Imagine a pristine lush multi canopy
forest full of monkey vines, mosses
and the forest floor a carpet of ferns
amid a bed of leaves. Imagine this
forest is alive with indigenous and
exotic birds in free flight. Hear
the call of the birds in song against
the backdrop of the sound of river
water as it cascades through a series
of rapids and pools on its path through
the forest. See water birds bobbing
in forested river pools, as Toucans,
Barbets, Lories and Macaws sweep through
the canopy in majestic flight. Hear
the distant call of a Fish Eagle and
the rumble of thunder to mark the
coming of the rain.
Stand in shelter
from the rain, as excited birds frolic
through the showers, no sooner has
it started and the rain is gone leaving
behind the clean smell of wet leaves,
the birds burst back into song again,
their calls seem to be magnified by
the moist air. Enter the valley of
the clouds, a misty trove of lush
forest vegetation and discover the
ruins of an ancient civilisation.
The bird’s song is momentarily
blanketed out by the thunder of the
river water as it drops down from
a waterfall into a beckoning pool
below. It is suddenly dark as you
enter the ruin and pass behind the
sold sheet of water and you realise
that you are behind the waterfall.
Imagine no longer,
this is exactly what you will experience
when you visit the Birds of Eden sanctuary
in Pletterberg Bay. The project, which
is to feature indigenous birds but
will also incorporate exotics, has
been under construction for 2 years,
and is to open in April 2005.
Similar in sentiment
its well established neighbour Monkeyland,
the bird project is designed to allow
pet owners the opportunity to “do
the right thing” and by this,
it is possible for a pet owner, to
release his caged bird into the 2,4
hectare forested bird sanctuary to
live as near normal life as it would
have had it not been captive, and
all the while the pet owner remains
the owner of the bird.
The project which
will ultimately see an entire canyon
of pristine indigenous forest being
encapsulated under a mesh dome, will
boast the ability to simulate thunder
and rain using a combination of sound
and a water sprinkler system built
into the dome, it also has an amphitheatre
which can seat 200 people, a canopy
walk which hangs above a man made
cloud in the Valley of the Clouds
and a walk behind waterfall are all
features which will add the what promises
to be an exhilarating nature and wildlife
experience.
Patrons to nearby
Monkeyland will be invited to a free
behind the scenes tour of the bird
project from the beginning of December
2004 up to the opening in April 2005.
