Umgeni River Bird Park

There are plenty of animal safaris you can enjoy in the KwaZulu-Natal province, including the Umgeni River Bird Park—a bird zoo in the city of Durban where you'll see a dizzying array of African bird life.

The bird park was established in 1984 by a bird lover who grew up in Durban; he and other enthusiasts created a place where they could educate others about the birds they loved so much. The park was set up in a former quarry and covers more than eight and a half acres. Although it did briefly close down in 2009 due to financial troubles, the site reopened less than a year later under new management.

Today, visitors can see more than 800 birds representing 200 species from around the world. The park also has breeding programs for some of the threatened birds in its collection, including cranes. One highlight of a visit to the Umgeni River Bird Park is the Free Flight Bird Show, held twice a day in an open auditorium.