On the way to the farm

The farm is home to a number of animals, both wild and domestic

RELATED LINKS: A day in the life of a zookeeper The zoo runs several breeding programmes in partnership with other local and international zoos to help recover declining populations of species like the Lord Derby Elands. Yet staff try to avoid interfering in nature as they have found "mothers do a better job than we do". Read more Births at Joburg Zoo a roaring success A clutch of four rare birds, Southern Screamers, have made their appearance at the Johannesburg Zoo - the first time such birds have ever hatched in South Africa. Read more Johannesburg Zoo The zoo is one of the treasures of Johannesburg, a source of enjoyment and relaxation for locals and foreign visitors alike. Read more World in one place at revamped zoo The Johannesburg Zoo has begun an ambitious five-year upgrade to create a unique experience for visitors, recreating the diverse eco-zones of the planet. Read more

The tea garden at the zoo farm

A children's playground at Rietvlei Zoo Farm

Rietvlei Zoo Farm is a great day out RIETVLEI Zoo Farm is home to the Johannesburg Zoo's breeding programme, and though the breeding camps are not open to the public, there is a host of other things to see and do. May 5, 2005 By Tabisa Mntengwana PACK a picnic basket, take the children and spend the day at the Rietvlei Zoo Farm. The farm is a division of the Johannesburg Zoo and contains the zoo's breeding facilities - there are four breeding camps, which house the newborn animals. Opened to the public in 1992, the farm was set up in the early 1960s specifically for the zoo's animal breeding programmes. It now houses more than 20 of the zoo's animals, including five white lions, sitatungas, antelope, deer, meerkats, a baby steenbok and an aviary with more than 100 species of birds. The breeding camps are still in use, under the watchful eye of Dawie van Walt, the zoo farm curator. He visits the newborns every morning to feed them - and to check on their well being. However, it is not the home only of wild animals. There are a variety of domestic animals, like chickens, pigs and ponies. Unlike the Johannesburg Zoo, the farm does not have paved pathways and has a few formal enclosures. "The walkways are so original, one is not restricted where to walk," says Diane Woldt, the farm's general manager. On entering the farm, the visitor's first introduction is to the meerkats. The picnic area is next, to take some time out and enjoy the sun - and watch several other animals, including the tortoise, wild dogs, steenbok, rabbits and blue cranes. "Some of the animals we have here at the farm are from the Johannesburg Zoo," Woldt says. "We are happy to have them as they give the farm a more wild environment. [However] the breeding camps are not open to the public." There are a host of other facilities for visitors - a tea garden, a kiosk, a children's playground and lapas for birthday parties and social and company functions, as well as a hostel and a backpacker's lodge that can accommodate more than 40 people. The farm, on Swartkoppies Road, Brackendowns, is open from Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 4.30pm and on the weekends between 8am and 4.30pm. For more information contact Diane Woldt on 011 867 0143. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za