Monkey Forest Resort in Cape Coast

By Caleigh McLelland (Projects Abroad)

Cape Coast Castle, Kakum National Park and Anamabo Beach Resort are three attractions that are popular with tourists visiting Cape Coast. However, along the road to Kakum National Park sits another enjoyable, but seemingly less known attraction worth stopping at.

Monkey Forest Resort, owned by a man named Dennis and his wife, a couple from Holland, not only serves as a destination for tourists, but also as an animal sanctuary, which is home (temporarily and permanently) to a number of at-risk animals.

When you first arrive at Monkey Forest, Dennis kindly greets you at the gate. As you enter, the grounds look quite small at first, and with no previous knowledge of Monkey Forest, I assumed that the only animals I would be seeing were monkeys (which did not upset me in the slightest, as we were unable to see any earlier at Kakum National Park due to the time of day we went).

Nevertheless, do not let the name confuse you. Although Monkey Forest does have a handful of sneaky monkeys that will steal your jewellery and your wallet when you are not looking,

Dennis and his wife also care for a variety of other animals including crocodiles; African civets; genet cats; various types of snakes; a hyrax, which is, strangely enough, the closest living relative to the elephant; tortoises and parrots.

Monkey Forest, which has been open to the public since 2007, is not only a must see for tourists wanting something different to do; it is a must see for tourists and Ghanaians for educational purposes.

As you tour the sanctuary, which is bigger than it initially looks, Dennis’ wife talks about each animal as if they are her own children, explains why each animal is there and what the future holds for each of them. Some will be released back into the wild, while others will be kept at the sanctuary, because either they are too weak to be released, or because they would likely not survive in the wild as they have been in captivity for too long.

Although not too visually appealing until you climb the steps to the terrace, which overlooks the vast forest, it is just reassuring to know that there are people out there who recognise the need to educate the public about the threat that many of these animals are facing.

In Ghana, for example, the illegal export of parrots is a thriving industry, and the cruel way in which these birds are captured does not discourage the bird trappers, traders or buyers. Glue made from tree sap is spread onto sticks, which are then placed in trees. Sometimes bird trappers will tie a tame parrot next to the glue in hopes of attracting other parrots. When the parrots are trapped, they are painfully ripped from the glue, caged and transported across borders. I had no idea about this horrific industry until I visited Monkey Forest. Dennis and his wife are truly knowledgeable about the animals they care for.

The tour costs 12 Ghana cedis (all proceeds go toward feeding and taking care of Monkey Forest’s animals) and takes a little bit less than an hour to complete. Once the tour is finished, the couple asks you to join them for a cold beverage.

Dennis and his wife have many renovation plans for the future so they will be able to house more animals, and hopefully find mates for some of the animals currently there.

For more information about Monkey Forest Resort, visit www.monkeyforestresort.com, send an email to rubberaap@yahoo.com or call (+233) 0244 11 83 13.