Bird Island Nature Reserve
Bird Island Nature Reserve
4.5
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4.5
241 reviews
Excellent
107
Very good
105
Average
22
Poor
3
Terrible
4
Rick W
Sevenoaks, UK2 359 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
Bird island was amazing! We visited in February to see 30,000 Cape Gannets nesting and flying around. After a lovely cup of coffee in Isabellas restaurant, we walked out along the causeway (40 rand per person) to see the colony of gannets. There is a bird hide with a guide to tell you about things, but you can also just stand there and watch the gannets performing various rituals. There is also a shop with a short video and an exhibition hall with some sea animal skeletons. The guide told us that by May all the birds would have disappeared far out to sea. Behind the gannet colony are a mass of seals in the distance. Too far away to see clearly though. We spent several hours there and found it fascinating and impressive. On the way back we also spotted some Cormorants preening themselves. Lamberts Bay does have some gorgeous sandy beaches for sunbathing (but no shade!) and although the water was cold, I did manage a quick swim!
Written 26 February 2024
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Andre H
Cape Town, South Africa558 contributions
Dec 2021
There are only 6 Gannet colonies & this is the only one people can visit for a fairly close up view. Fortunately it is still breeding season when we visited on 17 Dec 2021 so we saw the 23 - 24000 Gannets as per our guide. What a sight , there were numerous chicks amongst the masses . Quite a noisy bunch but really fascinating . You able to go up to a viewing deck & view without glass , the lower section has a glass front . They are quite beautiful birds with their yellow heads & blue eyes . We also managed to see a few seals. The cost is R50pp & free if you have a Wild Card. Its located within the harbour & has a little museum with a few dolphin , gannet etc skeletons . There is a restaurant within the harbour . Along the breakwater wall there are also numerous man made cormorant platforms to encourage breeding . Was a wonderful experience & a privilege being so close to nature
Written 20 December 2021
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Been a few places
Epsom, UK1 067 contributions
Jan 2020
Bird Island is an amazing sight! Even if you don't particularly birds, you will be impressed. We saw around 2000 Cape Gannets, including fluffy chicks. Watching the birds fly in and out of the colony from the nearby hide was amusing and it was a lot of fun watching the birds interact (there are posters in the hide explaining what they're doing). Surprisingly the colony didn't smell!
As well as the Gannets, there are various species of Cormorants and Terns. The entry fee was well worth it to get this close to some amazing sea birds (you'd otherwise have to be out of sea to see the Gannets), and of course, your fee goes towards their conservation.
As well as the Gannets, there are various species of Cormorants and Terns. The entry fee was well worth it to get this close to some amazing sea birds (you'd otherwise have to be out of sea to see the Gannets), and of course, your fee goes towards their conservation.
Written 13 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anne N
Royal Tunbridge Wells, UK58 contributions
Mar 2020
Certaily lives up to its name: there were tens of thousands of birds on the island, But be prepared for the stench of amonia. The hide was out of use when we visitied, so we were not charged an entrance fee. I don't think the lack of hide distracted us from our enjoyment.
Written 14 March 2020
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Riki Coetzee
11 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
This place has been closed for months, a d will be until well into November. Their website fails to say why, but the locals were told its for maintenance. Locals gave invited Cape Nature to attend tourism meetings to discuss the possibility of closing only the affected areas, but they "were not interested". What is really going on there?
Written 21 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harry H
Port Elizabeth, South Africa27 contributions
Mar 2020 • Solo
The sight of thousands of Cape Gannets gathered on this island is something to behold despite the constant noise and smell. The constant movement of birds either going out to hunt at sea or returning to feed their young or to rest make this a photographer's dream. Knowledgeable guides are available to answer all your questions about the birds. The birdhide itself can do with some tidying up or even upgrading.
Written 9 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dacabs
Winston Park, South Africa492 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
We were fascinated by the Cape Gannets o this island. Wonderful information Centre that is in form of a hide allows you to view the gannets up close. The guide is able to answer all ones questions about these amazing birds. All their behavior is explained. Highly recommended. There are also cormorant nests to view but no information unfortunately. Sea gulls too. Various boards dotted around give information of history and nature. Strange thing is you do not pay at entrance but rather at far end of island.... perhaps some people skip paying? Great photo opportunities
Written 26 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VictorW
Cape Town, South Africa18 contributions
Feb 2020
My wife is a vivid bird watcher and she was speechless. Must say to see so many birds in one place what an experience. Thank you to the two gents manning the lookout point, very clued up and knowledgable and the right people to serve the public, sorry did not catch your names but keep it up!! For the lady at the "visitors" building, maybe either work on your "personality" or just get another job. You are the same as what we saw and witnessed inside the building "NOTHING". What a sad state it is. However other than that what an experince with all the birds on the island.
Written 19 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NMB257
Leatherhead, UK108 contributions
Jan 2020
this is a must see on the West Coast - bit like being on the set of Blue Planet. We could have sat in the hide for hours observing these fascinating birds.
Written 9 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andre Jooste
Cape Town Central, South Africa180 contributions
Dec 2013 • Couples
What an awesome experience ! The colony is on bird island just a few hundred meters from Isabella's restaurant in Lamberts Bay.
A short walk takes you to the bird hide overlooking the colony of thousands of Cape Gannets. A large population of Cape Fur Seals is also visible on a small adjoining island. The viewing deck has very interesting facts and photos of the seabirds in the area and a guide lady is in attendance to assist with and questions. The Gannets are amazing to watch as birds return from their fishing trips and try to locate their mates amongst thousands of birds. You must visit this site as its one of only a few breeding colonies left.
A short walk takes you to the bird hide overlooking the colony of thousands of Cape Gannets. A large population of Cape Fur Seals is also visible on a small adjoining island. The viewing deck has very interesting facts and photos of the seabirds in the area and a guide lady is in attendance to assist with and questions. The Gannets are amazing to watch as birds return from their fishing trips and try to locate their mates amongst thousands of birds. You must visit this site as its one of only a few breeding colonies left.
Written 7 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What are the best months for viewing Gannets at Bird Island Natural Reserve? How is January?
Written 20 March 2018
January should be plenty of chicks still in juvenile feathers, each with its mother. Very good time to visit. Actually the colony is always very populated.
Written 21 March 2018
Gerhardus E
Brakpan, South Africa
is there an entrance fees to visit bird island
Written 7 November 2016
Yes there is a small fee but being part of a group I do not know the exact amount as this was included as part of the price of our package for a tour of 10 days.
Written 7 November 2016
We'll be in Lambert's Bay next April and will visit Bird Island. Is there parking nearby? Roughly how much time should I allow for the visit?
Best regards
Written 5 October 2016
You can park outside Isabella's Restaurant (no problem finding parking both times we visited). This is inside the harbour gate and next to the causeway entrance.
As for time, it depends how interested you are by the birds. Their specialised behaviour is interesting to watch and they provide wonderful photographic opportunities. There's also a small exhibition of whale, seal and bird skeletons in a building nearby.
2-3 hours max I would say.
Written 6 October 2016
Hi, can we visit the bird island on our own, do we need to do a boat trip? Starting point for the trip?
Written 21 December 2015
it's not really an island - a projectory off the harbour. There is a "sleepy" type of town where you can park - probably for free, but i'm not sure. However, there is parking in the harbour.
The gannets were a wonderful sight as the "hide" - a permanent brick building - were very close to the gannets and we stayed there for about an hour watching their comings and goings. We also enjoyed about another hour walking up the "breakwater" looking at the boats and other birds.
Written 6 October 2016
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