Intaka Island

Directions Website

Intaka Island 16ha nature conservation area and bird sanctuary
Woolworths MyDifference Beneficiary: https://intaka.co.za/myplanet/
(3)

This majestic 16ha wetlands area and bird sanctuary offers a range of activities from liesure to educational. Guided tours, bird watching, boat rides and educational school outings and packages are among the many things to see and do on Intaka Island. Open 364 days a year (closed Christmas Day)

021 552 6889

[email protected]

We're pleased to welcome Melany Duthie-Surtie as our new Environmental, Horticulture & Sporting Codes Manager.Melany bri...
09/11/2026

We're pleased to welcome Melany Duthie-Surtie as our new Environmental, Horticulture & Sporting Codes Manager.

Melany brings more than 20 years of experience in conservation and environmental management. She spent 11 years as Conservation Manager at CapeNature’s Riverlands Nature Reserve, where she was responsible for protecting indigenous plants and wildlife, restoring habitats, clearing invasive alien vegetation and leading field teams and contractors.

Her career has also included four years as General Manager for the Western Cape at Working on Fire, a period as Acting Environmental & Disaster Manager at Theewaterskloof Municipality, and project management work with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in the Karatara and Knysna catchments.

During her time in Knysna, she was involved in monitoring the last of the Knysna elephants. She started out on the Game Capture Team at Kruger National Park.

Melany holds a National Diploma in Nature Conservation from Saasveld (NMMU) and completed the New Managers Programme at the University of the Free State Business School.

Her experience with river systems, indigenous vegetation and environmental compliance is a natural fit for Century City, where green spaces, waterways and a nature reserve sit alongside homes and businesses.

“Nature conservation is ultimately about leaving a lasting legacy for future generations. Century City represents a unique balance between urban development and environmental stewardship, and I am excited to contribute my experience towards preserving and enhancing its exceptional natural assets. I look forward to working with colleagues, residents and stakeholders to ensure that Century City remains a vibrant, sustainable and environmentally responsible place to live, work and visit.”

When the sun goes down, a whole new world wakes up…Join us at Intaka Island for an exciting Full Moon Reptile Hike and v...
05/11/2026

When the sun goes down, a whole new world wakes up…
Join us at Intaka Island for an exciting Full Moon Reptile Hike and venture into the wetlands after dark to discover the creatures that come alive beneath the moonlight.

Explore the island under the glow of the full moon, keeping watch for reptiles and other nocturnal wildlife hiding in the shadows. From scaly residents to mysterious creatures moving through the darkness, you never know what you might spot along the way!

Listen for movement in the reeds, scan the pathways with your torch and keep your eyes peeled for unexpected encounters as Intaka reveals its nighttime secrets.
Are you ready to explore after dark?

Date: Tuesday, 24 November 2026
Venue: Intaka Island, Century City
Time: 18:30 to 21:00
Cost: R140 per person - Includes a drink and sweet treat.
Tickets: https://qkt.io/KPB9zp

(Kids Club members get 20% off, email [email protected] for your special promo code)

What to Bring
- Comfortable walking shoes
- A torch or headlamp
- Warm clothing

Important Information
- Advance booking is essential, via Quicket or [email protected]
- Tickets are limited
- All ages welcome, children must be accompanied by an adult
- Pet Policy: Intaka Island is a bird sanctuary — no dogs are permitted.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 021 552 6889.

04/11/2026

A Kingfisher sitting on a reed. Twenty metres behind it, a delivery truck pulls into a loading bay.

Somewhere behind that, the N1 hums with morning traffic.

This is Intaka Island.

Sixteen hectares of wetland, fynbos, open water and birdsong, folded into the middle of one of Cape Town's most commercially dense precincts Century City.

Coots and herons. 24 plant species so rare they appear on the national Red Data List of threatened flora. More than 120 species of birds.

A water-purification system that filters the entire Century City cana network without a chemical in sight.

It should not exist, and yet it does.

28/10/2026

We have a little part time resident outside the Eco-Centre: a white throated swallow. You can find this beautiful bird on the deck on most days, grooming and basking in the sun.

The white-throated swallow (Hirundo albigularis) is a distinctive and acrobatic bird found across southern and south-central Africa.

It's an intra-African migrant, which means that it breeds in South Africa during the austral summer (typically arriving around July–September and leaving by April), and spends the non-breeding winter months further north in south-central Africa, such as Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Breeding pairs frequently return to the exact same nesting sites and mud nests year after year.

An interesting fact is that their chicks have the curious and rare adaptation of being able to swim short distances if they accidentally fall out of the nest into the water below.

Meet the  night shift. As the sun sets over Intaka Island and the birds settle into the reeds, a second shift begins. Sm...
26/10/2026

Meet the night shift. As the sun sets over Intaka Island and the birds settle into the reeds, a second shift begins.

Small dark shapes slip out of roofs, tree bark and crevices and start sweeping low over the water, catching insects on the wing. Most visitors never see them, but bats are some of the island’s busiest residents.

It's International Bat Week from 24 to 31 October each year, and it's the best time to get to know the bats that share our wetland.

Come meet the eight species that researchers have recorded on Intaka Island.

Read more on our blog: https://intaka.co.za/bat-week-on-intaka-island-meet-the-night-shift/

After showcasing the incredible talent behind our 30-Year Photography Competition, it’s time to reveal the Top 3 photogr...
25/10/2026

After showcasing the incredible talent behind our 30-Year Photography Competition, it’s time to reveal the Top 3 photographs.

From fascinating wildlife to unforgettable moments in nature, these images capture what makes our wetland so special as we celebrate "The city that forgot it was wild.".

Here's Part IV, in no particular order:
Geo Cloete | Caracal (Caracal caracal)
Ann Gadd | Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) & White-breasted Cormorants (Phalacrocorax lucidus)
Braeme Holland | Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima)

A big congratulations to our top three winners, and thank you to everyone who shared their incredible photos with us.

Every photograph tells a story of Intaka Island’s natural beauty.Meet more of our photo competition finalists as we cont...
24/10/2026

Every photograph tells a story of Intaka Island’s natural beauty.
Meet more of our photo competition finalists as we continue celebrating 30 years of nature and wetland wonders in Century City. Part IIII:

Braeme Holland | Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)
Lorraine Bosch | Cape Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion pumilum)
Marcello De Sousa | African Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio madagascariensis)

Tomorrow we reveal our Top 3 photographs. Don’t miss the final reveal!

An African Goshawk (Aerospiza tachiro) was spotted on Intaka Island by Daryl de B**r and posted on the Intaka Island Gem...
23/10/2026

An African Goshawk (Aerospiza tachiro) was spotted on Intaka Island by Daryl de B**r and posted on the Intaka Island Gem of the Western Cape.

We don't have this beautiful bird of prey on our recorded species list yet, and are forever grateful to Daryl for posting!

The African Goshawk is categorised as medium sized with the females larger than males at 35cm to 35cm. Their wingspan is almost twice its body size. African Goshawks feed on other birds or mammals and reptiles.

An interesting fact is that It is noisy when displaying. Its characteristic clicking call is omitted every two to three seconds and sounds to the human ear like two stones being knocked together.

Daryl de B**r

Celebrating 30 Years of Intaka Island in photos! Here’s Part III of our Top 30 selections, celebrating the natural heart...
22/10/2026

Celebrating 30 Years of Intaka Island in photos! Here’s Part III of our Top 30 selections, celebrating the natural heart of our city.

Rochelle Jacobs | Four-striped Mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio)
Rochelle Jacobs | Karoo Prinia (Prinia maculosa)
Rochelle Jacobs | Cape White Eye (Zosterops virens)
Rowan Wolfe | Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

Thank you to all participants for capturing Intaka’s beauty through your lens.
Stay tuned for the rest of the photos.

Tucked into the fynbos, basking on the banks and hiding in burrows, Intaka Island’s reptiles are some of the reserve’s q...
21/10/2026

Tucked into the fynbos, basking on the banks and hiding in burrows, Intaka Island’s reptiles are some of the reserve’s quietest residents. Many visitors walk right past them without ever knowing they were there.

Reptile Awareness Day is on 21 October and it gives us a good reason to look a little closer at the animals that share the island with our birds. Our species list counts 39 reptiles, from a chameleon that blends into the leaves to snakes that keep rodent numbers in check.

Read the full blog here: https://intaka.co.za/reptile-awareness-day-meet-the-scaly-residents-of-intaka-island/

Address

2 Park Lane, Grand Central District, Century City
Cape Town
7441

Opening Hours

Monday 07:30 - 19:00
Tuesday 07:30 - 19:00
Wednesday 07:30 - 19:00
Thursday 07:30 - 19:00
Friday 07:30 - 19:00
Saturday 07:30 - 19:00
Sunday 07:30 - 19:15

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Intaka Island posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share

Nearby pet stores & pet services