The Malachite bird hide is located on the northern shore of the Bo-Langvlei in the Wilderness Section of the Garden Route National Park. Bo-Langvlei is one of a series of lakes connected by the Touw River (Eilandvlei, Langvlei and Rondevlei) and hosts a variety of aquatic species and is an internationally proclaimed Ramsar site.
Major concentrations of Great Crested and Blacknecked Grebe are present on Rondevlei and Bo Langvlei. Grey and Purple Heron, Little Egret, African Spoonbill, Little Bittern and Redknobbed Coot are prominent. Wildfowl are prolific including Yellowbilled, Macoa and Whitebacked Duck, Cape Shoveler, Southern Pochard and Cape, Redbilled and Hottentot Teal.
The Kingfishers are also abundant and can be photographed fishing from various perches. The forested hillsides that surround the area are home to several raptors, including: Cuckoo Hawk, Crowned Eagle, Forest Buzzard, Black and Rufous-chested (Red-breasted) Sparrowhawk and African Goshawk.
