Visiting the Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest in the Ubud Monkey Forest adventures series is an activity that is much sought after by tourists who come to Bali. In this review, you will find several things you need to do if you want to visit there someday.
You may want to go to a magical place, but still have the fear that the monkeys might suddenly go wild. If this is what you are looking for, then you can visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Ubud in Bali. This is a fertile forest and is home to 600 long-tailed macaques, you will be even more amazed because this is their natural habitat.
Basically, the monkeys there still have their naturally nosy and mischievous nature and sometimes take tourists’ food when they are careless. However, they are an intelligent type of animal and quite interesting to study their behavior, and for some people it may be enough to watch them from a distance and stay safe. Prepare yourself to find out more about Ubud Monkey Forest adventures, and what you need to know..
Tips before Visiting
If you want to enter the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, the cost is IDR 80,000 or around USD 5.50. You can even buy online so you don’t have to queue or you can queue directly at the counter near the forest. It is recommended that if you want to visit during the peak season, such as July to November, it is highly recommended to buy tickets in advance online.
How to Get There
The location of this forest is in the center of Ubud on a road called Jalan Hutan Monyet. The most widely used and easiest way is with an online taxi application, which although local residents of Ubud don’t like, most tourists use this method.
Another way you can do this is by renting your own car or scooter and you can park at the monkey forest tourist attraction that is already available. Those of you who don’t really like driving alone and are not comfortable with online motorbike taxis can also take a public bus whose stop is not too far from the monkey forest parking location.
Best Time to Visit
If you want to get the best time to visit the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud then come in the morning where opening hours start at 9 am. There are still not many visitors and perhaps this condition makes the monkeys tend to be calmer and less aggressive.
However, if you decide to start Ubud Monkey Forest adventures in the afternoon, there is a risk of encountering monkeys that have started to become aggressive and it is not impossible to take food or items without your knowledge, so be careful.
About Monkey Forest
The Sacred Monkey Forest is a sacred and sacred site for local Balinese people, they believe the monkeys are the guardians of the forest. You also need to know that this forest is a habitat for plants and other sacred places, including 186 plant species, the presence of 3 temples, and there are several springs that are considered sacred.
The Sacred Monkey Forest is very suitable for those of you who are curious about the customs, culture and beliefs in Bali, and see how interesting the monkeys are chatting and interacting with each other freely, then this is what you are looking for on this visit.
Monkey Forest Experience
Many people are very amazed and enjoy their Ubud Monkey Forest adventures, quite a few even spend days looking for the experience.
Not a few people also visit early in the morning, even when the sun has not yet risen and cold mist still covers the area around the forest, but this makes it even more interesting. Monkeys have just woken up from rest so it’s no surprise that they are calmer at that time. This condition allows visitors to enjoy the forest more freely without having to feel disturbed or threatened by monkey behavior.
Forest weather will certainly make the forest wetter and more humid and this will make many monkeys scatter looking for a comfortable place.
There are quite a few monkeys hanging here and there from trees, playing in puddles of water, or enjoying the sun on the hot paths. Monkeys here gather from many age groups, from babies to adults, because this is a natural habitat. The baby monkey will look happy when climbing many things.
As the day goes on, the crowds will get busier and this can trigger the monkeys to become more active and aggressive. Some monkeys may start grabbing items that are attached to visitors, such as glasses or hats.
You will walk on a beautiful forest path, made of wood and stone through the trees. The path is the best access for you and will help you to interact more closely with the monkeys, as long as you remain alert.
Of course, it will be an extraordinary and unforgettable experience to meet wild monkeys in their natural habitat while seeing their natural behavior and interactions with each other. That way you will appreciate nature more.
Security Tips
We know that Ubud Monkey Forest adventures are a popular tourist attraction, however you still have to pay attention to safety, both yourself and the monkeys themselves. The monkeys here are wild animals, especially if they are in their natural habitat; their behavior will be unpredictable and can threaten safety. The following are tips that you can do.
Food and Essential Items
You are advised not to bring food when entering the monkey forest. It will be very easy for them to smell the presence of food and want to take it from you; this will trigger their aggressive behavior because they feel it is food for them.
It would be much better if you brought a bag that is small and can be hidden enough to carry only important items. It’s not impossible for you to find monkeys who take hats and glasses and then scatter food in all directions, so just use a small, hidden bag.
Don’t be too obvious when carrying plastic bags or other types of bags, so it’s better to leave them in luggage storage. By paying attention to the tips above, you can enjoy Ubud Monkey Forest adventures more safely and comfortably without significant disruption.