Treehaven Waterfowl Trust, Three Rivers, Vereeniging

The Treehaven Waterfowl Trust near Vereeniging is a 12ha especially developed wetland park, created for the preservation of waterfowl species from around the world.

The world’s wetlands are highly threatened, and the Treehaven Waterfowl park reserve plays a small but crucial role in waterfowl conservation and the education of the public.

Species that can be seen include all 16 species of indigenous duck and 116 species of exotic duck, geese and swan. Over 65 species of water birds also migrate to or via Treehaven annually, including 4 species of flamingo and various stork species, including the striking saddle-billed stork . South Africa’s three magnificent crane species (all endangered) are resident at the park, part of a captive breeding programme, with fledgling birds released into the wild to bolster dwindling populations.

Treehaven is very serious concern, actively seeking new species and conducting a Wattle Crane Recovery Program in partnership with the South Africa’s Endangered Wildlife Trust. The Wattled Crane is South Africa’s most endangered and rarest bird, with only around 250 recorded in the wild.

View Wattled Crane chicks being ‘costume reared’ by their ‘human mother’s, and enjoy sightings of some of the world’s rarest and most beautiful waterbirds on a tour. Tours must be booked 3 days in advance. There is a coffee shop on the premises and cottage accommodation with swimming pool and sauna.

Bring your binoculars and your camera and do some waterfowl watching!

Getting there: Take the R42 towards Vereeniging from Three Rivers. After the sharp left curve in the road, take the first road right, Houtkop Road, over the Klip River. Go over a 4-way stop and the railway bridge. Turn right at the 3-way stop into Van Riet Lowe Street. Go for 2km. Turn right over the railway lines.