Marievale Bird Sanctuary (lunch pack optional)

After breakfast it will be a early morning start. Habitats of the sanctuary include shallow open water, reedbeds, and grassland, so the variety of birds is immense.
If you are an experienced birder with a bit of luck you may even find Marsh Owl, African Grass-Owl, Red-chested Flufftail, Curlew Sandpiper, Sand Martin, Caspian Tern, Baillon’s Crake, Black-winged Pratincole or even Black-tailed Godwit. Other recently spotted birds include Slaty Egret, Yellow Wagtail, as well as Baird’s, Pectoral, and Buff-breasted Sandpipers.

To the east of Johannesburg, just outside the small town of Nigel, is one of the most popular attractions in Gauteng, Marievale Bird Sanctuary. Approximately 1 000 hectares in extent, the sanctuary supports more than 240 bird species, among them 65 waterbird species, including large populations of Reed Cormorant, Red-knobbed Coot, and Yellow-billed Duck. The sanctuary is also one of the best locations on the Gauteng map to see Goliath, Black, Squacco and Purple Herons.
Although the construction of roads, railways, pipelines, and power lines in the area has reduced the floodplain to small dams, water birds still favor Marievale as a feeding and breeding place. Habitats of the sanctuary include shallow open water, reedbeds, and grassland, so the variety of birds is immense.
If you are an experienced birder with a bit of luck you may even find Marsh Owl, African Grass-Owl, Red-chested Flufftail, Curlew Sandpiper, Sand Martin, Caspian Tern, Baillon’s Crake, Black-winged Pratincole or even Black-tailed Godwit. Other recently spotted birds include Slaty Egret, Yellow Wagtail, as well as Baird’s, Pectoral, and Buff-breasted Sandpipers.
Along with the five hides overlooking four pans, there is a braai and picnic spot with ablution facilities.