Funsunzi to do: Umgeni Bird Park

If you're a parent who hasn't yet explored the Umgeni Bird Park on Riverside Road, then book a morning or an afternoon in the not-too-distant-future to do so.

 

A few Sundays ago, it provided my 19-month-old daughter and I with a couple of solid hours worth of entertainment. Bliss, when you're trying to keep the little ones entertained.

 

Kids under four years of age get in free, so it was the R36 for me and an extra R5 a piece for food for the swans and the lorikeets, and we were 'A' for away.

 

The first thing I noticed was how clean and well-maintained the enclosures are. The second thing that caught my eye was the sign near the entrance featuring pictures of what can happen if you get too close to the many, varied beaks. Bites to the eyebrow area and fingers looked pretty sore, so I made sure I kept my daughter's fingers well away from all cage openings. Not as easy as it sounds.

 

We spent a fun few hours at the park, looking at the various birds, from parrots to hornbills to kookaburras to flamingoes to a beautiful toucan.

 

 

Of course, when you're with an energetic toddler, it's not that easy to study the information about the birds at each enclosure, but regardless, I was impressed with the vast array of species. All looked to be healthy and well cared for and I didn't get that depressed feeling I get at some zoos or animal facilities. 

 

A highlight was feeding the swans. There were a few Egyptian Geese in the pond at the time too, but they didn't seem too interested in any of our pellets. 

 

The lorikeets' enclosure was also lots of fun, for me in particular, as the colourful birds flew all around us, landing on a head or shoulder, intent on getting a taste of the nectar substance we carried in. One little guy then proceeded to tip it over onto the floor, but they didn't seem to mind. My daughter wasn't as enamoured as I was. She got a little peck at one time and screamed blue murder, at which time we bid a hasty retreat from that enclosure. A caution, watch out if you're wearing sunglasses - their sharp beaks pecked at mind resulting in a few scratches on the one lens.

 

 

 

(Above: In the  lorikeets' enclosure)

 

We rounded the visit off with the free-flight bird show in the auditorium (there's one at 11am and another at 2pm) where a variety of interesting birds, including two vultures and a hornbill (with to-die-for eyelashes), strut their stuff. The guide was very entertaining and the audience loved how the birds collected little pieces of food from among them. If you want the most action in that regard, sit in the front row.

 

 

 

(Above: Pelicans and parrots) 

 

There's a restaurant / cafe and a kiddies playground area. We skipped both but we will definitely be back another day.

 

Facts for you:

Umgeni Bird Park (tel: 031 579 4600)

The park is open from 9am to 5pm every day (closed Christmas day). Entry Fees are R36 for Adults and R17 for Children (4-12 years) and Pensioners. 

Address: 490 Riverside Rd, Durban 4001, South Africa

 

(Note: this is an independent review. The Umgeni Bird Park was not aware of my visit or of the possibility of a review being written.)

 

- Diane Macpherson

(Twitter: @dianemacpherson)