Intaka Island, Century City

Canal surrounding the Island

The island boasts 7 habitats in the wetlands where 70 of the 120 bird species can be seen regularly.

The 7 habitats with the most common birds seen are:

• Open water - Whitebreasted Cormorant, Reed Cormorant, Redknobbed Coot
• Shallow water and shoreline - Winged Stilt, Blacksmith Plover, Sandpipers
• Reedbeds - Purple Gallinule, Moorhen, Masked Weaver



• Bush and trees - Guinea Fowl, Red Eyed Dove, Cape Robin
• Open grassy areas - Cattle Egret, Sacred Ibis, Egyptian Goose
• Open bare ground - Red Capped Lard, Rock Pigeon, Cape Sparrow
• Open air / sky - Pied Kingfisher, Brown Throated Martin

Entrance to the Island

In 2001 the first man made islands were constructed to encourage birds to roost and breed. These islands proved to provide an ideal breeding habitat and water birds returned in numbers as soon as the islands were built.

The continued success of the three islands that were built in the Intaka Island conservancy, had presented a new challenge as the amount of guano produced by the water birds was having an effect on the capacity of the wetland to purify the canal water.

The solution had to prevent the guano from entering the water but still provide a natural and undisturbed area for the birds to roost and breed.

Submerged plastic tanks were placed in the water to collect the guano. The tanks are linked by a large pipe at their bases to enable water to be sucked from them.
This nutrient loaded water is used as part of the fertilizing program for the landscaping and lawned areas.

One of two restored locomotives at the entrance to Intaka

More places to enjoy nature in Cape Town
Cape Town Nature
Cape Point | Chapman's Peak Drive | Harold Porter Botanical Garden |
Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve | Intaka Island |
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden | Rondevlei Nature Reserve |
Tygerberg Nature Reserve |  US Botanical Garden | West Coast National Park |
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