There are many activities to suite all ages in the area; Walks in the Drakensberg Mountains, visits to bushman paintings and the Hlatikulu Crane and Wetland Sanctuary, horse trails through a private game reserve, canoe trips, canopy tours and the Midlands Meander with restaurants and crafters. Trout fishing, horse riding, golf, bowls and tennis by arrangement.
Two places which are a must to visit are the Lammergeyer (Vulture) Hide at Giants Castle and the Hlatikulu Crane Sanctuary.
Lammergeyer Hide
From Wild Berry you can visit the World Famous Lammergeyer hide at Giants Castle. This is a must for bird lovers, as this is one of the very few places that you can view the very scarce Lammergeyer, or Bearded Vulture.
A visitor has the opportunity to enter into this rare raptor’s world. Here visitors might see the rare Bearded Vulture (Lammergeyer), Cape Vulture, Verreaux’s (Black) Eagle, Jackal Buzzard or Lanner Falcon. The hide is open between the 1st of May and the 31st of September each year and visitors are taken up to the hide by vehicle and walk back.
(Vulture Restaurant at Giant’s Castle – advance booking is essential). The Lammergeyer Hide ‘feeding season’ is May to September, and bookings open in the previous November. Charges are R150 per person per day, with a minimum of R480 (less then 3 people) for use of the hide. Access is by 4×4 vehicle, provided by yourself or by the reserve.
Crane Sanctuary
Also within easy reach of Wild Berry is the Hlatikulu Crane and Wetland Sanctuary. This is a Breeding, Rehabilitation and Rescue centre for all three of the Southern African Crane Species.
The centre hosts all three species in wild and captive situations and is listed as an international Important Birding Area and a National Site of Conservation Significance.
Interpretive walks are provided by Sanctuary Staff for a voluntary donation any time during week days and by prior arrangement over weekends. The Sanctuary also offers extensive walking trails with excellent birding and wildlife viewing.
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