Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary
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Facilities
The sanctuary covers more than 12 hectares (30 acres) of indigenous forest, with a protected greenbelt of 4 hectares (9.9 acres). Primates move freely in the sanctuary and are able to enjoy a life as close to natural as possible for a captive held wild animal. Tourists can visit the sanctuary and enjoy a walk of about 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) on forest walkways, with a professional safari guide.
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Animals
Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary opened its doors to the public on 6 April 1998. As of September 2022 the sanctuary accommodated over 550 primates of 9 different species that have previously been kept in cages or zoos, as pets, or in laboratories. All have subsequently been re-acclimated to a larger and free-living environment.
Species housed at the sanctuary include:
- Ring Tailed Lemurs
- Black and White Ruffed Lemur
- Lar Gibbons
- Black Howler Monkey
- Spider Monkey
- Bolivian Squirrel Monkey
- Vervet Monkey
- Red Backed Bearded Saki
- Brown Tufted Capuchin Monkey
Awards
As a member of SAASA Monkeyland was honoured with four major tourism awards in 2014. The four awards are namely the Lilizela Tourism Visitor Experience of the Year Award at 'Wildlife Encounters', the Skål International Sustainable Tourism Award, Overall winner of the World Responsible Tourism Award as well as the Gold Award in World Responsible Tourism in the category of 'Best Animal Welfare Initiative'. In 2019 after opening Monkeyland KZN, SAASA was again awarded the Skål International Sustainable Tourism Award for Major Tourist Attraction.
Land ownership
In 2021, Monkeyland instituted a campaign that will purchase the sanctuary's property in trust, effectively giving the primates right of ownership to the land.