Tag Archives: Pretoria

A month of monochrome memories: Watchful Chat

Ant-eating Chats are unusually bold and confiding birds, and a familiar sight in Rietvlei Nature Reserve.

Rietvlei 06122015 (9)

Our end-of-year 2015 holidays were absolutely packed to the brim. Apart from our ten-day visit to the Kruger National Park (read more about our time at Lower Sabie, Olifants and Shingwedzi in December), we also made day trips to five other reserves, and will be sharing photos from those (except Suikerbosrand, which we introduced in a post all of its own) daily through the month of February, in a series we call “a month of monochrome memories”.

A month of monochrome memories: Close-up Zebra

The relaxed nature of the animals at Pretoria’s Rietvlei Nature Reserve allows for excellent close-up photographic opportunities, as was the case with this plains zebra that walked straight past our vehicle.

Rietvlei 06122015 (8)

Our end-of-year 2015 holidays were absolutely packed to the brim. Apart from our ten-day visit to the Kruger National Park (read more about our time at Lower Sabie, Olifants and Shingwedzi in December), we also made day trips to five other reserves, and will be sharing photos from those (except Suikerbosrand, which we introduced in a post all of its own) daily through the month of February, in a series we call “a month of monochrome memories”.

A month of monochrome memories: Proud Hartebeest

Standing tall and proud, a red hartebeest surveys the Rietvlei Nature Reserve for hidden predators.

Rietvlei 06122015 (5)

Our end-of-year 2015 holidays were absolutely packed to the brim. Apart from our ten-day visit to the Kruger National Park (read more about our time at Lower Sabie, Olifants and Shingwedzi in December), we also made day trips to five other reserves, and will be sharing photos from those (except Suikerbosrand, which we introduced in a post all of its own) daily through the month of February, in a series we call “a month of monochrome memories”.

A month of monochrome memories: Egret Style

A Western Cattle Egret, in full breeding plumage, soaking up the early morning sun at the Otter Bridge in Rietvlei Nature Reserve.

Rietvlei 06122015 (3)

Our end-of-year 2015 holidays were absolutely packed to the brim. Apart from our ten-day visit to the Kruger National Park (read more about our time at Lower Sabie, Olifants and Shingwedzi in December), we also made day trips to five other reserves, and will be sharing photos from those (except Suikerbosrand, which we introduced in a post all of its own) daily through the month of February, in a series we call “a month of monochrome memories”.

A month of monochrome memories: Stripes

Plains zebras makes excellent photographic subjects, and are regularly encountered in Rietvlei Nature Reserve in Pretoria.

Rietvlei 06122015 (2)

Our end-of-year 2015 holidays were absolutely packed to the brim. Apart from our ten-day visit to the Kruger National Park (read more about our time at Lower Sabie, Olifants and Shingwedzi in December), we also made day trips to five other reserves, and will be sharing photos from those (except Suikerbosrand, which we introduced in a post all of its own) daily through the month of February, in a series we call “a month of monochrome memories”.

A month of monochrome memories: Rietvlei Rhino

True to our nature, we spent my birthday in early December at Rietvlei Nature Reserve, where a group of white rhinos greeted us close to the gate.

Rietvlei 06122015 (1)

Our end-of-year 2015 holidays were absolutely packed to the brim. Apart from our ten-day visit to the Kruger National Park (read more about our time at Lower Sabie, Olifants and Shingwedzi in December), we also made day trips to five other reserves, and will be sharing photos from those (except Suikerbosrand, which we introduced in a post all of its own) daily through the month of February, in a series we call “a month of monochrome memories”.

A month of monochrome memories: Prinia Lunchtime

A tiny Tawny-flanked Prinia showing off its even smaller grasshopper-meal at the Austin Roberts Memorial Bird Sanctuary in Pretoria.

Austin Roberts 22112015 (3)

Our end-of-year 2015 holidays were absolutely packed to the brim. Apart from our ten-day visit to the Kruger National Park (read more about our time at Lower Sabie, Olifants and Shingwedzi in December), we also made day trips to five other reserves, and will be sharing photos from those (except Suikerbosrand, which we introduced in a post all of its own) daily through the month of February, in a series we call “a month of monochrome memories”.

A month of monochrome memories: Hunting Little Egret

Austin Roberts Memorial Bird Sanctuary is a haven for several kinds of herons and egrets, going about their business rather unperturbed by the presence of human spectators. The hunting technique of the black heron we enjoyed close-up views of there was a special treat, and quite unlike the side-ways bobbing head movements employed by this hunting Little Egret in zoning in on its prey.

Austin Roberts 22112015 (2) Austin Roberts 22112015 (4)

Our end-of-year 2015 holidays were absolutely packed to the brim. Apart from our ten-day visit to the Kruger National Park (read more about our time at Lower Sabie, Olifants and Shingwedzi in December), we also made day trips to five other reserves, and will be sharing photos from those (except Suikerbosrand, which we introduced in a post all of its own) daily through the month of February, in a series we call “a month of monochrome memories”.

A month of monochrome memories: Metro Mahem

The tiny Austin Roberts Memorial Bird Sanctuary is one of the city of Pretoria’s gems, and the reserve’s flock of Grey Crowned Cranes (known as “mahem” in Afrikaans) must be among the most photographed of their species.

Austin Roberts 22112015 (1)

Our end-of-year 2015 holidays were absolutely packed to the brim. Apart from our ten-day visit to the Kruger National Park (read more about our time at Lower Sabie, Olifants and Shingwedzi in December), we also made day trips to five other reserves, and will be sharing photos from those (except Suikerbosrand, which we introduced in a post all of its own) daily through the month of February, in a series we call “a month of monochrome memories”.

A Lazy Sunday At Rietvlei

Rietvlei Nature Reserve is the largest of the natural areas within the Pretoria city limits, protecting 3800 hectares of endangered bankenveld grasslands and reedbeds around the Rietvlei Dam. Rietvlei offers sanctuary to an astounding variety of indigenous game and birdlife just minutes away from our home, and was the perfect destination for a picnic with a good friend on the last Sunday of August. The gallery that follows comprises some photos we took on the day, and is a perfect introduction to what this special reserve has to offer – in the few hours we spent there we ticked 13 kinds of mammals (including plains zebra, eland, waterbuck, reedbuck, buffalo and white rhino) and 53 different birdspecies.

The Rietvlei Nature Reserve, on the southern outskirts of Pretoria, is owned and managed by the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality and is very popular, especially over weekends and on public holidays. The reserve offers chalet accommodation and camping, self-drive game- and birdviewing , photographic hides, picnic sites, a coffee shop, lion camp (guided tours only), guided night drives, fishing, sailing, rowing, hiking, mountain biking and horse trails.

Rietvlei location

Rietvlei lies roughly 19km south of the Pretoria City Centre (drawn with Google Maps)