birding sites

This is a compiled introductory list of the main birding areas on the Gauteng Birding Route. Please click on an icon to view the full write-up.

	Ezemvelo Private Nature Reserve
	Ezemvelo is situated on the Bankenveld, which is the transition between the Highveld grassland (about 4 000 ha) and the savanna (about 1 000 ha) biomes. Telperion is largely savanna and is about 8 000 ha in extent. The birding is good all year round but is best in summer when the migrants are present and when grassland birds are in breeding plumages and calling.

Rooiwal Water Treatment Works

This water purification facility offers excellent birding for waders and water birds. It consists mainly of settling ponds and dams, but adjacent irrigated grassveld also offers good birding. Water purification works usually provide ideal habitats for water birds and the permanent dams and settling ponds ensure that water birds are present throughout the year. Ploughed fields and grasslands, adjacent to the purification plant, are regularly irrigated with treated sewage water from the works and provide excellent habitat for waders and lapwings.

	Faerie Glen Nature Reserve
	Faerie Glen Nature Reserve is a small 128ha nature reserve situated within the city limits. The reserve's vegetation is a transition zone between Bankenveld (grassland), sour mixed bushveld and sour bushveld (Acacia veldt).

	Tswaing Nature Reserve
	Tswaing (meaning place of salt in Setswana), features mainly a 220 000 year old meteorite impact crater approximately 70 meters deep and 1,3km in diameter. Over 240 bird species have been recorded.

	Rust de Winter Nature Reserve and Dam
	The 1650 ha nature reserve surrounds the 500 ha dam. Broad-leaved woodland, mixed woodlands, rocky woodland slopes, alluvial acacia veldt, marshy areas and open water. Thanks to the variety of habitats in this NR, 400 bird species have been recorded.

	Abe Bailey Nature Reserve
	The Abe Bailey Nature Reserve situated near Carletonville on the West Rand. The reserve is named after the mining magnate, Sir Abe Bailey, who farmed and hunted in the area during the early part of the last century and whose original hunting lodge now serves as the reserve offices. The reserve is approximately 4200ha in extent.

	Grootvaly Wetland Reserve
	The Grootvaly Wetland Reserve is part of the Blesbokspruit system and forms the northern section of the Blesbokspruit Ramsar Site. The reserve site covers 350 hectares and is a high altitude wetland consisting of open water, reedbeds and marshy areas with grasses and sedges which are sometimes flooded. There are areas of short grass attracting Capped Wheatears in winter.

	Krugersdorp Game Reserve
	Krugersdorp Game Park covers an area of approximately 1500ha and is accessible via a network of tarred roads within the reserve. Walking is not permitted in the reserve due to the presence of Buffalo and White Rhinoceros.

	Kloofendal Nature Reserve
	The reserve is managed by Johannesburg City Parks and is 110 hectares in size consisting of typical Highveld/ Bankenveld rocky ridges, shale hill sides, river systems and has well maintained paths. Facilities on site include a dam, bird hide and picnic facilities.

	Marievale Bird Sanctuary
	Marievale Bird Sanctuary is approximately 1 000 ha in extent, is located at the southern end of the Blesbokspruit RAMSAR site and is a designated Important Bird Area (IBA SA021).

	Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens
	The Garden is one of South Africa's 8 Botanic Gardens, exclusively indigenous, almost 300 hectares in area and consists of both landscaped and natural veld areas. 240 bird species recorded with a world renowned resident pair of Verreaux's Eagles nesting on the cliffs of the Witpoortjie Waterfall.

	Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve
	Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is approximately 13 337 ha in extent and is at an altitude of between 1 545 and 1 917 metres above sea level. The reserve is accessed by a 67 kilometre circular tarred road and there are various walks available ranging from the short paved walkway at the back of the Interpretive Centre to the 10km and 11.5km Bokmakierie hiking trails.

	President Ridge Bird Sanctuary
	The Sanctuary is a flagship park belonging to Johannesburg City Parks, which is managed and maintained together with City Parks by BirdLife President Ridge Bird Club. The sanctuary has in excess of 200 indigenous trees and a dam. It covers an area of 2.875Ha.

	Pretoria Botanical Gardens
	Birding in the Pretoria National Botanical Garden is done in a relaxed and safe atmosphere and up to 50 species of birds can be seen in a morning's birding.

	Northern Farm Nature Reserve
	This 2500ha reserve has become one of Gauteng's most visited reserves with more than 270 species recorded.

Rietvlei Nature Reserve

This reserve is a favorite birding spot for many birders due not only to the interesting variety of birds that can be found here, but also because of the excellent facilities as for example the 40kms of roads (30kms tarred) and three well maintained bird hides. The reserve also has a number of mammal species including Rhino and Hippopotamus. Please note that you are not allowed to leave your vehicle while driving around in the reserve.

	Roodeplaatdam Nature Reserve
	This very popular 795 ha reserve consists of a mix of open savannah, grassveld, dense savannah woodland as well as the Roodeplaatdam. During a morning's birding you can expect to see a nice variety of water and terrestrial birds. About 80-100 species can be recorded in a few hours' birding.

Wonderboom Nature Reserve

The 200 ha Wonderboom Nature Reserve is situated to the north of Pretoria and straddles the Magaliesberg Mountains. It is famous for its magnificent specimen of Ficus salicifolia, a wild fig called the "Wonderboom" that is more than 1 000 years old. At the top of the Wonderboom Hill are the ruins of the Wonderboom Fort, one of four forts built by the former Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek at the end of the 19th century.

	Elandsvlei (also known as Dickin's Pan)
	This is a well known site in the Gauteng area and renowned for the large number of waders and other water birds that can sometimes be seen on the two ephemeral pans. The pans are surrounded by agricultural lands, grasslands, reed beds and when the water levels are low extensive mudflats.

	The Florence Bloom Bird Sanctuary and Delta Park
	Delta Park is a large 104 ha suburban park which incorporates the Florence Bloom Bird Sanctuary. Habitats include open lawns; areas of Hyparrhenia hirta grassland, several small dams; and also areas of exotic woodland. The Braamfontein Spruit runs along the eastern boundary of the Park and serves as a movement corridor for bird, mammal, and also probably reptile species.

Korsman Bird Sanctuary

Korsman Bird Sanctuary is approximately 4 ha in extent, and comprises a large dam bordered by margins of grassland and reedbeds and dotted with a number of reedbed islands. The Sanctuary is completely enclosed but can be safely overlooked from the 2 kilometers of road that circle the site and from the two hides accessed from the road. Despite its urban location the birdlife is prolific and large numbers of Grey Heron, Black-headed Heron, African Sacred Ibis, Glossy Ibis and African Spoonbill breed in the reedbeds.