Vervet Monkeys in St. Lucia South Africa

Vervet Monkeys in St. Lucia South Africa

Hello there, TrudyVan here

We had a breakaway for a couple of days and we went to St. Lucia in South Africa as we wanted to visit the Estuary.

St.Lucia Estuary is a santuary to numourous animals and plant species and fish.

St. Lucia Estuary was and still is in a serious draught so much so that the Estuary Month is closed and the danger is that the water in the Estuary, now has a higher content of salt than the sea. We need the rain to wash the Estuary Mouth open.

As we arrived in St. Lucia, there was a troup of vervet monkeys crossing the road, so we stopped to let them pass. I rolled down my window to get a better look at them.

A mother with a tiny baby clinging to her underbelly turned around and looked me straight in the eye.

I was hooked. Gosh! I am in love with these Primates with their beautiful soft brown eyes that speak volumes. It was almost as if she was thanking us for stopping and not terrifing them, like so many motorised tend to do.

I feel that we encroached on their land not the other way around. We need to respect them and make sure that they are safe.

They are omnivores and will eat basically anything. They have cheek pouches where they will store food.

Vervets eat nuts, fungi, leaves, small vertebrates, fruits, flowers, grubs, corn, birds eggs and insects.

The female primate has a gestation period of aroung 165 days. They tend to have a high death rate amoungst their young.

The Vervet Monkey has a beautiful white fringe of hair that surrounds their lovely black face.
Most of their body is a greyish colour.

The vervet males have a blue scrotum and is far larger in length and weight than the female.

I spent hours just watching them run and play. Their ability to move from one tree to another is
unbelievable. I even saw them swimming in a pond of water.

I was shocked as I never knew they could do that.

I hope that you enjoyed this hubpage and that the photos we took.

Kindest regards
TrudyVan