The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa

Bon Accord Dam

Afrikaans name: Bon Accorddam

Bon Accord Dam

Bon Accord Dam

Photo © Steven Herbert

Gauteng

Bon Accord is located on the northern outskirts of Pretoria. It is popular with fisherman and the boating community. It is also a popular place for braais and picnics. There is a pub near the entrance which also serves meals. It is quite pleasant to sit under the large trees and enjoy a light meal. There is accommodation nearby the dam.

The dam is fed by the Apies River. Construction was completed in 1923 and was built mainly for irrigation purposes. The dam wall is 17 metres high and the dam is a bit over 1.1 kilometres in length.

Pretoria accommodation

Are you looking for accommodation in Pretoria?

Pretoria has plenty of accommodation options available

Due to its close proximity to Pretoria, it is a fairly popular fishing spot. The southern shore is better than the northern shore for fishing, but the reeds and other obstacles mean that you will be snagging various objects and having to break your line. The fish that you may catch here include Largemouth Bass, Carp and barbel. Generally, the fishing is frustrating and not too productive.

It is not a great birding spot, but birders will find a range of the more common waterbirds. A checklist of some of the species is shown below.

There is an entry fee applicable for access to the dam by vehicle, but you can park in the restaurant parking area and walk less than 50 metres to the water’s edge.

Why do you visit Bon Accord Dam?



View from the restaurant

Above - View from the restaurant

Photo © Steven Herbert

Birds of Bon Accord Dam

Please note that this is only a guide and, while we have made every effort to be accurate, we can't be held responsible for any errors.

Fulvous Duck

White-faced Duck

White-backed Duck

Egyptian Goose

South African Shelduck

Spur-winged Goose

Cape Teal

African Black Duck

Mallard

Yellow-billed Duck

Cape Shoveler

Red-billed Teal

Hottentot Teal

Southern Pochard

Malachite Kingfisher

Giant Kingfisher

Pied Kingfisher

Black Crake

African Purple Swamphen

Common Moorhen

Red-knobbed Coot

African Snipe

Common Sandpiper

Little Stint

African Jacana

Black-winged Stilt

Pied Avocet

Three-banded Plover

Blacksmith Lapwing

African Wattled Lapwing

Grey-headed Gull

Caspian Tern

Whiskered Tern

White-winged Tern

African Fish-Eagle

African Marsh-Harrier

Little Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

African Darter

Reed Cormorant

White-breasted Cormorant

Black Heron

Little Egret

Yellow-billed Egret

Great Egret

Grey Heron

Black-headed Heron

Goliath Heron

Purple Heron

Cattle Egret

Squacco Heron

Green-backed Heron

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Little Bittern

Hamerkop

Greater Flamingo

Glossy Ibis

Hadeda Ibis

African Sacred Ibis

African Spoonbill

White Stork

African Pied Wagtail

Cape Wagtail

References and further reading


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