A Western Cape businesswoman has warned visitors to the Nkuhlu Picnic Site in the southern region of the Kruger National Park to be cautious after two ‘aggressive’ monkeys tried to attack her and her husband.  

Talitha Steenkamp (64) and husband Francois (65) from Wilderness outside George were on holiday when the attack occurred on Thursday (October 8). 

Talitha says they needed a break, and the park was the ideal place to relax. 

They stayed inside the park on October 4 and spent the rest of their trip at Ngwenya Lodge, just outside the park near Malelane Gate. 

“We made trips to the park every day,” she adds.  

“On Thursday, October 8, we decided to go to the picnic site. We previously stayed at the Nkuhlu Tented Camp near the site for our 40th anniversary. It is such a beautiful setting with high trees and calm water.” 

Talitha explains that when they arrived at the picnic site, she needed to use the toilet and told her husband she would meet him afterwards. 

The attack 

“I remember coming out of the toilet and suddenly there were two monkeys behind me. I did not have any food or drinks in my hand. I just had my handbag. The monkeys were vicious; they were growling and showing me their teeth. I was scared.  

“One of them came towards me and went straight for my calf muscle. Before it could bite me, I smacked it with my handbag, and then the second monkey tried to do the same,” she explains. 

Talitha kept using her handbag to defend herself, and the monkeys began to back down, but when they saw Francois, they started attacking again.  

“He managed to kick them away.” 

Ranger alerted 

Talitha says the ranger she reported the incident to said they were aware of the problem and were trying to find a solution. “They were very kind and supportive.” 

She believes the monkeys need to be tested for rabies. 

“This is not regular behaviour for monkeys. The aggression was very scary. The attack only lasted a few minutes but felt like an eternity. I just wanted to leave.” 

Visitors to the picnic site, especially those with children, need to be alert, she says. “Do not let your children wander around by themselves.” 

Management response 

SANParks says it is aware of the encounter and is treating the report with seriousness. 

“Visitor safety is our highest priority, and we sincerely regret the distress this experience caused the couple. National parks are shared spaces where humans and wildlife coexist closely.  

“Because picnic sites overlap with the natural habitats of primates like vervet monkeys, interactions can occasionally escalate, particularly when animals become overly comfortable in public dining spaces.” 

The organisation adds that its management process includes using humane cages to trap problematic monkeys and translocating them far into the bush. The situation on-site is generally well-managed, and reports of problematic monkeys at the site are sporadic, it says.  

“To manage this effectively, we periodically deploy dedicated field monitors to oversee the picnic areas and manage wildlife proximity.” 

SANParks advises day and overnight visitors to observe standard safety precautions. “This includes refraining from feeding the monkeys, storing all food items in lockable cupboards or secure containers and keeping tents closed at all times. Additionally, if anyone sustains an injury from an animal encounter, we strongly advise them to seek medical attention immediately.” 

Rabies concerns 

Addressing the rabies concerns raised by Talitha, SANParks explains that it conducts ongoing assessments and monitoring of wildlife health across its national parks.  

“Based on the information currently available to us, there is no indication of widespread rabies among primate populations in the park. However, this does not necessarily rule out an individual animal being infected. Aggressive behaviour alone is not sufficient to determine whether an animal has rabies.” 

The organisation adds that, as a precaution, anyone bitten, scratched or potentially exposed to an animal’s saliva should immediately inform officials and seek medical assessment. 

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