Page 12 - SAFFER Magazine 01

WE VISITED THE ORIBI

VULTURE VIEWING HIDE

The hide, located on privately owned farmland in a
canyon approximately 400 m deep and 30 km long, just
west of Port Shepstone, is home to a breeding colony
of more than a hundred Cape Vultures (Cape Griffon).
This colony is highly significant in view of the fact that
the total population of these birds, endemic to southern
Africa, is a mere 8 000 - 10 000.

The viewing hide is managed by a non-profit organisation
which aims to create awareness of the ecological role
played by this endangered species and the dire threats
to their survival. Visits to the hide must be booked in
advance.

These photos were taken from the cliff’s edge in the
Umzimkulu Valley, with vultures soaring at eye level.
The hide also overlooks a vulture restaurant where the
birds are fed the carcasses of farm animals donated by the
community.

Formed by two rivers that cut through the Oribi Flats
sugarcane farmlands in KwaZulu-Natal, the canyon
offers spectacular views of kloof and crags, and the dense
subtropical plant life that covers the sandstone slopes –
any photographer’s dream.

Hester Blog’s at https://www.hesterleynel.co.za/ or
Twitter’s @HesterLeyNel

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