birding sites

Vulture Restaurant

We will be putting meat down again about 08h00 on Saturday and weather dependant the birds should start gathering immediately as usual. Some weeks the food is gone by 09h00 and other weeks you might still get lucky in early afternoon.

Bring the family or guests and enjoy some potentially great birding, it only costs R30/person and it all helps to provide suitable carcasses for the birds. A refundable deposit of R100 will be required as well as your entrance fee of R30/person.

No need to phone & make a booking!

The Grietjie Private Nature Reserve is home to the Kruger to Canyons Birding Route Vulture Restaurant. It is situated 20 km south of Phalaborwa and is easily accessible and open to the public.

The Vulture Restaurant is surrounded by Lowveld Rugged Mopaneveld and offers some exciting Bushveld birding. Please note that the viewing hide is situated in a potentially dangerous game area (Big Five included). For your own safety, do not leave the demarcated area. Carcasses are deposited on Saturday mornings and the best viewing will therefore be on the Saturday morning from 08:00 until Saturday afternoon. Reservations for birdwatching groups and tours can be arranged on alternative days of the week through Ian Owtram ian@antares.co.za or cellphone 083 268 8281. A maintenance fee of ZAR 30 will be charged at the Grietjie Private Nature Reserve entrance gate. A ZAR 100 deposit will be requested for the viewing hide key. Please insist on a receipt.

Special birds that can be viewed at the Vulture Restaurant include Cape Vulture, White Headed Vulture, White Backed Vulture, Hooded Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Bateleur, Tawny Eagle, Orange Breasted Bush Shrike, Grey Headed Bush Shrike and Marabou Stork.

 

Directions

Travel south from Phalaborwa on the R40 towards Hoedspruit. After approximately 20 km take the Grietjie turn off onto a gravel road and travel until you hit the Grietjie Private Nature Reserve main entrance gate. Once inside, continue straight and across the four-way Stop. Continue straight and take note as the Vulture Restaurant sign will be on your right hand side.

Contact

Ian Owtram

• Tel: +27 (0)15 769 6006
• Mobile: + 27 (0) 83 268 8281
• E-mail: ianowtram@spamarrest.com

If any of you would like to make a donation to assist with the running of this facility and enable us to continue with our conservation efforts of these birds our bank details are:

Grietjie Vulture Restaurant

ABSA bank
Phalaborwa branch, code 334352
Current A/C No. 4073881528