Għadira Nature Reserve
Għadira Nature Reserve
4
2:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday
2:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
2:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
Closed
Friday
2:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Għadira Nature Reserve is open from September to May on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays 2pm-dusk (ca 7pm in spring & summer, ca 5pm in autumn & winter) and on Saturdays & Sundays 10am-4pm. Entrance is free and there is no need to book.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
154 reviews
Excellent
69
Very good
53
Average
21
Poor
5
Terrible
6
andycoldham
Crawley, UK1,050 contributions
Mar 2022
We were staying in the bay area so could not resist popping in to view some birds. The reserve is open 2pm to 7pm weekdays and 10am to 4pm on weekends and is run by very enthusiastic volunteers, who are extremely knowledgeable about the local bird life. It is a pleasant walk around the lakes to the hide and visitors can stay as long as they like. They do have a small shop to raise funds for the reserve, selling bird related nick knacks. Entry is totally free for all, but donations are of course very welcome and there is a donations box at the exits.
Written March 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah b
Lytham St Anne's, UK2,362 contributions
Mar 2022 • Friends
We visited here on Sunday and were met by friendly volunteers who told us what was about and gave us tips about other places to visit on Malta. Best birds were LR Plover, Zitting Cisicola and Ruff.
There are hides to get out of the weather.
There are hides to get out of the weather.
Written March 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gill D
Bradford, UK27 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
This is a lovely little spot hidden in the hustle and bustle of Mellieha and on the main road. Once inside it's so peaceful. The two staff members who were there were a delight, friendly and eager to talk about this little oasis. There was one path surrounded by mostly tamarisk and pine trees with boards along the way telling you what wildlife could be found there, and bug hotels. At the end is a hide where you can look over small lakes of water and spot birds. There were also pictures of what birds visited. We had hoped to see a chameleon but were disappointed, maybe because it was late in the day but we did see a visiting flamingo, building his strength before heading off to Africa. If you're in the area and like wildlife I do recommend this lovely place. It's free to go in but donations are welcome.
Written October 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
F C
11 contributions
Jan 2023
A nice little location with a nice walk around the marshes down to a hide to view the birds, along the way you want to look very carefully in the bushes for Chameleons, we got lucky enough to see a young one in fabulous colours too, after a dash back to the car for the tripod (yeh take your tripod!) I set the camera up and used the app on my phone to take pictures remotely as the chameleon emerged from his hiding spot after we had walked away a bit. We went twice first time it was a bit late so getting dark it was the second visit a bit earlier we saw the chameleon. Lovely staff and especially the young lady we were served by after seeing the chameleon she was so excited to see our pictures and did a great job helping us with a few items from the shop.
Written January 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Itsmeagain2
Tonbridge, UK1,438 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
The reserve has no parking so we parked in the main Ghadira car park and walked along the road to get to the reserve. This is something of a challenge with the current roadworks, but we made it! It’s location does mean it’s easy to nip out of the reserve for refreshments from one of the seafront kiosks.
Entry to the reserve is up a staircase into the first hide/ reception area. The volunteers on duty were very welcoming and very helpful. We spent some time viewing from there with our binoculars and then walked the short path to the hide at the other end of the reserve.
Do this walk slowly and look up for the Chameleons and down and around for everything else. We watched a Chameleon slowly working its way to the end of a twig and zap bugs with its incredibly long tongue. We also saw a White-banded grasshopper with its amazing stripy eyes and a massive Churchyard Beetle on this path.
From the other hide we spent quite a lot of time hunting out the few waders that were around (Dunlin, Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt plus Greater Flamingo and Little Egret). There seemed to be one of each of the waders. Plenty of tree sparrows and starlings about. We also saw Chiffchaff, Cetti’s Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Collared Dove, White Wagtail, Robin, Spanish Sparrow and Swallows.
By the time we came out the road layout had been changed on the seafront, so getting back to our car and then getting out of the car park was a whole new challenge :D
Entry to the reserve is up a staircase into the first hide/ reception area. The volunteers on duty were very welcoming and very helpful. We spent some time viewing from there with our binoculars and then walked the short path to the hide at the other end of the reserve.
Do this walk slowly and look up for the Chameleons and down and around for everything else. We watched a Chameleon slowly working its way to the end of a twig and zap bugs with its incredibly long tongue. We also saw a White-banded grasshopper with its amazing stripy eyes and a massive Churchyard Beetle on this path.
From the other hide we spent quite a lot of time hunting out the few waders that were around (Dunlin, Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt plus Greater Flamingo and Little Egret). There seemed to be one of each of the waders. Plenty of tree sparrows and starlings about. We also saw Chiffchaff, Cetti’s Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Collared Dove, White Wagtail, Robin, Spanish Sparrow and Swallows.
By the time we came out the road layout had been changed on the seafront, so getting back to our car and then getting out of the car park was a whole new challenge :D
Written October 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kat James
52 contributions
Nov 2024 • Friends
We found this place while exploring the beach area. They have a donation box which we glady filled. We were offered binoculars to take round with us so we could spot local wildlife. They have a lovely little trail to follow with all kinds of bug hotels and information along the way. At the bottom of the trail is a hut where you can watch the birds and other animals. It has toilet facilities also.
Written November 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Len W
22 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Nice little gem, discovered by chance. Quiet walks. Bird watching huts along the way. Managed to see a chameleon in the trees. See photo for opening times.
Written January 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Finchduck1981
Wokingham, UK77 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
This small nature reserve was the highlight of our trip. We received a warm welcome from the wardens. We saw a kingfisher, waders and other water birds but the real wow came from seeing three mediterranean chameleons close to the path. Were able to watch them for quite some time. It was late afternoon and they were moving, very slowly, up the scrubby trees to catch the last rays of the sun. Magic!
Written January 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Uglyd0g
Dorset, UK57 contributions
Dec 2022
December isn't the right time to tour a reserve. However, it's free. The staff are extremely helpful and knowledgeable, and the hides are kept spick & span. Shell ducks and Flamingos were still in residence but can be busy in the migration season.
Written December 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ana L
Navan, Ireland2,681 contributions
Nov 2020
Though we did not see so many birds, only a few spanish sparrows, we thought the visit to this reserve is quite interesting, and a fun activity to take the kids for.
The staff is very kind and eager to explain what birds can you see on the reserve on that particular day!
The staff is very kind and eager to explain what birds can you see on the reserve on that particular day!
Written December 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, how do you arrange horse riding through Ghadira Nature Reserve?
I am visitng Malta in June from Scotland and would love to experience this (I am a horse owner and am experienced.)
Many thanks
Lucy
Written April 4, 2019
Nature Reserves on Malta are too small for this. Suggest you contact stables, there is one near Popeye Village and another near Golden Bay who go up on to Il Magistral national park which will be a much better experience.
Written May 7, 2019
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