Reitvlei Nature Reserve

 Reitvlei Nature Reserve lies in the high grasslands which surround Pretoria. It is 41 kms from our house here in Burkea Park. It is virtually the last remnant of grassland habitat within the city of Pretoria. It extends over 4,800 hectares & has a bird list over 300 species. It has been re-stocked with game, which used to live here before humans took over.

Most of the reserve looks like this.

Believe it or not, one is still in the city limits here!

There is also a huge vlei in the middle of the reserve.

Delana & I visited on 25th January & I went again on 27th. It has over 30kms of roads & tracks & is a delight to slowly drive around. It has some special birds, which are difficult to find, but it s a lovely day out & an easy trip from our home here.

Where there are dams, there is usually & bird hide

 & sometimes a picnic site nearby.

A pair of Southern Pochard on the dam.

Red-knobbed Coot

Whiskered Tern

White-throated Swallow

Common Reed Warbler

One of several really nice bird hides.

There are fantastic vistas from this hide.

One of the picnic sites near a dam.

The very scenic Otter's Bridge.

White-throated Swallow

They nest under the bridge.

Some of these small provincial parks put some of the national parks to shame in respect to facilities for visitors. Kruger in particular could be with a lot more hides & platforms, to scan the surrounding areas.

Plains game are common in this reserve.

Black Wildebeest a common high altitude species.

White Rhino

They have recently been re-introduced 

to the highveld.

Orange-throated Longclaw is common 

in highveld grasslands.

Zitting Cisticola

A very common species in the 

long grass of the highveld.

This is how far away this species is!

Wailing Cisticola

Cape White-eye

Female African Stonechat.

Male

Quailfinch

Long-tailed Widowbird

Female Long-tailed Widowbird.

Male Fan-tailed Widowbird

Male Red-collared Widowbird

Red Bishop

A very common bird, of both the vlei

 & grasslands

Red-billed Quelea

African Pipit

Fiscal Flycatcher

Cape Glossy Starling

We are very lucky to have this reserve quite close to our house. If we can, we will make it a regular birding location for us. Till the next time......