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. The Sanctuary is fully fenced and surrounded by housing making it a safe and secure environment to visit. The Sanctuary consists of a fairly shallow dam split almost in half by a long strip of Willow trees on an island on which there is a heronry. A bird hide, which is wheelchair friendly and can be accessed by a wheelchair path from the gate, overlooks the dam. Bridges straddle the spruit and it is possible to walk right around the Sanctuary. The site has a heronry with breeding Blackheaded Herons, Grey Herons, Cattle Egrets, Little Egrets, Reed Cormorants and Darters. On the surrounding mud banks there are Egyptian Geese, Blacksmith Lapwings, Moorhens and Coots whilst the occasional Green-backed and Black-crowned Night Herons as well as Black Egrets are seen. Kingfishers include Malachite, Pied and sometimes Giant, Half-collared and Woodland. Yellow-billed and Black Ducks are resident from time to time. In the reeds Red Bishops, Southern Masked, Cape and Thick-billed Weavers nest. Warblers include Great Reed, Lesser Swamp, African Reed, Little Rush and in summer Willow Warblers. Also during summer Diederik, Red-chested, Klaas's and Jacobin Cuckoos can be seen. The sanctuary is used extensively by bird photographers. Birding is good all year round. Facilities include a bird hide, wheelchair path and benches throughout the Sanctuary.

Directions

From the airport take the road towards Johannesburg (R24), turn north onto the N3 towards Pretoria and follow the ring road turning west towards Roodepoort on the N1; exit at Malibongwe Drive / Lanseria and turn left at the exit traffic lights. Continue south along Malibongwe Drive going through 9 traffic lights. At the 10th traffic light (Cross Street) take the slip road to the left. At the next traffic light (approximately 200m) turn right into Malcolm Road. Travel about 0,5kms until an open park on the left. Turn left into the parking area. Entrance is via a pedestrian gate. Approximate travelling time from OR Tambo International is from 45 mins to an hour.

GPS Coordinates

Latitude: E 27° 59'
Longitude: S 26° 6'

Additional information

Sanctuary is open on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays (except Christmas Day).

Contact number
Tel: +27(0)11-787-1557 or +27(0)11-462-9682

Gate opening and closing times
	Open	Close
Summer	06H00	17H00	Oct-Mar
Winter	08H00	16H00	Apr-Sep