Marievale Bird Sanctuary
Marievale Bird Sanctuary lies in a floodplain outside the small town of Nigel, to the east of Johannesburg. The sanctuary, which has two lakes, a large wetland and Highveld grasslands, is a designated Important Bird Area.
Malachite King Fisher taken at the Marievale Bird Sanctuary. Photo courtesy Cliffy Els
Bird Life Gauteng describes Marievale as one of the province’s prime birding spots. The sanctuary supports about 65 waterbird species and more than 3 500 birds. Although the construction of roads, railways, pipelines and power lines in the area has reduced the floodplain to small dams, waterbirds still favour Marievale as a feeding and breeding place.
In summer, the sanctuary is home to large populations of reed cormorant, red-knobbed coot and yellow-billed duck, as well as migrant species such as the Goliath heron, great white heron, black egret, fulvous duck and South African shelduck.
Birding South Africa describes Marievale as probably the best location in Gauteng to see Goliath, black, squacco and purple herons, alongside the more common grey and black-headed varieties. Marsh owls frequent the grasslands in winter.
Some rare species are spotted at Marievale on occasion. In recent years, Bird Life Gauteng recorded the slaty egret, Baird’s, pectoral and buff-breasted sandpipers, and yellow wagtail.
Marievale Bird Sanctuary has five hides, a picnic and braai site, and ablution facilities. Overnight accommodation is available in two chalets in the reserve (booked through Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve), or in the nearby Goldfields Lodge Hotel in Nigel.
Access to the sanctuary is on 12km of rough terrain that is impassable during particularly wet spells. While a visit to the sanctuary is worthwhile at any time of year, birding organisations say the best time to visit is at the beginning of summer, when the grass is short and the birds are breeding.
Admission
Free
Visiting hours
Daily from 05h30 to 19h30 from October to March; 06h30 to 18h00 from April to September
Directions
From Johannesburg, take the N3 towards Heidelberg/Durban. Keep left onto the N17 (toll road) and follow this highway until the R42 off-ramp near Endicott. Turn right over the highway onto the R42 and follow this until the sign to Marievale on your right. The entrance gate comes up after a few kilometres.