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
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
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!
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
… 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
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
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 