Beautiful And Educational OUTDOOR HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE

Situated on 60 hectares of scenic valley bushveld and just half an hour’s drive inland you’ll find the mesmerising African Bird of Prey Sanctuary. This community conservation facility opened its doors in 2006 and is a safe haven to a wide selection of South Africa’s indigenous raptors. Visitors can experience these magnificent aerial predators in flying displays that take place from Wednesday to Sunday at 10.30 am.

The demonstrations allow the raptors themselves to become both teachers and ambassadors for their wild counterparts, so we can experience these normally rare and elusive birds first-hand.

Behind the scenes is Raptor Rescue, an onsite hospital dedicated specifically to treat sick, injured or orphaned birds of prey from throughout KZN.

The sanctuary is also home to the only captive Bearded vultures in the southern hemisphere, and part of a breeding programme to save this critically endangered species from extinction. It is estimated that only 400 of these magnificent birds remain, living high up in our Maloti-Drakensberg mountains that separate the border between Lesotho and South Africa.

Breeding just once a year in winter, the elusive pairs lay two eggs, but only raise one chick. The challenging aim of the project is to harvest 20 to 30-second eggs from the cliff-face nests to hatch and raise at the sanctuary. This breeding group will form a genetic reserve, and their progeny will be released back into the wild to supplement the dwindling population.

The sanctuary’s tranquil, park-like environment is ideal for family visits, and there’s also a coffee shop, playground and bunny enclosure. Adults R70, kids R40, pensioners R60. Open Tues-Sun 8.30am – 4 pm, and vulture feeding takes place on weekends and public holidays at 12.30 pm.

FOR MORE INFO: Shannon 082 925 3023; www.africanraptor.co.za