides are happy to go along in your car. You sould have an SUV (high clearance) to drive the roads in comfort and without damaging your car. A 4×4 is not required during the dry season.
My guide Josef and me walking 🙂 at Shokwe Pan.
I will book at least four such walks/drives during my next visit:
1 – Sand Forest Walk (morning or afternoon)
2 – Pongola River Walk (morning)
3 – Nyamithi Pan North-Shore-Drive (morning)
4 – Shokwe Pan Walk (morning or afternoon)
I did the last two midday, which is obviously not ideal for birding, but it was enjoyable and I got a few good pictures (see below).
The Ezulweni Hide on the south/east side of the Nyamithi Pan (there is only one hide on the reserve) was rather disappointing as it is set too far east on the pan. During normal winter conditions there is no water in front of the hide and most of the photo targets are too far away for good shots.
The Red Cliffs picnic area has a beautiful view of the river and is worth visiting.
Most of the reserve has very thick vegetation. Therefore mammal sightings (general game) are not very good and usually brief.
Conclusion: I will be back and I can recommend the place for any bird lovers. I recommend that ‘regular game drivers’ and mammal enthusiasts go somewhere else (Huluwe-Imfolozi, Tembe, iSimangaliso, Mkuze, Ithala, …).
And here are a few pictures …
Please let me know if you have any questions or additional comments.
www.sperka.com | www.kznwildlife.com/Ndumo.html
PS: Josef, my experienced Ndumo tails guide, showed me three new bird species for my list, which I had never seen before – White-eared Barbet, Squacco Heron and Kittlitz’s Plover!
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 