Birds of Eden is the world's largest free flight aviary and bird sanctuary, located in Kurland village near Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape, South Africa. The mesh dome of the sanctuary was built over 2.3 hectares (5.7 acres) of indigenous forest, and is up to 55 metres (180 ft) above ground level.The unique two hectare dome (the World’s largest) spans over a gorge of indigenous forest. The sanctuary has its own mysterious ruin, which incorporates a walk-behind waterfall. Like Monkeyland, the popular primate sanctuary next-door, Birds of Eden boasts its own canopy walk, while shorter than the 128m bridge at Monkeyland, it hangs above the clouds. The decision to develop Birds of Eden stems from the need to create a safe environment in which to release a large collection of free-flight African birds, small blue duiker and giant fruit bats. The sanctuary also enables bird owners to apply to release their pet birds into the sanctuary, after undergoing rehabilitation. Birds of Eden opened it's doors to the public December 2005. Currently over 3500 birds live at the sanctuary. Parakeets at Birds Of Eden free flight bird sanctuary.
 
In 2020 the species count at Birds of Eden is just touching 210. The bird inhabitants of the aviary comprise a mixture of exotic as well African birds (50/50). They also include previously caged pets and hand reared and imprinted individuals, this explains why some of our inhabitants (especially the parrots of which we have 60 different species) are unafraid of human beings and seemingly tame.
 
All new arrivals at Birds of Eden go through a process of rehabilitation before they enter the actual sanctuary of the main aviary. Be they ex-pets, or birds confiscated from zoos or irreputable breeders, most of the birds that arrive at Birds of Eden have a history of being caged in small environments. The main rehabilitation process involves socialization with other birds in large outdoor pre-release aviaries as well as the building up of flight muscles, and learning flight control, i.e. practicing landings, change of direction etc. Make no mistake! All birds can fly, no matter how badly their wings are clipped; the question is just how high and how far. Releasing them into the main aviary immediately, would be tantamount to running a marathon without any training! Birds such as the cranes, flamingoes and some of the ducks have been subjected to the cruel practice of pinioning, where a section of the wing is actually removed to prevent them from ever flying again. These birds find sanctuary in our aviary in as natural a habitat as is possible given their history. The rest of the release process is instinctive and absolutely remarkable; all the birds instinctively know which area of the aviary suits their needs, how and where to look for and find food and water and shelter from weather conditions. Species recognition is immediate, for e.g. when a new Ringneck is released into the aviary, all the other Ringnecks gather to have a look at the newcomer!
 
Monkeyland, just outside of Plettenberg Bay, is the world’s first free-roaming multi-species primate sanctuary. Over the course of our tours – which we call “monkey safaris” – you’ll be able to see over 550 primates of various species – Capuchin Monkeys, Ring-tailed and Black-and-white Ruffed Lemurs, Gibbons and Howler Monkeys, to name a few. The 128-metre suspension bridge, which runs through the forest canopy, gives you the chance to see these primates from another perspective – and not only literally. In addition to the tour itself, Monkeyland has a restaurant, a souvenir store and a viewing decMonkeyland was founded by Tony Blignaut, who dreamed of and saw the need for a forest sanctuary that could restore the freedom of ex-captive primates. In his research he found that many of South Africa’s captive primates lived in terrible conditions in people’s homes. The owners of these animals are often overwhelmed by and unprepared for the difficulties of keeping intelligent, wild animals as pets and, before Monkeyland, there was nowhere they could turn to find a more appropriate home.
 
Other primates are kept in even worse conditions in circuses and laboratories and, in addition, many zoos have ‘surplus’ primates for whom they no longer have space. So in 1998, after a lot of hard work, the world’s first free-roaming, multi-species primate sanctuary opened its doors to rescued primates and the people who visit them. As well as these ex- pets and zoo animals being provided with a more suitable home in a semi-free-roaming forest, the Monkeyland primates are able to find their own companions and mates and form family groups. In doing so they gain the potential to breed and strengthen collective bonds, which facilitates the ability to form genuine familial and inter-family structures. One of Tony’s hopes for Monkeyland was that, in the seemingly not-so-distant future, it could quite literally ‘give back to nature.’ Specifically, for it to be able to function as a source of indigenous primate species for the repopulation ves of places in which the local groups have been wiped out.
 
Info from Wikipedia.