Primates are remarkable. We’re all familiar with chimpanzees, monkeys, and ring-tailed lemurs, but have you heard of tarsiers, with their big eyes? Or Cleese’s woolly lemur, named after John Cleese? Or the fabulous red-shanked douc? What about the scary-looking red-headed bald uakari? Or did you know that primates can be as small as mice?

The ringtail lemur is one of roughly 100 species of lemur - the endangered primitive primate whose native home is the island of Madagascar.

Ringtails are highly social, living in troupes of up to 30 individuals. To keep warm and to reaffirm social bonds, groups will huddle together to form a ‘lemur ball’. Females are dominant and they are the same size as the submissive males. The hormones regulating increased female aggression also lead to enlarged genitals. Girl power. Lemurs got it.

Lathering up with orange goo from millipede guts might relieve infections and expel parasites in lemurs

A few years ago, a group of researchers stumbled upon a female lemur engaging in a bizarre ritual. In her left hand was a millipede, freshly plucked from the forest floor. As the scientists watched, the lemur munched briefly on the millipede’s body, gnawing greedily until it oozed orange—and proceeded to rub the saliva-slicked drippings vigorously over her genitals, anus and tail. After a well-earned break, she concluded the ordeal by gulping down the millipede’s spent body—but this encore act seemed to play second fiddle to her slathering shenanigans.

Having an amazingly sensitive gripping tail is totally unique to these monkeys.

 The spider monkeys use their tail as an extra limb and this makes swinging through the branches look easy,

 Their curious tails even have a bare patch of skin at the tip, much like a palm of a hand, for a more precise grip. But most importantly of all, the monkeys have tails so powerful they can support their own body weight.

 But these monkeys have another special adaptation for moving through the jungle. Their hands have no thumbs at all.

Some trees have a most peculiar effect on those that visit them. The web of life in forests are so complex that we still do not understand all that is going on. But there is one creature enlisted by the trees whose life is so closely entwined that many forest trees would disappear without its cooperation.

Through their role in seed dispersal, spider monkeys have a capacity to help regenerate rainforests. It is believed that some seeds, like dialium, rely on being passed through a spider monkey’s stomach in order to regenerate.

Hanging by long tails from a high branch it is easy to see the black spider shape that's prompted the forest Indians to give the monkey its name. Spider monkeys spend their whole lives high up in the rainforest canopy eating fruit but as with everything it is not that simple. Their prehensile tail is the longest in the world.

Welcome to Bush baby and Monkey Sanctuary in Hartbeespoort Dam

This Bushbabies and Monkey Sanctuary offer Monkey Tours for the family where you can see Free-living monkeys in a natural and wild environment at Hartebeespoortdam, South Africa next to an Elephant Sanctuary

Situated west of Hartbeesport Dam alongside the Elephant sanctuary it provides an environment where monkeys (primates) can be given their freedom in a natural environment. The sanctuary situated in one of the many Kloofs (Gorges) of the Magaliesberg mountain range provides the perfect environment for Monkeys from around the world.

The Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary is a privately owned, non-subsidised sanctuary, covering approximately 7 ha, situated alongside the elephant sanctuary in one of the many kloofs of the Magaliesberg mountain range.

Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary in Hartbeespoort, North West Province is one of only eight free-release primate sanctuaries globally. Our primates are received on the basis of public donations and supported by funding generated by our guided tours and sales of our curios.

 Primates, such as our squirrel, spider and capuchin monkeys, are given a new lease on life at Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary. Previously raised as household pets, or bred for the pet trade, our monkeys are introduced to a wild world laden with waterfalls, lush vegetation, natural mountain springs and the chance to reside in as natural and environment as possible. Our goal is to give them the opportunity to live as they would in the wild.

Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary recognizes the importance of community education. Not only are our tours highly informative, but we strive to create awareness toward the benefit of releasing primates into sanctuaries such as our own. Guests leave our tours with the understanding that monkeys do not make good pets, and that they are better suited to a natural, free-living environment.

The bush babies sanctuary is one of several sanctuaries in a group of sanctuaries, including the elephant sanctuary that provides for orphaned and abused animals.

We look forward to guiding you through our Sanctuary, and trust that you will enjoy the splendour of our natural environment to the fullest.