Mpongo Private Game Reserve near East London will be releasing 24 more endangered Red-billed Ox-Pecker birds into the reserve next week (Saturday 14th August ).

In association with the Endangered Wildlife Trust, The release of additional Red-Billed Ox-Pecker birds, a bird species regionally extinct in this part of the Eastern Cape since the early 1900s,not only adds to the reserve’s own sustainability but also to surrounding farmlands.

“Ox-peckers play a vital role in the eco-system as they reduce parasites on animals. As such Ox-peckers are also a boon to farmers surrounding the reserve as well as for our own wildlife,” says reserve manager Cedric Gregson.

The reserve is also the nucleus for the Greater Buffalo River Ox-Pecker conservancy in which farmers are encouraged to use only Ox-Peckers compatible dips and products on their animals to build up the bird’s population in the area.

Set on rolling hills and deep valley bushveld along the historic Umpongo River, the malaria-free 3200 ha Mpongo Game Reserve is the closest wildlife experience to East London (only 35km away) and presents a complete eco-system including the Big 4 of elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino as well as giraffe, monkeys, zebra, brown hyena and numerous grassland species of antelope.

“We are attempting to create as complete an eco-system as possible at Mpongo and will continue to add game indigenous to the area,” adds Cedric.

A family of four brown hyena – last seen in these parts in the 60s - were re-introduced last year.

Along with a restaurant and three luxury lodges, Mpongo also provides conference facilities making for a tranquil environment for meetings and bush conferences.

Mpongo Private Game Reserve is owned & managed by the Premier Hotel & Resorts group who have a collection of hotels in the Western Cape, KZN, Gauteng and Eastern Cape (including the new East London International Convention Centre), offering affordably luxurious accommodation along with state-of-the-art convention facilities.www.premierhotels.co.za