Half Day Chimpanzee Eden and Nelspruit Botanical Gardens (2024)

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Half Day Chimpanzee Eden and Botanical Gardens tour

Set on a 1000 hectare game reserve, the Jane Goodall Institute is home to chimpanzees that have been misplaced from their habitat, in need of refuge. This is the first and only chimpanzee sanctuary in South Africa. The goal of the sanctuary is to rescue some of the chimpanzees that have survived the hunting ordeal but are still misplaced through the lucrative illegal pet trade to zoos, circus performers and medical research facilities. Visitors will have a unique opportunity to see Chimpanzees in semi-wild surroundings with normal social interaction and behavioural patterns under group members.  The Chimpanzee groups live within large semi-wild enclosures that are close to their natural habitat.  The enclosures also have viewpoints overlooking the forest and ‘foraging areas’.  The ‘foraging areas’ have small fruits and berries mixed with Eucalyptus Tree leaves.  These ‘foraging areas’ will provide the Chimpanzees with behavioural enrichment and will also provide visitors (accompanied by a trained guide) with a better chance to view them in the large enclosures. After the tour, continue to the tranquil surroundings of the Lowveld Botanical Gardens in Nelspruit. Situated on the banks of the Crocodile and Nels Rivers, the 159ha garden is home to around 600 plant species. There will be an opportunity for a leisurely stroll through the gardens.