{"id":2581,"date":"2025-10-07T10:46:49","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T14:46:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/?p=2581"},"modified":"2025-10-07T10:46:51","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T14:46:51","slug":"fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/","title":{"rendered":"Fascinating Monkeys in South Africa and Zimbabwe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>I was very fortunate to recently visit South Africa and Zimbabwe after a veterinary conference. Since 100% of the pet owners we meet are animal lovers, I thought I would share some information and pictures about his incredible trip.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-banner.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2582\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-banner.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-banner-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When traveling through southern Africa, it\u2019s impossible to miss the lively antics of monkeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We mostly observed 2 species: vervet monkeys and baboons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These primates are not only fascinating from a scientific perspective, but their bold behavior provides unforgettable moments for visitors &#8211; sometimes a bit scary!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a look at these cheeky creatures and my personal encounters with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Vervet Monkeys in South Africa<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vervet monkeys may not be the most well-known monkeys, but they are found across sub-Saharan Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They are small monkeys, weighing only 6 to 11 lbs (3 to 5 kg).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For comparison, that\u2019s the weight of a Yorkie or a mini Doxie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They have distinctive, cute, black faces framed by white fur and long tails that help with their agile movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These monkeys are highly social, living in troops that can range from a few individuals to over 50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their diet is omnivorous, meaning they eat a bit of everything, including fruits, flowers, insects, and sometimes small animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-group.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2583\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-group.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-group-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Adorable Vervet Babies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vervet monkey babies are adorable, with their tiny black faces and inquisitive eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These shy little ones are often seen clinging tightly to their mothers\u2019 bellies as the moms move gracefully through trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As they grow, they begin to explore their surroundings cautiously, staying close to their protective mothers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The sight of a vervet mother tenderly grooming her baby is a heartwarming reminder of the strong bonds within these social groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-baby-exploring.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-baby-exploring.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-baby-exploring-768x469.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A Bold Encounter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During lunch in South Africa, I witnessed just how bold vervet monkeys can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A guest was enjoying his meal when, in the blink of an eye, a vervet jumped onto the table and grabbed a piece of chicken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The guest\u2019s surprised scream was met with the monkey\u2019s triumphant retreat to a nearby tree, where she enjoyed her stolen snack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I apologize for the blurry pictures, but it\u2019s a miracle I was able to get shots from the encounter, which lasted a split second!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And during this entire scene \u2013 her baby clung to her belly!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-attack-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2585\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-attack-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-attack-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Baboons in Zimbabwe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Baboons are much bigger monkeys. They are among the largest primates in Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Male typically weigh 44 to 88 lbs (20 to 40 kg), so between a Border Collie and a Lab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Females average 22 to 33 lbs (10 to 15 kg), same as a Cocker or a Beagle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These primates live in complex social structures and display remarkable intelligence, including tool use and problem-solving skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their diet is even more varied than that of vervet monkeys, ranging from plants to small mammals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Baboon-eating.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2586\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Baboon-eating.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Baboon-eating-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Close Call with a Baboon<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One afternoon in Zimbabwe, while visiting the impressive Victoria Falls, I found myself a little too close to a baboon for comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It certainly wasn\u2019t intentional. We simply stumbled across a group crossing the path\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We stopped and observed, respectfully, with complete admiration since it was by far the closest encounter, and the biggest group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They kept moving around us, looking for food on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At one point, a large male sat just a few feet away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I froze (OK, OK, aside from taking 348 pictures of him!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a heart-stopping moment, I thought he might leap toward me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, he jumped into a tree with effortless grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While baboons can be intimidating due to their size and sharp canines, they generally avoid conflict with humans unless provoked or seeking food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The canines of a male are easily the size of those of a German shepherd or a Rottie!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/PZ-baboon.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2587\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/PZ-baboon.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/PZ-baboon-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why Are Monkeys So Bold?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since we invaded their territory, these monkeys have adapted to human presence, often frequenting tourist spots where they\u2019ve learned that food is very easy to come by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both vervet monkeys and baboons have adapted to living alongside humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In many areas, their natural habitats overlap with villages, towns, and tourist hotspots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They\u2019ve learned that humans often mean easy access to food, whether it\u2019s from unattended picnics, restaurant tables, or open car windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their boldness is a testament to their intelligence and adaptability, but it\u2019s also a reminder of the challenges of human-wildlife coexistence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Baboon-pair.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2588\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Baboon-pair.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Baboon-pair-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A Word of Caution<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While vervet monkeys and baboons might seem amusing or endearing, it\u2019s important to treat them with respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feeding them or leaving food accessible can encourage aggressive behavior and disrupt their natural foraging habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Observing these animals from a safe distance ensures both your safety and their well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From the cheeky vervet monkey who stole a restaurant guest\u2019s chicken dinner to the imposing baboon that startled me in the Wild, these primates leave a lasting impression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their boldness adds a unique charm to encounters with Africa\u2019s wildlife, blending humor and awe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just remember to protect your snacks &#8211; and keep your distance!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We can\u2019t help your baboon, but if you would like to learn how we can help your cat or your dog with safe surgery and anesthesia, please contact us through <a href=\"http:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.DrPhilZeltzman.com<\/a><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Never miss a blog by subscribing here: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.DrPhilZeltzman.com\/blog<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS, CVJ, Fear Free Certified<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I was very fortunate to recently visit South Africa and Zimbabwe after a veterinary conference. Since 100% of the pet owners we meet are animal lovers, I thought I would share some information and pictures about his incredible trip. When traveling through southern Africa, it\u2019s impossible to miss the lively antics of monkeys. We mostly [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Fascinating Monkeys in South Africa and Zimbabwe | Dr Phil Zeltzman\u2019s Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fascinating Monkeys in South Africa and Zimbabwe | Dr Phil Zeltzman\u2019s Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I was very fortunate to recently visit South Africa and Zimbabwe after a veterinary conference. Since 100% of the pet owners we meet are animal lovers, I thought I would share some information and pictures about his incredible trip. When traveling through southern Africa, it\u2019s impossible to miss the lively antics of monkeys. We mostly [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Dr Phil Zeltzman\u2019s Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DrZeltzman\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-07T14:46:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-07T14:46:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-banner.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"533\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"beyond\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"beyond\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"beyond\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0191620ba7906567f938e4192d51a571\"},\"headline\":\"Fascinating Monkeys in South Africa and Zimbabwe\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-07T14:46:49+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-07T14:46:51+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/\"},\"wordCount\":878,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-banner.jpg\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/\",\"name\":\"Fascinating Monkeys in South Africa and Zimbabwe | Dr Phil Zeltzman\u2019s Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-banner.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-07T14:46:49+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-07T14:46:51+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-banner.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-banner.jpg\",\"width\":800,\"height\":533},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Fascinating Monkeys in South Africa and Zimbabwe\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Dr Phil Zeltzman\u2019s Blog\",\"description\":\"Serious advice for true pet lovers\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Dr Phil Zeltzman\u2019s Blog\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/logo.png\",\"width\":529,\"height\":79,\"caption\":\"Dr Phil Zeltzman\u2019s Blog\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DrZeltzman\/\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/drphilzeltzman\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/drphilzeltzman\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0191620ba7906567f938e4192d51a571\",\"name\":\"beyond\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1f46ceaad3df4fa231de22989fe6a3cefb1b0420f2f1a7da4b76fd429428bdf5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1f46ceaad3df4fa231de22989fe6a3cefb1b0420f2f1a7da4b76fd429428bdf5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"beyond\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/author\/beyond\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Fascinating Monkeys in South Africa and Zimbabwe | Dr Phil Zeltzman\u2019s Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Fascinating Monkeys in South Africa and Zimbabwe | Dr Phil Zeltzman\u2019s Blog","og_description":"I was very fortunate to recently visit South Africa and Zimbabwe after a veterinary conference. Since 100% of the pet owners we meet are animal lovers, I thought I would share some information and pictures about his incredible trip. When traveling through southern Africa, it\u2019s impossible to miss the lively antics of monkeys. We mostly [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/","og_site_name":"Dr Phil Zeltzman\u2019s Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DrZeltzman\/","article_published_time":"2025-10-07T14:46:49+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-10-07T14:46:51+00:00","og_image":[{"width":800,"height":533,"url":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-banner.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"beyond","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"beyond","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/"},"author":{"name":"beyond","@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0191620ba7906567f938e4192d51a571"},"headline":"Fascinating Monkeys in South Africa and Zimbabwe","datePublished":"2025-10-07T14:46:49+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-07T14:46:51+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/"},"wordCount":878,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-banner.jpg","inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/","url":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/","name":"Fascinating Monkeys in South Africa and Zimbabwe | Dr Phil Zeltzman\u2019s Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-banner.jpg","datePublished":"2025-10-07T14:46:49+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-07T14:46:51+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-banner.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Vervet-banner.jpg","width":800,"height":533},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/fascinating-monkeys-in-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Fascinating Monkeys in South Africa and Zimbabwe"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/","name":"Dr Phil Zeltzman\u2019s Blog","description":"Serious advice for true pet lovers","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Dr Phil Zeltzman\u2019s Blog","url":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/logo.png","width":529,"height":79,"caption":"Dr Phil Zeltzman\u2019s Blog"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DrZeltzman\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/drphilzeltzman\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/drphilzeltzman"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0191620ba7906567f938e4192d51a571","name":"beyond","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1f46ceaad3df4fa231de22989fe6a3cefb1b0420f2f1a7da4b76fd429428bdf5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1f46ceaad3df4fa231de22989fe6a3cefb1b0420f2f1a7da4b76fd429428bdf5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"beyond"},"url":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/author\/beyond\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2581"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2589,"href":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581\/revisions\/2589"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drphilzeltzman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}