{"id":6865,"date":"2014-04-29T03:17:42","date_gmt":"2014-04-29T10:17:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pierfamily.com\/wordpress\/?p=6865"},"modified":"2019-08-21T14:27:54","modified_gmt":"2019-08-21T21:27:54","slug":"catching-up-5-a-visit-to-the-monkey-sanctuary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.pierfamily.com\/wordpress\/2014\/04\/29\/catching-up-5-a-visit-to-the-monkey-sanctuary\/","title":{"rendered":"Catching Up #6 – A Visit to the Monkey Sanctuary"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we went to the couple’s conference we had a full day off to do sightseeing. The Meldrums suggested that instead of doing the bus tour of Johannesburg that most couples chose, that we could go to the Monkey Sanctuary that was about 90 minutes away. The Taylors volunteered to drive and we made a day of it.<\/p>\n

While seeing the monkeys was fun, the best part of the adventure was walking on a raised walkway though the forest with a stream running under us.<\/p>\n

\"March<\/a> \"March<\/a>\"March<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0<\/span>\"March\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a><\/p>\n

Some of the monkeys were not afraid of us and others got away as fast as they could. The picture on the right above is a mother with a little one on her back. Below one came up and seemed to be begging from sister Taylor. The monkey on the right below was about the ugliest one in the park that we saw – he really looks like he is mad at us for invading his space.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a><\/p>\n

The guide told us that the monkeys eat at set times each day and then curl up in the trees and sleep. The one on the right above seems to be annoyed that he can not eat his lunch without someone taking a picture. The one on the right is sleeping off lunch.<\/p>\n

\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a><\/p>\n

Other than monkeys and birds the only animal we saw was a small red duiker – we had seen a number of them on our last mission but only got one picture so I was surprised to see this one in a monkey sanctuary!<\/p>\n

\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a><\/p>\n

As I mentioned the most striking part of the experience was the beauty of the landscape. Flowing water, rock paths, suspension bridge and a very long raised wood pathway through the trees.<\/p>\n

\"March<\/a>\"March<\/a><\/p>\n

Our faithful guide with Mary who brought out a bushbaby for us to see. Since bushbabies are nocturnal he had to wake this one up. The only other time we saw a bushbaby is when we went on a couples retreat to Tembe Elephant Park on our last mission to South Africa. Somewhere in this blog is some pictures of them in a tree at night – their eyes are huge!<\/p>\n

\"March<\/a> \"March<\/a>After we were finished at the sanctuary the Taylors took us a craft market where there are hundreds of booths all will to sell the tourist something. They are very familiar with our badges so they call out Elder – Sister. We ended buying a nativity set made of banana leaves that is assembled in a beautifully decorated gourd, a red ball gourd with guinea fowl feathers painted on it and a beautiful table runner. As we were getting ready to leave a band set up and Mary and sister Taylor joined in the music making!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n