Welcome to our world
The Dabchick Wildlife Reserve (DWR)
The Dabchick Wildlife Reserve (DWR) is situated in the Waterberg region of the Limpopo province. The reserve is roughly two-and-a-half hours’ drive from O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
DWR is over 1 000 hectares in size, which allows us to be involved in various conservation projects, as well as cater for visitors who want to experience the African wilderness and all its inhabitants, big and small. We offer the choice of luxury accommodation or a more rustic experience, according to your tastes.
Activities
Dabchick Wildlife Reserve
Dabchick Wildlife Reserve offers different activities and accommodation, according to your needs – experience the bush in the comfort a luxury tented camp, or attend specially designed courses in a rustic tented bush camp.
Accommodation
Luxury Tented Camp
The Luxury tented camp which currently accommodates 12 people is situated on a plain with views of the mountain/and or bush. The camp is unfenced so you can safely experience nature up close and personal. All our themed tents have electricity, lights, hot water and flush toilets but individual tents have different features. Please note that the tents and lapa are non-smoking areas.
Luxury Tented Camp
These spacious themed tents with Zebra and Giraffe themes respectively have 2 x ¾ beds, a bath and shower.
Exquisite Cuisine
The luxury tented camp offers full catering in a thatched Lapa, which also has a lounge with a fireplace and a bar.
Honeymoon tent
This spacious flagship tent whose theme celebrates our iconic bird.
Why we do what we do
The mission to conserve wildlife, protect biodiversity and make Africa a safer place for animals and ecosystems.
𝘿𝘼𝘽𝘾𝙃𝙄𝘾𝙆 𝙒𝙄𝙇𝘿 𝘽𝙄𝙍𝘿𝙎
𝐃𝐖𝐑 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡!
𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
𝐑𝐞𝐝-𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝙊𝙣𝙮𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙪𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙤)
𝐈𝐔𝐂𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐒:
Least Concern
🔍 𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
At first glance, the Red-winged Starling appears almost entirely dark, but in flight it reveals the rich chestnut-red flight feathers that give the species its name. Males have glossy, iridescent black plumage, while females are readily distinguished by their ash-grey head and upper breast.
These medium-sized, strong-flying starlings are often encountered in pairs or flocks and are unmistakable when their brilliant red-brown wing panels catch the light.
💡 𝐃𝐈𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖?
🪶 Red-winged Starlings are naturally birds of rocky cliffs, outcrops and gorges – but have adapted remarkably well to buildings, where ledges and roof structures can resemble their traditional nesting sites.
🪶 They are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders, eating fruit, berries, seeds, nectar and a variety of invertebrates.
🪶 Flowering aloes provide an important seasonal food source, with the birds feeding on their nectar.
🪶 Resident pairs can maintain long-term pair bonds and become strongly territorial around their nesting sites.
🪶 Their range extends through eastern and Southern Africa, from Ethiopia southwards to South Africa.
🏞 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 & 𝐇𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐓
Red-winged Starlings occur widely across eastern and Southern Africa. In southern Africa they are widespread through Zimbabwe, parts of Botswana and much of eastern and southern South Africa.
Their natural habitat includes rocky hillsides, cliffs, gorges and mountainous country, but their ability to use buildings as artificial ‘cliffs’ has enabled them to live successfully alongside people.
🐣 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐄𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐑
Breeding in southern Africa takes place mainly during spring and summer. Both adults help construct a substantial nest of sticks, grass and rootlets, often bound with mud and lined with softer material.
Natural rock ledges are traditional nesting sites, but buildings, beams and other structures are readily used. The female undertakes most of the incubation, while both parents feed the growing chicks.
And once a pair has chosen its nesting place, visitors beware! Red-winged Starlings can vigorously defend the immediate area around their nest – as the Oberems know particularly well at Dabchick.
🌍 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄
The Red-winged Starling is currently classified as Least Concern. Its adaptability and broad diet have helped the species make use of both natural and human-modified landscapes.
As a fruit-eating bird, it also contributes to ecological processes through the movement and dispersal of seeds across the landscape.
🏡 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐓-𝐃𝐎𝐎𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐀𝐁𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐊
“These very protective birds return to build their nest above our front door each year – and take their parental duties extremely seriously! Anyone coming in or going out may suddenly find themselves being dive-bombed. It can be quite alarming when you’re unaware of the nest and caught completely by surprise.”
– Drs Peter & Pamela Oberem
Dabchick Wildlife Reserve
@followers
📸 So, when visiting Dabchick, remember to look up! A pair of Red-winged Starlings may be keeping an equally watchful eye on you.
Rewilding Africa Waterberg Biosphere Reserve
Waterberg Tourism REWILDING Southern Africa
🦆 Dabchick Wildlife Reserve offers outstanding birdwatching and photography. Book your stay now!
📩 Reservations: admin@dabchick.co.za
🌐 More info: www.dabchick.co.za
📍 As custodians of biodiversity, we are committed to preserving habitat, raising awareness, and supporting collaborative conservation action.
🎼 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 & 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬
eBird – Red-winged Starling
ebird.org/species/rewsta1
#ConserveWildlife #ProtectBiodiversity #Africa #DabchickWildlifeReserve #DabchickWildBirds #RedWingedStarling #OnychognathusMorio #ProtectWhatMatters #RewildingSouthernAfrica #BirdsOfSouthernAfrica #Waterberg #WaterbergBiosphere #BirdWatching #CitizenScienceMatters #ConservationInAction
🎥 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐋 𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 | 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐬
Dabchick Wildlife Reserve
Technology is changing the way wildlife is monitored and protected across Southern Africa.
This thermal-imaging footage shows rhinos detected at night – demonstrating how surveillance technology can strengthen early warning, situational awareness and wildlife-security operations across conservation landscapes.
But technology is only part of the solution.
Its real value comes when skilled people, trusted partnerships and effective response systems work together.
📖 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐍 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄!
Discover more articles, case studies and insights into the technologies shaping conservation across the region in 𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐍 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀.
🔗 www.zinio.com/publications/rewilding-southern-africa/issues/41609
#rewildingsouthernafrica #rhinoconservation #wildlifetechnology #thermalimaging #wildlifesecurity #antipoaching #conservationtechnology #rhinoprotection #rewilding #conservationafrica
🦏 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐑𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐎 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 | 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄
Five rhino species remain on Earth – 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚.
Each faces a different conservation challenge, from securing sufficient habitat for recovering populations to protecting some of the rarest large mammals on the planet.
For wildlife reserves and private conservation land, World Rhino Day is also a reminder that rhino conservation depends on 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭, 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩.
South Africa remains central to the future of African rhinos. While 𝟑𝟓𝟐 𝐫𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, this represented a 𝟏𝟔% 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 from the previous year – evidence that sustained interventions can make a difference, while also reminding us how much work remains.
At 𝐃𝐚𝐛𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞, we celebrate rhinos as part of something bigger:
🦏 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒔,
🦏 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆𝒔,
🦏 𝒘𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒆𝒃 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆.
Rewilding Africa Global Rewilding Alliance
Waterberg Biosphere Reserve Waterberg Tourism REWILDING Southern Africa
💡 Today we join conservationists, wildlife custodians and communities around the world in saying:
𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏
#WorldRhinoDay #KeepTheFiveAlive #DabchickWildlifeReserve #RhinoConservation #WildlifeRanching #WildlifeManagement #Biodiversity #Conservation #Rewilding #SouthAfrica
