Ballito has a brand-new attraction for you to enjoy on your next visit to the Dolphin Coast. Monkeyland KZN is the sister sanctuary to the world-renowned Monkeyland in Plettenberg Bay. Book a holiday on the North Coast and visit Monkeyland a few times as every day will provide different sightings. Contact Utopia Ballito to find your perfect holiday flat or home on the Dolphin Coast.
The Facts
Monkeyland KZN is situated about 20 km North of Ballito on the Glendale Road in Shakaskraal. You can easily access the attraction from the R102 or the N2. The main facility offers a curio shop, playground, cinema, and a soon to be opened restaurant.
On arrival, you will need to purchase a ticket. The fees are currently:
Adults: R300
Children under 12: R150
Annual Pass Adult: R600
Annual Pass Child: R300
The day ticket will allow you to go on the forest walk as many times as you would like in one day. This is a great option if you are only in Ballito for the weekend. Those that visit multiple times in the year and those on a long vacation will see the value in purchasing the annual, unlimited pass.
Monkeyland KZN is a walking safari through a natural forest. You don’t need to be very fit as the pace is slow but the ground is uneven. This is not a suitable experience for those in a wheelchair or anyone with physical issues that may limit their ability to walk. The walking safari has no age limit so anyone from a tiny baby to your great-grandmother is welcome.
The Experience
On arrival, you can spend a few minutes exploring the well-stocked curio shop. They have a large range of soft toys for kids designed to look like the different monkeys that you may encounter on your safari. You will be called once your vehicle is ready and waiting at the boarding area. Climb up the stairs and get comfortable on one of the game viewing vehicle style seats on the back. The drivers are very friendly and helpful. Just five minutes down the road you will turn off onto a bumpy but fun track that will take you to the natural forest preserve.
Once you are at the gate to the preserve you will meet your knowledgeable guide for the walking safari. The guide will take you through the gate and explain the rules of the preserve. The biggest rule is no touching the monkeys!! These are wild animals that need their space. On the walk, you are very likely to see ring-tailed lemurs. Just walking around the corner and seeing one of these monkeys sitting on the ground in front of you is a magical experience. The other monkeys in the reserve include howler monkeys, capuchins, black and white lemurs, gibbons, and squirrel monkeys. The walk takes about an hour in total. Highlights of the walk include sightings of the monkeys, learning about the trees in the forest, and walking in nature. After your walking safari, you can watch a conservation movie or enjoy a meal at the restaurant while the kids have fun on the playground. The restaurant will open in June/July 2019.
These monkeys are all rescued from private homes, breeding centers, and circuses. They are often in need of care before they can be released and the center has a small hospital to take care of them. Your ticket money all goes to the care of these monkeys and to pay the staff that are required as guides and drivers. By visiting Monkeyland KZN you are making a contribution to conservation and helping to save these beautiful creatures.
