Birds, Chicks and other Creatures

Wild Bird flying
Sing a song that I can’t capture
I’ll make it up to you somehow

Big Bang

In my blogpost about the wild (and the not so wild) animals of Africa, there was unfortunately not enough room for the birds. So I had to create a separate blogpost, not to make them jealous of the lions and the monkeys. And I don’t want to discriminate, do I?

2013-12-24 12.57.10 — Meta photo: At Spier winefarm they had a falcon as a welcome comittee.

I must admit that most of the birds we saw during our trip was probably not wild at all. And to be honest (I am not a bird expert), I am not even sure that ostriches and penguins qualifies as birds? But does it really matter? This is a blogpost for the bird (and similar creatures) lovers among you. I know you are out there somewhere.

The blue crane is South Africas national bird. We spotted it at Skeiding, but they can also be seen in Birds of Eden. — The very rare blue crane is South Africa’s national bird. We spotted it at Skeiding, but they can also be seen in Birds of Eden.

We mainly met wild birds (and not so wild) in the following places:

1. Skeiding Guest Farm
Skeiding Guest Farm is a regular working farm with ostriches and sheep, who also caters for guests (accomodation, breakfast and dinner). In this place you can see a lot of ostriches and eat them afterwards. And if you want to eat ostrich while in South Africa, this is the place to do so. We tasted ostrich steak, ostrich carpaccio and ostrich bacon. And we must say – ostriches taste a lot better than they look. Read more about the wheelchair access in Skeiding Guest Farm in the blogpost ‘The Lion Yawns Today’.

If you want to do the guided tour on the farm, they back the pickup onto the front porch so that you can either move your chair onto the back of the pickup or you can sit on collapsible seats (to be preferred). — If you want to do the guided tour on the farm, they back the pickup onto the front porch so that you can either move your chair onto the back of the pickup or you can sit on collapsible seats.

The rare albino ostrich. — The rare albino ostrich with ostrich babies.

2. Birds of Eden
The park Birds of Eden is situated about 1 hour drive East from Knysna and is a free flight bird sanctuary. The two hectare dome (the World’s largest) mostly consists of boardwalks and a suspension brigde (without steps). But even if the park is wheelchair accessible, the boardwalks are very steep and also contains “stoppers” on the side of the boardwalks. This makes it as good as impossible to wheel yourself through the park. And I don’t think I would bring a heavy motorized wheelchair on the suspension bridge (that you have to cross to see the whole park). At least make inquiries in advance! The park has wheelchair accessible toilets and parking for the disabled.

The Birds of Eden is the world’s largest aviary.

2014-01-08 14.23.33 — We renamed this ‘the crapping bird’

The park mainly consists of boardwalks (quite steep). — The park mainly consists of boardwalks (quite steep) on different levels. But no steps.

On the suspension bridge. — Unlike Monkeyland, the suspension bridge at Birds of Eden had no steps to enter.

But would you enter this with a motorized chair...? I would not. — But would you cross this with a motorized chair…? I would not.

In New York they want to kill their swans.

Who wears shoes like this in a bird park with boardwalks? Chicks of course! — Who wears shoes like this in a bird park with boardwalks? Only chicks!

3. Boulders Penguin Colony
The Boulders Penguin Colony in Simons Town is home to a unique and endangered land-based colony of African Penguins. This colony is one of only a few in the world, and the site has become famous and a popular international tourist destination. The ‘national park’ consists of a penguin viewing area with boardwalks that are all wheelchair accessible (and easy to wheel yourself on). The park has wheelchair accessible toilets, but parking can be an issue.

Boulders had its own welcome comittee (look under the sign!).

The penguin dance

Somehow, animals tend to create more action than birds, so I don’t have that many stories to tell about our bird experiences. Except when this green bird crapped on Gry’s head of course. Making Gry very grumpy for the next few hours…