Gauteng Nature: Austen Roberts and Pretoria Botanical Gardens

Nature oases within large cities’ limits might be prone to unnatural elements, but, as is the case with the Austen Roberts Bird Sanctuary and the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens, may offer a wealth of natural beauty. And though the fauna in such havens might be aware of human activity around them, they often continue with their required daily activities as if we were not there.

1) Austen Roberts Bird Sanctuary

This White-faced Duck was photographed through one of the viewing holes in the wall built along the path leading to the Sasol Hadeda Hide.

The Austen Roberts Bird Sanctuary is located on the site of an old clay quarry in the suburb of Nieuw Muckleneuk and was established in 1958. Though it apparently took a while for a wide variety of birds to start roosting and/or abiding in the sanctuary, it soon became a refuge and prime foraging site to a large number of bird species.

Biodiversity:
More than 160 species have been recorded in the sanctuary and in addition to birds some antelope (Common Duiker and Blesbok) and Leopard Tortoises call the sanctuary home. Slender Mongoose, though not confined to the sanctuary, is also often seen. Some of the birds one is likely to encounter are Blue Crane, Sacred Ibis, White-faced Duck, Knob-billed Duck, Yellow-billed Duck, Egyptian Goose, Little Grebe, Reed Cormorant, African Darter, Black Crake, Warblers (Lesser Swamp, Little Rush and Willow), Southern Masked Weaver, Thick-billed Weaver and Village Weaver. Kingfishers are common (Pied, Giant and Brown-hooded) and various elusive species, such as the Black-crowned Night Heron and Little Bittern, might also be seen.

This female Giant Kingfisher took a breather on a tree adjacent to the Sanctuary’s main dam and next to the walkway leading to the Sasol Hadeda Hide.

Access and facilities:
The general public may not venture into the sanctuary itself, but can view it either from the walkways that follow the sanctuary’s fence, from the Blue Crane Restaurant, which borders and overlooks much of the sanctuary and from the Sasol Hadeda Hide. The walk around the fence may sound dull, but a number of small dams are located close to the fence and one is sure to see a good number of bird species and some antelope if one walks around the whole perimeter. The Blue Crane Restaurant allows a good view over the sanctuary’s main dam, especially from its top deck. With a pair of binoculars one can utilize the restaurant’s vantage point to the full, although the view itself is scenic and many birds should be well within range to observe without optical aid. If one is a birder then a visit to Austen Roberts is not complete without making use of the Sasol Hadeda Hide. This hide is well designed with a walkway leading to the hide that largely conceals the visitor from birds. Furthermore, this walkway also has eye-level gaps in its concealing wall that allow for intimate close-up views of a number of ducks and other birds. The hide itself looks out onto a small stream on side, an embayment fringed by reeds and much of the sanctuary’s main dam. Look out for Warblers and Black Crake around the hide and upon entering and leaving the hide scan the nearby trees that fringe the dam for Kingfishers. Another feature of the sanctuary is the small museum located between the restaurant and hide. It features displays of a number of birds preserved by taxidermy and would be enjoyed by most children, though adults (like myself) are not exempt.

The birds, and certain antelope like the Common Duiker, in the reserve are quite habituated to humans, which allows for close views and many photo opportunities. Whether one is a serious birder and/or nature photographer or just a nature lover, the Austen Roberts Bird Sanctuary has something to offer. Its tranquillity and beauty allow the mind to escape from the hustle and bustle of surrounding suburban Pretoria.

2) Pretoria National Botanical Gardens
Apart from being a nice picnic spot, the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens offers access to patches of bush of pristine flora and a healthy diversity of birdlife. Situated near the N1-N4 interchange, the gardens were established in 1946 and span a large area of 76 hectares. A quartzite ridge runs through the gardens and separates its southern and northern portions. Apart from the woodland biozone defined by the ridge, portions of natural grassland occur, while the remainder of the gardens is composed of a mosaic of mini-gardens, all having different themes, and lawns that are interspersed with trees.

When the fig trees that grow on the quartzite ridge that runs through the gardens develop ripe figs one is likely to find the beautiful African Green Pigeon along with various other frugivores gorging themselves on these fruit.

Biodiversity:
The botanical gardens are home to a wide spectrum of life, from plants and trees to reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds. Roughly 200 species of birds have been recorded and one may well be surprised to encounter species you might not expect well within Pretoria such as Crimson-breasted Shrike, Acacia Pied Barbet, African Green Pigeon and in summer Grey-headed Kingfisher. A mammal rather ubiquitous on the quartzite ridge is the Rock Hyrax (Dassie) and if you’ve never seen these large rodents in a tree – this is a common spectacle in the gardens. I have not seen any, but I’m sure mongoose, genets and various snakes are also resident in the gardens. Finally, I wouldn’t be doing the gardens due honour by neglecting to mention its floral diversity. More or less 1000 and 500 species of flowering plants and trees occur in the gardens, respectively. The gardens’ diversity in trees is impressive considering that it accounts for more than half of our indigenous tree species. Furthermore, many of the trees occurring in the gardens are labelled - displaying their common and scientific names.

As well as lawns interspersed with threes and woodland area, the gardens contain large patches of grassland that provide ideal conditions for many flowering plants, as well as prime foraging grounds for Spotted Thick-knee and the like.

Access & facilities:
The botanical gardens are open year-round from 08:00-18:00. Adults pay R18.00 for a day’s entrance, students R10 and children under ?? R??. Facilities include a visitor’s centre, an environmental education centre, a restaurant overlooking a small dam and ablution facilities. Note that the restaurant’s entrance is outside the gardens - fringing the gardens’ main parking area. Finally, the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s head office is located inside the gardens and has a commended bookstore.

So, whether one is in the mood for a picnic, a short hike, birding or just nature, the Pretoria Botanical Gardens offers a wide spectrum of natural beauty and diversity at an affordable price.

Denni Raubenheimer

PS: In writing this article I consulted ‘The Chamberlain Guide to Birding Gauteng’, a desirable book to any Gauteng birder.