How to get to the
Marievale
Bird Sanctuary
                

The Marievale Bird Sanctuary is situated in the southern half of the Blesbokspruit RAMSAR site, an area that is also a designated Important Bird Area (IBA SA021) in South Africa.

The sanctuary is about 10 km2 in size and comprises numerous, large, shallow waterbodies dominated by tall, at times dense stands of emergent vegetation consisting mainly of Phragmites, Typha and Juncus reeds.
Small patches of grassland are found on the eastern margin of the sanctuary.

The sanctuary hosts the largest variety of bird species in the Gauteng Province and, to date, over 280 species of birds and mammals have been recorded to cohabit the sanctuary.

A new conference centre and two overnight chalets have been developed and the sanctuary boasts four bird watching hides and several walking trails.

The Marievale Bird Sanctuary is open daily to the public for educational and recreational purposes.

The Marievale Bird Sanctuary is controlled and managed by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment.

Stan Madden standing on the 'old bridge" which was built in the 1880s and is one of the favourite sites for visitors