There are a lot of different things to do in Plettenberg Bay. But one of the biggest draws, beyond Robberg Nature Reserve, is definitely the animal sanctuaries. And we would highly recommend you visit each one of them.
In Plettenberg Bay, you will find 3 different sanctuaries: Monkeyland, Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, and Birds of Eden. And they are amazing to visit. They are ethical wildlife sanctuaries – especially with the focus on giving animals who have been caged and pets their whole life a safe forever home. So, whether you are an animal lover or not it is definitely worth it to visit the animals in Plettenberg Bay.
In this guide, you will find a list of the 3 animal sanctuaries in Plettenberg Bay and learn more about what you can expect from your visit to these incredible places.
Birds of Eden
Birds of Eden in Plettenberg Bay was one of our favorite things to do in South Africa. This place is a free-flight bird sanctuary that is housed in a huge 2-hectare dome – actually the largest in the world. This wonderful place is home to over 3.500 birds of which there are over 220 different species. During your visit, you are allowed to walk around by yourself. Which is just perfect as you get to experience the birds and the jungle at your own pace.
Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary
Right next to Birds of Eden, you will find Monkeyland. This is another great sanctuary to visit in Plettenberg Bay. It is actually the world’s first free-roaming multi-species primate sanctuary. A lot of different species call Monkeyland their home. Some of these are the black and white ruffed lemur, black howler monkeys, Gibbons, squirrel monkeys, and so many more. To enter the sanctuary, you must join a guided tour. This lasts about 1 hour and takes you through the forest and by a canopy walkway, all while learning about the different monkeys and their life in nature.
Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary
The last animal sanctuary in Plettenberg Bay is Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary. This one is home to huge cats and some of those you will experience are leopards, jaguars, lions, tigers, cheetahs, and many more. The animals who live here have been rescued from circuses from around the world, as well as from people’s homes. Jukani aims to be a safe space for the animals where they can experience the semblance of a normal life. During your visit to Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, you must join a guided tour. This lasts about 1 hour and 20 minutes and takes you through the sanctuary all while the guide will tell you about the different animals and their lives.
Tickets for the animal sanctuaries in Plettenberg Bay
Each of the animal sanctuaries in Plettenberg Bay is part of a larger corporation. Therefore, you are able to buy a few different types of tickets – depending on whether you want to visit all of them or just 1 or 2.
The first type of ticket is a single ticket. This one will give you entrance to 1 of the sanctuaries in Plettenberg Bay. Your second option is to buy a combo ticket. With this ticket, you can visit 2 sanctuaries of your own choice. And lastly, the third option is the triptic ticket. This allows you to visit all of the wildlife sanctuaries in Plettenberg Bay.
| 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.
We would highly recommend you visit each of the sanctuaries. Your ticket will be valid for a few days, which means that you do not have to visit all of the places on the same day. We visited Monkeyland and Birds of Eden on our drive from Tsitsikamma National Park to Plettenberg Bay and then drove to Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary another day during our stay in Plettenberg Bay.
Opening hours of the animal sanctuaries
The animal sanctuaries in Plettenberg Bay have different opening hours. Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary is open every day from 9:00 to 17:00. Here it is important to note that the last tour departs at 16:00 so it is a good idea to arrive no later than 15:45 if you want to join that tour.
The opening hours of Monkeyland and Birds of Eden are the same. They are open daily from 8:00 to 17:00. The last entry is at 16:00 and also here it is a good idea to be there a few minutes before if you want to join the last tour.
