As it was our last day, we returned to our villa in the late afternoon and the boys voted to hang out on the deck until dinner – relaxing. The guide had told me that the best time to see monkeys is from 4-5pm before the sun heads south on the road that leads north of the lodge. The benefit being that the road is on a ridge cutting through the jungle. I spent almost two hours hanging out on the road, watching the wildlife.
The first encounter were these Spider Monkeys. A male, female and a baby about 10 meters from me at eye level (as they were 20-30 meters up the trees, it was a sharp drop off beside the road). They just swung beside me. I think I watched them for almost an hour.
Those babies need to hold on tight.
The dad emerged from a tree beside me.
I walked a little farther down the road and watch a group of Howler Monkeys raid the fruit off a tree.
Their agility is remarkable.
This fellow stood parallel to the ground, thanks to a very strong tail.
As I walked back to the lodge, this little fellow hung about 2 meters above me, enjoying some fruit (unfortunately, he was directly into the sun).
One way to make a few hours fly by. And then it was all over …
Amazing.
Michael Weening: a few pictures 