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Top Bird Hides in Cape Town

There is nothing like relaxing in a nice bird hide and settling in for a good days birding. If you are living in or visiting Cape Town, there are myriad beautiful places to visit for some great birding. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Table Mountain and Cape Point are all spectacular and well-known locations to spot our feathered friends. There are, however, some other dedicated spaces with the opportunity to see fantastic water birds. These are the top 4 nature reserves with bird hides around Cape Town.

Rondevlei Bird Sanctuary Bird Hides

Rondevlei Bird Sanctuary is a permanent wetland of approximately 290 hectares situated on the cape flats in the suburb of Grassy Park. It was established in 1952 and now forms part of False Bay Nature reserve. The sanctuary has 5 bird hides and 3 viewing towers and is home to around 230 species of birds as well as a small population of hippo.

Telephone: 021 400 9593
Email: rondevleinaturereserve@capetown.gov.za
Daily Opening Times: 07:30 to 17:00
Weekend Opening Times: 07:30 to 19:00 (Dec to Feb only)
Rondevlei Entrance Gate: Google Maps Directions
Rondevlei Bird Hides: Google Maps Location

Broekhuysen Hide, Rondevlei Bird Sanctuary
Patrick Wheeler Hide, Rondevlei Bird Sanctuary
Bridge Hide, Rondevlei Bird Sanctuary
Map of hides in Rondevlei Bird Sanctuary. Source: Cape Bird Club

River Club Bird Hide

The River Club bird hide is situated at the edge of the River Club’s 9-hole Mashie Gold Course in the Cape Town suburb of Observatory. The bird hide overlooks the confluence of the Liesbeek River and the Black River. Around 40 to 50 species of birds are commonly seen in the area of the hide.

Telephone: 021 448 6117
Email: info@riverclub.co.za
Daily Opening Times: 8am to 10pm
Entrance Fee: Free
River Club Parking: Google Maps Directions
River Club Bird Hide: Google Maps Location

Source: Cape Bird Club

See also: How To Start Birdwatching

SA Astronomical Observatory Bird Hide

The SA Astronomical Observatory Bird Hide is situated on the edge of a wetland on the grounds of the SA Astronomical Observatory in the Cape Town suburb of Observatory. The hide is on the opposite the bank of the Liesbeek River to the River Club Bird Hide so the two hides can easily be visited in a single trip. As with the River Club Bird Hide, around 40 to 50 species of birds are commonly seen in the area of the hide.

Telephone: 021 447 0025
Email: info@riverclub.co.za
Daily Opening Times: 8am to 10pm
Entrance Fee: Free
Address: Observatory Road, Observatory, 7925, South Africa
SA Astronomical Observatory: Google Maps Directions
SA Astronomical Observatory Bird Hide: Google Maps Location

Intaka Island bird hides

Intaka island is a green oasis situated on waterways in the heart of the Century City business district, East of the Cape Town city center. The island of home to approximately 120 bird species than can be seen from two bird hides.

Telephone: 021 447 0025
Email: info@riverclub.co.za
Website: https://intaka.co.za
Daily Opening Times: 8am to 10pm
Entrance Fee: Adult R22, Pensioners R13, Children (under 12yrs) R13, 
Address: Observatory Road, Observatory, 7925, South Africa
Intaka Island Gate: Google Maps Directions
SA Astronomical Observatory Bird Hide: Google Maps Location

Source: intaka.co.za
Source: intaka.co.za

See also: Binoculars For Birdwatching 8x vs 10x

Rietvlei Wetland Reserve Bird Hides

Rietvlei Wetland Reserve is a wetland area forming part of the 880 hectare Table Bay Nature Reserve in Table View area of Cape Town. The reserve has two hides overlooking the lakes and marshes and is home to approximately 187 bird species of birds. You can find a checklist of species for Rietvlei Wetland Reserve on the Friends of Rietvlei website.

Telephone: 021 444 0315
Email: tablebay.naturereserve@capetown.gov.za
Daily Opening Times: 07:30 to 17:30
Weekend Opening Times: 09:00 to 17:00
Entrance Fee: R16 for Adults
Address: southern end of Grey Avenue, Table View (Rietvlei Section)
Rietvlei Wetland Reserve: Google Maps Directions
Bird Hide 1: Google Maps Location 
Bird Hide 2: Google Maps Location

Bird Hides
Sunset Hide
Sunset Hide

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John White

With over 30 years of birdwatching experience, John White, CEO, and Co-founder of Birda, merges his passion for nature and technology with expertise gained from companies like Coca-Cola and Deutsche Bank. With a passion for writing content that helps people connect with nature and an MBA from the University of Cape Town, he's known for his ability to simplify complex concepts. As Birda’s CEO, John’s been featured on Fox News, ABC News, and BBC Radio, as one of the leading voices in birdwatching today. With a flair for bird photography and a love for all things avian, he's not just a CEO but also a dedicated field tester for Birda. Off-duty, he enjoys swimming, running, windsurfing, skiing, and family time. Follow his adventures on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn for a glimpse into one of the people behind Birda's success.
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