Rietvlei Wetland Reserve, Protected wetland area in Table View, South Africa

The Rietvlei Wetland Reserve is a 663-hectare reserve in Table View, Western Cape, part of the 880-hectare Table Bay Nature Reserve. The Diep River runs through it into the Milnerton Lagoon, and the wetland floods in winter and dries in summer when the estuary mouth closes. Habitats range from tidal mudflats and saltmarshes to reed-marsh and open pans.

Rietvlei was first recognised by the South African government in 1984 as a Nature Area, then declared a Protected Natural Environment in 1989 and established as a reserve in 1993. Its first formal management plan followed in 1994. The most drastic human change came between 1974 and 1976, when the entire north-west section was dredged to 9 metres with seawater pumped into the pans, turning shallow ephemeral pans into a permanent deep-water lake.

The reserve functions as a gathering place where people learn about wetland ecosystems through educational programs at a visitor center. Local communities participate in conservation efforts and use the space for recreational activities that connect them to nature.

You can enjoy water sports, bird watching, and picnicking, with designated areas for windsurfing and sailing available for visitors. Visit in early morning hours when bird activity is highest and the space is less crowded.

The reserve hosts more than 15,000 birds from over 170 different species during peak seasons across its varied water zones. This massive concentration of bird life makes it one of the region's most significant areas for watching birds.