Mzimkulu Hide is temporarily closed to humans, but the local wildlife is breaking in a brand new pond, and a few VIP guests have already stopped by!

Drakensberg, South Africa (11 March 2026) – While the Mzimkulu Hide remains closed due to the ongoing Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak, teams from Wildlife ACT have continued working behind the scenes to look after the area’s Vulture Safe Feeding Site.

As part of those efforts, a new water pond was recently installed near the hide to create an additional water source for wildlife and, eventually, a new photographic opportunity for visiting guests.

During a routine visit, Wildlife ACT’s Malibongwe Sibiya spotted two Bearded Vultures taking a dip at the site, alongside an appearance made by a majestic Verreaux’s Eagle.

“During a recent weekly monitoring and maintenance session, Southern Drakensberg Priority Species Monitor, Malibongwe Sibiya, was fortunate to observe two Bearded Vultures and a Verreaux’s eagle on site – an encouraging reminder of the positive impact of these ongoing efforts” says says Wildlife ACT’s Southern Drakensberg Coordinator, Lexi Theocharopoulos.

Any sighting of a Bearded Vulture should be regarded as special. The species is listed as Critically Endangered in southern Africa, with only an estimated 50 to 100 breeding pairs remaining across South Africa and Lesotho. Their numbers have sadly declined due to threats including poisoning, habitat loss, collisions with powerlines, and contaminated food sources.

This is where Wildlife ACT’s work makes a difference. Their conservationists work closely with partners and landowners to create and look after safe feeding sites, ensuring vulture species have access to uncontaminated food in areas free from major threats.

The presence of a Verreaux’s Eagle during the same sighting was another good sign! While currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, its appearance is proof that these protected feeding sites can offer real sanctuary for our raptors.

If you would like to support the work that Wildlife ACT does, follow this link for more info.

Sources: Linked above.

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As we reach the peak of winter, rehabilitated vultures rejoined their mates and rebuild their place in the ecosystem.

South Africa (25 July 2025) – In the heart of winter, when vultures are known to pair off and prepare for breeding, a powerful comeback story is unfolding. A few weeks ago, a major poisoning event threatened to wipe out vultures in the Kruger National Park, a tragic yet all too common crisis in Africa’s wild landscapes. But thanks to a rapid response triggered by the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) wildlife tracking and early warning surveillance system, hope was not lost.

The incident, flagged in real time by EWT’s system, enabled teams to reach the scene quickly. While many birds had already succumbed, 84 vultures were found alive. Sadly, one died en route to care, but today, more than 40 have recovered and have been released back into the wild.

Some of the birds are fitted with high-resolution GPS trackers, and since their release, they have been closely monitored. Many of the adult vultures have already reunited with their partners and are back to nest building, ready for the breeding season.

This is a strong reminder of how critical quick action can be in saving not only individual animals but also preserving diminishing populations.

This effort is part of a wider network of conservation work under the EWT’s Strategic Conservation Landscapes, nine priority areas across east and southern Africa. These landscapes are carefully chosen using biodiversity data, spanning protected areas and critical water sources.

By embedding conservation principles in farming, mining, urban planning and beyond, the EWT and its partners are proving that biodiversity can thrive when it is part of everyday decisions. With healthier ecosystems come cleaner water, food security, and climate resilience.

Sources: EWT

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Two vultures released in 2024 have enjoyed their freedom by spreading their wings and embarking on exciting travels to wherever their wings took them. But, in a wholesome, full-circle moment, the birds came back to visit the place they were set free.

Gqeberha, South Africa (14 March 2025) — When animals are released (following either rescue and rehabilitation or other reasons) and set free to explore the world via their own flippers or wings, it’s an exciting moment for all who worked tirelessly to help them get to this place.

Thanks to tracking technology, the conservationists who helped make the freedom happen are able to see where the animals’ adventures take them.

Sometimes, the animals rival global jet-setters with how far they travel. Bheni, the green turtle, for one, has collected more ‘passport stamps’ than most people. Other times, the animals stay closer to home. And sometimes, they come back to the place where they first tasted freedom, as was the case for two vultures recently!

Vulture conservation organisation VulPro (the only one of its kind) recently shared the significant homecoming of Purple White 48 and 47.

These birds were born at Vulpro’s breeding centre in Hartebeesport in 2023 as part of an effort to bolster the wild population and were later relocated (along with 163 other vultures) to the Eastern Cape.

In May 2024, they were released at Shamwari Game Reserve, where the skies became theirs to explore—and explore they did.

The birds were tracked at multiple points: Makhanda, Komani, Mthatha, and even on a little trek close to Lesotho. Purple white 47 also took on a lengthy trip all the way to Richards Bay before saying howzit to the Free State!

But, after some touring, the birds decided to come back to Shamwari—a full-circle moment of freedom.

“Their return to Shamwari is a huge win for vulture conservation and a hopeful sign for the Eastern Cape’s vulture population, furthering our commitment to protecting these incredible birds and their habitats”, shared VulPro.

Meanwhile, in other happy vulture news, for the first time in over 30 years, wild Cape Vultures have returned to the Eastern Cape – soaring over Spitskop, Cradock in a sighting that has stunned conservationists and reignited hope for the species’ survival. Read more here.

Sources: VulPro 

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Local champion of wildlife welfare and conservation, ‘Vulture Whisperer’ Kerri Wolter, has been nominated for the ‘Nobel Prize’ of animal conservation!

Global (13 September 2024) — When Kerri Wolter was grinding life out in the corporate world, she had no idea that one day she’d become a champion of vultures, let alone be up for the ‘Nobel Prize’ of animal conservation.

“I was desperate to find my soul that had been lost in an air-conditioned office,” she reflects of her old life.

“I applied for a position as manager of a vulture conservation group when the opportunity arose, not knowing anything about any bird species, and nothing could be further from my mind than vultures at the time.”

Kerri ended up getting the role. In no time, she found herself desperate to save the species that most don’t know enough about and even less tend to care about.

“I found myself looking down at a bundle of feathers and an ET look-a-like bird that resembled the prehistoric age of dinosaurs. My heart melted. I finally understood the magnificence and fragility of the species. My task, at that exact moment, was as clear as daylight…It was my calling. I needed to make people understand their beauty, and their importance in our world of green and destruction; I was to become what I have now been nicknamed—“The Vulture Whisperer”.

That was decades ago. Since then, Kerri has followed her calling proudly and firmly, standing strong as a force behind vulture conservation, oftentimes against the odds.

Today, Kerri is the CEO of VulPro—the only vulture conservation organisation of its kind, founded by the Vulture Whisperer herself.

Together with her team, VulPro has achieved some incredible things in its time, including massive relocation missions that are helping to secure the future of wild vulture populations (the largest ever, at that), imperative rehabilitation work for the species, population monitoring, research and so much more.

It comes as no surprise, then, that Kerri has been announced as one of the nominees for the 2025 Indianapolis Prize, AKA the ‘Nobel Prize’ of animal conservation!

Here, she’s up against 44 conservations from around the world, honoured for her decades-long dedication to saving vultures from the ‘brink of extinction’, as VulPo shares.

“This nomination reflects Kerri’s relentless passion, unwavering determination, and deep love for these often-misunderstood birds. It also powerfully acknowledges the collective efforts our entire team, partners, volunteers and supporters who believe in this vital mission,” praise VulPro.

South Africa couldn’t be more proud of the local Vulture Whisperer, and we have no doubt that Kerri’s story has helped inspire new generations of wildlife heroes—especially those desperate to leave their desks to follow their greater callings.

Sources: VulPro 

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Mzimkulu Vulture Hide has launched in the Southern Drakensberg to raise awareness and support for endangered vulture conservation in the region!

Drakensberg, South Africa (18 February 2024) — A much-needed addition to the Southern Drakensberg region, the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide is set to launch to the public on 19 February 2024. Created to support endangered Vulture conservation through a Vulture Safe Feeding Zone, the hide is premised to be a place of public awareness, education about vultures and support for their futures.

Located in the heart of the Southern Drakensberg, the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide is fitted with one-way glass so that vultures can be viewed and photographed but not disturbed (only six guests can visit at a time). Part of Wildlife ACT’s Southern Drakensberg Conservation Project, the main objective of this initiative is to finally provide the Southern Drakensberg with a sustainable safe feeding site for vultures.

In addition to getting to see the fascinating birds, the Hide is also equipped with educational material to ensure visitors leave having learnt more about conservation and wildlife in the region as public awareness about the challenges faced by vultures plays a hugely helpful role in the vulture’s plight.

The hide was the work of many supporters, including Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Project Vulture, Drakensberg Conservation Initiative, Bearded Vulture Recovery Programme and the Endangered Wildlife Trust as well as through the support of local Underberg farms.

The Importance of Vulture Conservation in the Southern Drakensberg 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 the vultures, helping to 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 to be spearheaded in this region, aimed at preserving and protecting this crucial population of endangered birds.

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 and 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, its importance as a haven for many threatened and endemic species, and 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.

Sources: Supplied; Wildlife Act

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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