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.

A variety of habitats can be found in the reserve. The Rietvlei dam and other water bodies host numerous waterbirds while the reserve is also well known for its vleis, grasslands and woodland areas. During summer you can expect to see near to hundred species in a day's birding.

About 500 meters from the entrance is the Coot Corner's hide which will provide you with excellent views over the dam. Numerous waterbird species can be seen from this hide including Reed Cormorant, African Purple Swamphen, Great Crested Grebe, Common Moorhen, Red-knobbed Coot and African Darter. Lesser Swamp-Warbler can be heard calling from the reed beds while other warbler species might be heard in summer including African Reed-Warbler.

A number of pipits and larks occur in the reserve and your identification skills of LBJs will be tested on a regular basis. Look out for Plain-backed Pipit, African Pipit, Spike-heeled Lark, and Rufous-naped Lark. Cisticolas are common in the grassy areas so listen in summer for the display calls of Zitting Cisticola, Desert Cisticola, Wing-snapping Cisticola and Cloud Cisticola. Levaillant's Cisticola is common in the vlei areas.

A hide that must be visited is the Marais dam picnic spot. This is another good spot to see a number of waterbirds including Reed Cormorant, Yellow-billed Duck, White-breasted Cormorant, Red-knobbed Coot, Common Moorhen and Egyptian Goose. Also scan the edge of the water for Black Crake and African Purple Swamphen. Warblers can be heard calling in the reeds next to the hide as for instance Lesser Swamp-Warbler and Little Rush-Warbler.

Other special birds for the Gauteng areas that occur at Rietvlei are Capped Wheatear, Temminck's Courser (irregularly) and Northern Black Korhaan while Secretarybird has bred in the reserve and can sometimes be seen strolling through the reserve searching for food. Grass Owl and Marsh Owl also occur in the reserve but you will be extremely lucky to see the Grass Owls, although not impossible. Dark-capped Yellow Warbler has also been recorded recently.

Other more common birds to be seen in the wooded areas are Thick-billed Weaver, Cape White-eye and Southern Boubou, Cape Glossy Starling, Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler and Fiscal Flycatcher.

Scan the sky regularly for swallows, martins and swifts for example Brown-throated Martin, Banded Martin, Sand Martin, White-throated Swallow, Greater-striped Swallow and African Palm Swift.

Rietvlei is also a good spot for raptors for example Greater Kestrel, Rock Kestrel, Amur Falcon, Steppe Buzzard and Black-shouldered Kite.

Directions

GPS Coordinates
Lat: 25° 52' 59'' S
Lon: 28° 15' 48'' E

How to get there:
From Johannesburg International take the R21 towards Pretoria. Before reaching Pretoria take the Irene/Nellmapius Drive off-ramp. At the top of the off-ramp turn right and drive to the first four-way stop and then turn right towards Olifantsfontein. After about 1.5 km (after crossing the Sesmylspruit) you will see the sign Rietvlei Nature Reserve. Turn left and follow the road to the main gate.

Additional Information

Facilities
The reserve offers a number of other activities as for example night drives, overnight facilities and horse-riding trails. There is a nice picnic spot with braai facilities. Ablution facilities are available in the reserve.

Admission times
Summer: September to March 05:30 - 17:00 (You may remain inside until 19:00 when the gates close).
Winter: April to August 06:00 - 16:00 (You may remain inside until 18:00 when the gates close).

Contact Information

Tel: +27 (0)12 345 2274
Website: http://www.tshwane.gov.za/rietvlei.cfm