exotic birds

Birds of Eden is the world's biggest free flight aviary. It is in essence a sanctuary for unwanted birds from all over the world. Many were shoulder pets before, like most of the parrots you'll find here. Others were donated by zoos and even companies like Disneyland. The aviary is over two hectares in size and netting stretches 34 metres into the sky above.

Birds of Eden is located in the Crags right next to the primate sanctuary monkeyland, on the Garden Route of South Africa, close to the small town of Nature's Valley.

Here, you can go for a self guided walk at your own leisure, which will take you on a raised 1.2 kilometre wooden walkway snaking through the forest and over an 'Indiana Jones' style hang bridge. This brings you quite high into the forest canopy, which makes it easy to see birds like the beautiful indigenous Knysna Lourie from close up.

There are over 3000 birds and more than 220 species of birds at Birds of Eden. On arrival you'll be given a booklet which has pictures and information about all the different birds, which means you can really spend the whole day identifying and observing these beautiful creatures. Birds of Eden is open seven days a week between 8 am and 5 pm.