Tons of little squirrel monkeys in Monkeyland. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Monkeyland sits just outside Plettenberg Bay in South Africa in the Tsitsikama Forest. This is the place where monkeys come to be rescued from the care or use of humans. If it wasn’t for Monkeyland, these animals would likely be dead, or worse, living caged or abandoned. But here, they thrive, they live as they were meant to until they die. Some were former pets, some came from labs, zoos and circuses. All the monkeys are vegetarians and by supplementing the food they get from the forest, the multiple species inside the protected complex co-exist without fighting each other.

Monkeyland has several walking monkey safaris daily. It allows people to get up close and personal with the monkeys…without any contact between the humans and monkeys. And, there’s a volunteer program that’s free to those that qualify.

Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary, Plettenberg Bay

Ring-Tailed Lemurs

Native to Madagascar, these guys’ numbers are dwindling rapidly. But, you’ll see plenty of them around Monkeyland.

Ring-Tailed Lemurs. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Feeding stations are critical for giving the monkeys their sustenance for the day. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Black Lemurs

There aren’t as many in Monkeyland, but if you’re lucky, you might just catch one in the trees hanging out.

There aren't many there. But, keep your eyes peeled. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Capuchin Monkeys

Native to South America, capuchins are popular as pets. But, when they grow up, they are harder to keep domesticated. So, Monkeyland is a great home for them.

Charmaine is one of the more popular monkeys there. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Squirrel Monkeys

Tiny but tough. These guys are also native to South America. You might see them alone some. But, once they get excited, they let out a high-pitched scream that brings many more to the rescue.

Squirrel monkeys are everywhere. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

In addition, other monkeys you might see are spectacled langurs, black and white lemurs, a white handed gibbon (named Atlas who interrupted my filming), howler monkeys and if you’re lucky, a bush baby!

Check out the podcast I filmed at Monkeyland while shooting our episode. So, while you’re planning to travel to South Africa, don’t forget to check out the Birds of Eden and Monkeyland in Plettenberg Bay.

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A Few of the Monkeys From Monkeyland, Primate Sanctuary is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

In this episode, Jeff reports on his filming experience of the volunteer program at Monkeyland, outside of Plettenberg Bay in South Africa.

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Podcast Episode 2: Live From Monkeyland in South Africa is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

On my first morning of shooting in Monkeyland in South Africa, we came upon this group of lemurs heading to get some breakfast.  Leading the way was a mother with her baby firmly gripping her back.  You’ll notice in the very beginning and on the close-up shot that she is rubbing the bushes. She is actually marking them with her urine. There were tons of lemurs in Monkeyland. I only saw the one mom, but from what I was told, it was still early in the breeding season which really kicks in during the spring and summer months.  Unfortunately for our momma lemur, not everyone in the video pays her due respect.

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Momma Lemur Going to Eat is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Atlas is a white-handed gibbon, an ape, and the only one currently at Monkeyland in South Africa.  While filming, we came across him eating at one of the feeding stations.  Since the monkeys and ape at Monkeyland have no fear of humans, he continued to eat while I filmed him.  I got Tom, the Monkeyland volunteer I followed that day, to talk a little bit about him and gibbons in general. Tom called him ¨the little man of the forest¨ and at the end of the video, you’ll see why.

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Atlas the Ape from Monkeyland is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

While the forest of Monkeyland in South Africa provides some of the daily nutritional needs of the monkeys, their dirt must be supplemented since most of the monkey species are not indigenous to that region.  Fruit, veggies and bread are the main components of what they monkeys are fed. Occasionally, Monkeyland throws in a little chicken and eggs to help supplement the monkeys protein needs.  When the truck arrives containing the food for that afternoon and for the next morning, a few of Monkeyland‘s residents just can’t help themselves when some of that yummy food is left unattended for a few seconds.

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Monkeys Stealing Food at Monkeyland is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

On my last morning at Monkeyland in South Africa, I was out getting the last few shots I needed.  I had been filming a black and white lemur eating at one of the feeding stations. He jumped off the table and looked around a bit. And, then he decided to watch me film.  I was a little nervous although I didn’t really think he was going to do anything.  I turned the camera head on him and he just hung out.  Afraid of making any sudden movements that would scare or unintentionally provoke him, I stayed still even though I remained out of the shot despite some body contortions to minimize my presence.  After 3 minutes, something else grabbed his attention and he walked away, grazing my pant leg as he left me.

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The Lemur and Me is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Outside of Plettenberg Bay, South Africa.  While filming our episode on Monkeyland’s volunteer program, Tom and I were interrupted by one of Monkeyland‘s favorite inhabitants, Atlas, a white-handed gibbon.  When I realized that he wasn’t going to stick around very long, I quickly got behind the camera to catch him swinging away.  Tom told me that gibbons are known as the ¨little men of the forest.¨ And, after seeing him swing away (and earlier walk away from us on the ground), I saw why.  You just want to go up and give him a good hug. But, these guys are fairly strong and it probably wouldn’t have ended pretty had I done that.  So, I am grateful for the footage I got during my shoot, and for hearing him sing throughout the day from afar.  Atlas just might make another appearance on CareerBreakSecrets.com

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Atlas Interrupts Interview at Monkeyland in South Africa is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures