Baby Time!

End of last week we spotted the first new-born Impala. All the females of species, which have mating seasons (Impala, Wildebeest, Kudu, and Warthog), will give birth between now and January. 

A lot of cuteness. 

Have a good week!

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 640 | 1/750sec | f6.3 | ev+0 | 240mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode

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

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 10000 | 1/500sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode

Canon on Eye Level – Black Rhino!

This week, I saw a Black Rhino flehmen for the first time.

The bull picked up the scent of a female, stuck his nose into the soil where the cow had urinated, and then inhaled as much air as possible towards the Jacobson’s organ (vomeronasal organ) to analyze if the lady was in estrous.

Many mammals show this behaviour, but I had never seen a Black Rhino doing it. What a sighting!

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 32000 | 1/500sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode

#CanonOnEyeLevel 

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

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 12800 | 1/500sec | f6.3 | ev+0 | 240mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode
Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 10000 | 1/750sec | f6.3 | ev+0 | 240mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode

Two weeks!

My last two weeks in wildlife pictures: What a wonderful world! I hope you enjoy them.

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

Canon on EyeLevel – Roaring Lion! 

This morning I captured a short video clip of one of Thanda Safari’s male Lions roaring. One of the most impressive sounds to be heard on the African savanna!

Technical data Video: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | 4K video recording | Cropped/sized to HD

Technical data Picture: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 400 | 1/60sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode

#CanonOnEyeLevel 

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

A Rhino Walk!

Sometimes work related to wildlife conservation can get very exciting.

As part of the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project one of these incredible creatures was relocated from Thanda Safari to a new home to expand the range of the species.

When the Rhino was darted it fell asleep not next to the road, as we had hoped, but a bit down a hillside. So it was decided to clean a path, partially wake it up, and then  ‘rhino walk’ it up to the waiting container truck.

This is a short video showing as all hands helped, so this large mammal could get to its new home. A job well done!

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

Canon & EyeLevel – Zebras

A dazzle of Burchell’s Zebra at Thanda Safari having a bit of an argument!

#CanonOnEyeLevel 

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

Nine weeks …

My last nine weeks in wildlife pictures: What a wonderful world! I hope you enjoy them.

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

Before sunrise!

Just before sunrise I took this image with my iPhone. I think it has a painting-like quality showing my road to work …

Technical data: Apple 14 Pro Max | Ultra Wide Camera 13mm | ISO 1000 | 1/6600sec | f2.2 | ev+0 | Edit: Shadows enhanced

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

Crossing the road!

Black Rhino are usually very shy and do not like to be in the open. Most encounters are a quick look, a fast turn, and a run straight into protective bush.

But last night we had an incredible sighting of this Black Rhino bull calmly drinking at a waterhole and then the crossing the road walking away in a stately pace.

This is my favorite picture from our photo shoot !

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 1000 | 1/500sec | f6.7 | ev+0 | 150mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode

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

Arrival
Having a drink
Departure

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