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Description
Strandfontein is one of Cape Town’s top birding sites! Flamingos flying between pans provide a visual feast of pink and white. A wide variety of waterbirds are easily observed while driving around the pans. Strandfontein has attracted rare waders and wagtails over the decades. A variety of passerines may also be seen, especially swallows in summer.
The works consist of a series of settling ponds. The ponds provide open water for waterfowl, with shallow areas for flamingos. Most ponds are fringed with reeds, providing shelter for warblers, cisticolas, and other species. Large numbers of Barn Swallows roost in the larger reedbeds. Roads encircle the ponds, allowing one to use a vehicle as a hide.
Over 72 waterbird species have been recorded. Strandfontein is of international and national importance for several species. Quite a few resident waders occur, which are joined in summer by migrants. Several tern species visit in summer, and gulls are resident.
Grey and Purple Herons are present in high numbers in summer, while winter sees an influx of White Pelicans. Most ducks are more numerous in summer. South African Shelduck and Southern Pochard are more numerous in winter, however.
Details
Access
Best way to get around is by car, you can drive around very easy. Directions: The most reliable way to enter the sewage works is from the Zeekoeivlei side. From the M5 freeway, turn left into Ottery road at the Ottery turn-off, follow the road for about two or three kms, then turn right into Strandfontein road. Continue along this road past a Shell service station and a Pick N Pay on your left, about 2 kms turn right at the Zeekoeivlei/False Bay Nature Reserve sign which is at a set of traffic lights. Continue down to small circle and keep right passing the cluster houses on your left. Proceed straight ahead over the stop street and enter at the boom/security point. Follow that road as it passes Zeekoeivlei on your right, continue as the road bends to the right and then a sharp left after the boat club. You will see the sewarage pans ahead of you, follow the road all the way to the entrance of the actual sewarage works and you make a sharp right through a boom and you're there!
Gate opens at 6h00. Not sure if the time changes in winter.