A much-needed addition to the Southern Drakensberg region, the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide was launched and opened to the public on 19 February 2024. Created to support endangered Vulture conservation through a Vulture Safe Feeding Zone, the hide is a hub of activity and a bird-lover’s paradise.Â
Located in the heart of the southern Drakensberg, the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide is fitted with one-way glass designed for clear photography and allows up to six guests to comfortably view and photograph endangered Vultures, as well other birds, for a good cause. Exquisite mountainous backdrops, comfortable seating, darkened windows and a few electrical plug points for recharging camera batteries and phones, make for an enjoyable experience. The Hide is also equipped with educational material to ensure visitors leave having learnt more about conservation and wildlife in the region.Â
A collaborative conservation partnership
The Mzimkulu Vulture Hide forms part of Wildlife ACT’s Southern Drakensberg Conservation Project and has been made possible by a collaborative effort between Wildlife ACT and Riverlea Farm. The primary objective of this initiative is to provide the Southern Drakensberg with a sustainable safe feeding site for Vultures. Important partners include Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Project Vulture, Drakensberg Conservation Initiative, Bearded Vulture Recovery Programme and the Endangered Wildlife Trust. The creation of the hide has been made possible by Invicta Wildlife, CHEP, and European Outdoor Conservation Association. The support of local Underberg farms has also been crucial to making this important Vulture Safe Feeding Site possible.
The importance of Vulture Conservation in the region
Vultures are nature’s cleanup crew, scavenging and disposing of animal remains that could otherwise become breeding grounds for disease. By swiftly recycling organic matter, Vultures help prevent the spread of illnesses that could affect both humans and animals.
Despite their importance, Vulture numbers across Africa are in rapid decline and their range numbers have decreased by up to 70%. Of the six Vulture species that occur in South Africa, all are either Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered. Despite being critical to our ecosystems, Vulture numbers are in serious decline, with only 50 to 100 breeding pairs of Bearded Vulture in South Africa and Lesotho and about 4,500 breeding pairs of Cape Vulture left in South Africa.
The importance of Vulture Safe Feeding Sites
Vulture safe feeding sites or Vulture restaurants are areas where uncontaminated carcasses  are intentionally placed to provide a safe and sustainable supplementary food source for Vultures, to help ensure their survival and contribute to the ecological balance.
The Southern Drakensberg is a stronghold location for two of South Africa’s cliff-nesting species of Vulture, namely the Bearded Vulture and Cape Vulture. As such, it is essential for conservation initiatives such as the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide, to be spearheaded in this region, aimed at preserving and protecting this crucial population of endangered birds.
The implementation of a Vulture safe feeding zone is one such initiative that has started strongly with vital support from the Drakensberg Conservation Initiative and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in collaboration with Wildlife ACT and Riverlea Farm; as  the essential input of local farmers and landowners.
Vulture feeding sites may also incorporate hides, allowing photographers and conservation enthusiasts to have a close-up view of these incredible birds and other animals that frequent the sites. In addition to increasing public awareness about the challenges faced by Vultures, these hides serve an important role in ecotourism, with the potential to generate revenue to sustain vulture conservation initiatives. This is the hope for the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide.
A crucial stronghold for South Africa’s cliff-nesting vultures
The Mzimkulu Vulture Hide is located 8KMs from Underberg, in KwaZulu-Natal’s Southern Drakensberg. The hide location rests on the foot of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, which is a World Heritage Site is one of the five largest protected areas in South Africa – providing one of the last strongholds for several threatened and endangered species.
The Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site is renowned for its spectacular natural landscape, importance as a haven for many threatened and endemic species, and for its wealth of rock paintings made by the San people over a period of 4,000 years. The Heritage Site covers an area of 249,313 ha making it the largest Protected Area complex along the Great Escarpment of Southern Africa. Extending along most of KwaZulu-Natal’s south-western border with Lesotho, the property provides a vital refuge for more than 250 endemic plant species and their associated fauna.
It also holds almost all of the remaining subalpine and alpine vegetation in the KwaZulu-Natal province, including extensive high altitude wetlands. The uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park has been identified as an Important Bird Area, and forms a critical part of the Lesotho Highlands Endemic Bird Area.
How to book a visit to the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide
Kindly note it is essential to book at least 48 hours in advance before visiting the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide. Bookings can be made via email: vulture@wildlifeact.com or through the website on www.saveourvultures.com. The Facebook group can he joined here: www.facebook.com/groups/mzimkuluvulturehide.
The entrance fee for four hours is R300 per person, R150 for children 16 and under (*kindly note that children under 6 cannot be accommodated at the hide). It is possible to book the Hide exclusively for the day for R1500.Â
The Hide can accommodate a maximum of six visitors at a time. Bookings may be limited to reduce disturbance to the Vulture Safe Feeding Site, so bookings should be made well in advance to avoid disappointment. Visitors are asked to be respectful of the space at all times by keeping volumes to a minimum to prevent disturbing the birds. The funds raised through visitor bookings at the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide are used to keep the Vulture Safe Feeding Site and Hide operational.Â
Wild visitors to the hide include Cape Vultures, Bearded Vultures, Yellow-billed Kites, various Eagle species, Sacred Ibis, White-necked Ravens, Bokmakieries, Black-backed Jackals and occasionally Large Grey Mongoose. On the track to the hide you can find Ant-eating Chats, Quail Finch, Grey Crowned Crane and the occasional Red-capped Lark, Cape Longclaw and Common Quail. Also look out for Long-tailed Widows and the very busy Yellow-crowned Bishop, Fan-tailed Widow and various Cisticolas species and more.
