Monkeyland and Birds of Eden

Setting a standard for the future of all sanctuaries

It’s hard to imagine that in the heart of the Garden Route you could experience something so wild you would almost believe you were in the depths of the Amazon jungle, surrounded by bright and beautiful birds, monkeys chattering in the trees and jaguars camouflaged against the sun dappled undergrowth. But let your imagination run wild as this is what you can experience at Monkeyland, Birds of Eden and Jukani, the Garden Routes most popular sanctuaries.

But these are not just ordinary sanctuaries, these are SAASA controlled sanctuaries and the South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance takes the care and wellbeing of wildlife very seriously.

When Monkeyland first opened its gates to the public in 1998 it was amidst much skepticism, a sanctuary of this kind had never been attempted before; multiple primate species all running free and together in one big forest. But despite the fears it was a huge success and the world’s first multi-species, free roaming primate sanctuary has set a standard that other sanctuaries now aspire to.

12 hectares of indigenous forest is now home to over 500 primates of 11 different species; Squirrel, Capuchin, Howler, Vervet and Spider monkeys, Hanuman Langur, Spectacled Langur, Saki, Gibbon, Ring-tailed Lemur and Black-and-white Ruffed Lemurs all enjoy the freedom to climb trees, forage amongst the undergrowth and live a life that is far removed from where they came. Ex pets, laboratory animals and surpluses from zoos that used to live in cages now have the opportunity to behave in a way that is natural to them.

Visitors to Monkeyland take a guided tour and have an experience that is truly unforgettable, watching primates acting as they do in the wild is far more entertaining than watching a bored monkey in a zoo. A 128m suspension bridge spans the valley giving visitors the opportunity to walk through the forest canopy to observe the primates that prefer to live the high life. The forest is also home to abundance of local birds including the enigmatic Knysna Loerie.

Such a huge success was Monkeyland that the profits were used to fund another unique sanctuary, Birds of Eden. The largest single dome free-flight aviary in the world was built around a natural valley right next door to Monkeyland. An area covering almost 22,000 square meters, 70% of which is natural indigenous forest has now become home to around 3500 birds of some 200 different species. Visitors to Birds of Eden are welcome to explore the 2km of walkways at their own pace, experiencing the thrill of spotting the huge variety of birds which include several species of Parrot, Turacos, Toucans, Ibises, Flamingos, Hornbills, and so many more. Besides the spectacular array of birds, the scenery alone warrants a visit with its beautiful forest, streams, dams and waterfalls together with a vast range of plants and flowers. You may also be lucky enough to spot Golden-handed Tamarins, tiny Blue duikers, Egyptian fruit bats or even the Eastern grey squirrels.
Like Monkeyland, Birds of Eden is a safe haven for the otherwise unwanted. Many have come in as ex-pets, some confiscated, some permanently disabled and naturally, some were born here.

In 2012 a predator sanctuary in Mossel Bay was struggling, its location was far from ideal for its diverse range of apex cats, hyenas and jackals etc. and the running costs were escalating. SAASA was more than willing to come to the rescue but this meant that the sanctuary had to meet the exacting standards that SAASA maintains. Therefore 17 hectares of land were purchased just 7km from Monkeyland and Birds of Eden to rehome the animals.

A great deal of planning was put into place and no expense was spared as each vast enclosure was designed specifically around the animal it was intended to house. Huge pools were dug for the tigers to swim in, virtually all the trees were left in situ for cats to climb or claw on, already fallen trees would become loungers for the jaguars and leopards and to keep everything as natural looking as possible, sleeping quarters were enclosed in grass mounds making them look like ‘hobbit houses’. It was an enormous task but the new Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary now joins Monkeyland and Birds of Eden as being prime examples of how a sanctuary should be.

Visitors to Jukani are taken on a guided tour where you can expect to see Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Jaguar, Cheetah, Puma, Caracal, Serval, Hyena, Jackal, African painted dog, Honey badger, Zorilla and Raccoons. You might also see the white Lions and Tigers or even spot the black Leopard. Jukani erected a large Reptile Sanctuary which is home to a whole host of snakes from around the world housed in individual vivariums specially decorated to compliment the origin of the snakes.

Naturally, for safety reasons, Jukani is our only sanctuary where you view the wildlife from behind as fence rather than mingle amongst them. For this reason, special ramps have been being erected so that you can obtain an uninterrupted view of the animals.

All SAASA controlled sanctuaries have a strict ‘no touch’ policy. These are not petting zoos and their purpose is not primarily entertainment. They are sanctuaries in every sense of the word, where previously abused animals and birds can develop a freedom they never had before and without human interference. Monkeys play with monkeys, birds flock with their own kind and cats live out the rest of their lives in blissful laziness.

Our primates and birds go through long periods of rehabilitation to ‘de-humanize’ them. Many had never even seen a tree before let alone one of their own kind. Eventually they are released into a forest where they can swing from trees, make their first flight and gain a sense of being where they belong. Allowing human interaction is a step backwards, not only can it upset the natural equilibrium within their own societies, primates and birds can become aggressive and deliver a nasty bite, it is what they do to each other in the wild and therefore if we humans wish to become part of their ‘community’ then we are expected to endure the consequences. It is one of the main reasons that many pets arrive here, they bite!
The animals at Jukani do not breed, there is already a surplus of white lions and tigers in captivity around the world and it is virtually impossible for them to survive in the wild. In fact it is very rare for any apex cat to be successfully re-introduced into the wild. Many organizations that offer ‘lion cub petting’ are quite simply supporters of the ‘canned’ hunting trade. The cubs are not orphans, they are cruelly taken from their mothers at a very early age and subjected to hours of manhandling by humans on a daily basis. When they become too big to be ‘cute’ they are sold off to be killed in an enclosed area by ruthless trophy hunters. So please don’t expect to be able to interact with any of our animals or birds.

A visit to our Monkeyland, Birds of Eden and Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary is more than just entertaining, it is an educational and enlightening experience. Our experienced rangers and guides will offer you a wealth of information on each species, discuss conservation issues and the dangers that the animals face in the wild.

Monkeyland and Birds of Eden are both Fairtrade accredited, the only primate and bird sanctuaries to receive such an esteemed award in South Africa and it is hoped that Jukani will soon follow suit. All three sanctuaries are wheelchair and pushchair/buggy friendly and all have restaurants and curio shops.

If you plan on visiting more than one of the sanctuaries then there are some very special deals to take advantage of, purchase either a combo or triple ticket for great discounts and you do not have to visit them all in one day, the tickets are valid for a full twelve months from the date of issue, so you can really take your time. Our tickets are not just for a single tour but they are “day tickets”. Thus you can go on as many tours at Monkeyland and Jukani as you wish on the day you use the ticket. This allows you the opportunity to potentially see all the animal species we have and take amazing photos.

Monkeyland, Birds of Eden and Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary are all situated in The Crags, approximately 16km east of Plettenberg Bay.