Umgeni River Bird Park, Durban

KwaZulu Natal Tourist Attractions

Umgeni River Bird Park, Durban

Designed and built in an old quarry site on the banks of the Umgeni River, just 10 minutes outside Durban, the Umgeni River Bird Park is one of the greatest attractions of the city. Walk-through aviaries, birds out on perches, wonderful green vegetation, some amazing waterfalls and rock faces all combine to make this a very special place to visit.

The Umgeni River Bird Park’s main feature is a free-flight show that has as its focus a conservation theme to inspire visitors, as birds glide past them in full and unrestricted flight. To appreciate the beauty of the natural world around them. Macaws, a Cape Vulture, the critically endangered Wattled Crane and others take part in the first show of its kind in Africa. This show is scheduled at certain times during the day and is really worth seeing.

Conservation is high on the park’s list of priorities. They breed 17 of the 23 endangered bird species that are kept in the park, and young chicks are fed hourly around the clock, avidly watched from a viewing window by visitors.

Umgeni River Bird Park, Durban

Together with the SA Crane Working Group, they are involved in a Wattled Crane breeding and release programme to try and counter the fact that there are just 250 of these beautiful birds left in the country. They are hand-reared using a glove puppet, lest they think they are human, and then released near Dullstroom.

Other birds you can look forward to seeing include the Palm Cockatoo, Caribbean Flamingo and the Plalawan Peacock pheasant; and the park tries to do without caging wherever they can, so that one has the feeling that the birds are in their natural habitat. A pair of Fish Eagles nest just outside the park, away from view, but if you are lucky you might hear them call.

Contact: Umgeni River Bird Park, +27 (0)31 579-4600

Umgeni River Bird Park

Accommodation nearby

For accommodation nearby see:
• UMGENI PARK Accommodation
• Berea Accommodation • Bluff Accommodation
• Bothas Hill Accommodation • Brighton Beach Accommodation
• Cowies Hill Accommodation • Durban Beachfront Accommodation
• Durban Central Accommodation • Durban North Accommodation
• Gillitts Accommodation • Glenashley Accommodation
• Glenmore Accommodation • Glenwood Accommodation
• Hillcrest Accommodation • Kloof Accommodation
• Morningside Accommodation • Musgrave Accommodation
• Pinetown Accommodation • Sydenham Accommodation
• Umhlanga Accommodation • Westville Accommodation

Or to see all accommodation in this region, visit Durban Accommodation or Durban Hotels.

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uShaka Marine World

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Visiting Umgeni River Bird Park?
Also see Things To Do in Durban or check out Things To Do in KwaZulu Natal to view activities by category, including watersports, sightseeing activities, arts & crafts and many, many more.

destinations / attractions in kwazulu natal