If you are ever in Plettenberg Bay, you should stop by Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary. This place serves as the forever home for animals who have been rescued from circuses around the world, as well as from people’s homes where they have been (illegal) pets. At Jukani they live a stress-free life, though in enclosures, but with each animal’s needs in focus. During your visit, you will encounter a lot of animals, such as lions, leopards, jaguars, tigers, cheetahs, caracals, and pumas. They have never experienced life in the wild, however, at the sanctuary they try to give some semblance of a normal life for these big cats. Joining a guided tour at Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary is definitely one of the things you must do in Plettenberg Bay.
Everything you need to know for a visit to Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary
As with so many other places around the world, it is always a good idea to know a few things before your visit. Therefore, we have made this complete guide to visiting the incredible Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa.
Getting to Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary
Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary is located close to Plettenberg Bay. From the city, you must take the N2. Along the road you find signage pointing you in the right direction. The animal sanctuary is located 7 kilometers before the Monkeyland and Birds of Eden turn off. Jukani can be found on the right-hand side of the N2 – just right after you pass a cell phone tower. There is a sign, and you cannot miss it.
Keep in mind that Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary is situated next to Plettenberg Bay Puzzle Park and these 2 attractions share the same parking lot.
Opening hours
Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary in Plettenberg Bay is open every day from 9:00 to 17:00. The last tour (which you must join to experience the animals) departs at 16:00, so it is highly recommended that you do not arrive later than 15:45.
Entrance fee
There are 3 animal sanctuaries in Plettenberg Bay – Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, Monkeyland, and Birds of Eden. They are all part of a larger corporation and therefore you can choose between 3 types of tickets. Option number 1 is to buy a single ticket. This will allow you to visit 1 of the animal sanctuaries. Your second option is a combo ticket. With this ticket, you can visit 2 of the places. And the third option is to buy a triptic ticket. This one will gain you entrance to each of the sanctuaries.
If you have the time, we would highly recommend you visit all 3 of the sanctuaries. It is also worth noting that your tickets are valid for a few days. So, you are able to plan your visit around your schedule and travel plans.
| Type of ticket | January 2024 – December 2024 | Januar 2025 – December 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Single Ticket (1 Sanctuary) | R 380.00 (adult) R 190.00 (child 3 – 12 years) | R 410.00 (adult) R 205.00 (child 3 – 12 years) |
| Combo Ticket (Any 2 Sanctuaries) | R 610.00 (adult) R 305.00 (child 3 – 12 years) | R 660.00 (adult) R 330.00 (child 3 – 12 years) |
| Triptic Ticket (All 3 Sanctuaries) | R 760.00 (adult) R 380.00 (child 3 – 12 years) | R 820.00 (adult) R 410.00 (child 3 – 12 years) |
| Children (2 years and younger) | Free | Free |
NB: It seems that the prices rise every year. It is always a good idea to look on the websites for the current entrance fees.
Guided walking tours at Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary
To visit Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary and experience the animals you must join a guided tour. They are conducted by knowledgeable guides, who are very friendly. Throughout the tour, you will learn more about the different animals, who call this place their home. Each tour lasts about 1 hour and 20 minutes and is definitely worth it.
Best time to visit Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary in Plettenberg Bay
We would recommend you visit Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary in Plettenberg Bay in the morning hours. This is when the animals are more active, whereas they tend to sleep and hide a lot during the day. The afternoon is also a very good time as this is when the animals are fed. Regarding crowds, we didn’t really experience any. There were 4 people on our tour through the sanctuary, which was very nice so we were able to ask a lot of questions.
Other animal sanctuaries in Plettenberg Bay
As mentioned earlier there are 3 animal sanctuaries in the area near Plettenberg Bay in South Africa.
Birds of Eden
Birds of Eden is a huge dome – the largest in the world – in which over 3.500 birds live. Out of all these birds, there are over 220 different species. This free-flight bird sanctuary is amazing to visit. Birds of Eden is the only sanctuary where you are able to walk around by yourself, and it makes for a pretty cool experience.
Monkeyland
Monkeyland is the first free-roaming multi-species primate sanctuary in the world. Here you must join a guided tour to experience the monkeys. Throughout the tour, you will walk around the jungle, spot the different types of monkeys, as well as learn about them and their life in nature. The tour lasts about 1 hour and is well worth it.
