Coming from the Midwest of the United States, there were many things we were excited to find in Thailand: banana trees, Phuket fried rice, and endless beaches. But perhaps the most exciting thing of all was MONKEYS!
Where Can You See Monkeys in Phuket, Thailand?
There is one place in particular in Phuket known for its monkeys and it’s called, appropriately enough, Monkey Hill, or Khao To Sae. This large hill is located just to the north of Phuket Town. The hill is quite steep and can be a difficult climb for those not used to the intense heat of Thailand. You can take a motorcycle or car to the top, except when the street is closed to motor vehicles from 7-8am in the morning and 4-7pm in the evening. However, it is not necessary to go all the way to the top as there are usually some monkeys hanging around near the parking lot at the entrance.
You can also find monkeys to the east of Phuket Town, in Koh Sirey, and to the northwest, around Rang Hill. These monkeys are a bit more wild than those on Monkey Hill, and feeding them is discouraged. If you want to observe monkeys in a more natural setting, these two places are better options. But if you want to feed and (safely) interact with monkeys, head over to Monkey Hill!
What Kind of Monkeys Live in Phuket, Thailand?
The type of monkeys you find on Monkey Hill and other places around Thailand are Rhesus Macaques. This monkey is native to most tropical and sub-tropical areas in Asia, including India, China, and Thailand. It is the most wide-spread of any non-human primate. Colonies can even be found in the US, thought to be escapees from zoos after various natural disasters.
The rhesus macaque is mainly herbivorous, eating all types of fruits as well as seeds, roots, and buds, and on occasion insects. The monkeys live in family groups called troops. They spend most of their day eating, resting, and having communal grooming sessions.
Reports say there are around 400 monkeys living in the colony on Monkey Hill in Phuket, Thailand. We went in the late afternoon and saw at least 30 monkeys gathered in the parking lot at the base of the hill waiting for food. Judging by the rustling and movement in the trees, many more were hiding just out of sight.
Is it Safe to Feed the Monkeys on Monkey Hill?
Like any wild animal, you should use caution and common sense when you interact with the monkeys in Phuket. Their human-like expressions and habits may lure you into a false sense of security, but they are still wild animals and can act in ways that may seem unpredictable. The monkeys on Monkey Hill, in particular, have become accustomed to humans and will approach quite closely looking for food.
The Rhesus Macaque can grow up to 21” tall and weigh 17 pounds. Actually, the alpha monkeys on Monkey Hill looked very well-fed and we suspect they topped out their weight range! They have 32 strong teeth and have been known to bite.
All that being said, Rhesus Macaques are not generally aggressive monkeys. Make sure you have loose items secured – food, hats, sunglasses, and shoulder wraps are all fair game to these monkeys. Don’t stand between a mother and her baby (good advice for any animal species). Don’t threaten the alpha male especially, as he has a reputation to maintain and will be happy to prove his dominance.
We didn’t have any problems or see anything too alarming while we were on Monkey Hill. For the most part, tourists did not have direct physical contact with the monkeys. There were a few cases where people were too slow to hand over the bananas, and a monkey jumped up the person’s leg a bit to grab the banana. We made sure to hold our bag of bananas up high while handing out the goods. We would get a monkey’s attention by waving a single banana in their direction, and then toss it gently to them. There were a few minor skirmishes between the monkeys when the larger ones stole bananas from the smaller ones. The funniest thing we saw was one monkey hanging from the trees, taunting tourists with a towel he’d stolen from them.
How to Feed the Monkeys in Phuket, Thailand?
If you want to feed monkeys in Phuket, you’ll want to go to Monkey Hill as this is the only place it is allowed. When you get to the base of the hill, you will find plenty of parking for cars and motorcycles. There is also usually someone selling bananas or nuts to feed the monkeys. He has taught the monkeys to respect him, so as long as you are in his circle of protection the monkeys will leave you alone. As soon as you step a few feet away with your bag of bananas, look out! The monkeys will try to get those bananas from you any way they can. If you want to feed the monkeys at the top of the hill, be sure to bring your own food or buy from the vendor at the base. There aren’t any shops on the way up.
When it comes to actually feeding the monkeys, we’d recommend tossing the food to them rather than trying to get them to eat out of your hands. They are wild animals and it’s best not to risk getting bitten. The good news is they are quite agile and excited to snatch a banana out of the air. They will quickly peel it, stuff it in the cheeks, and try to get you to give them another immediately. The babies and adolescents are often out-manouevered by the larger monkeys, so we made it a point to give them bananas when the others were occupied.
We really enjoyed our afternoon on Monkey Hill. The closest thing to this we have back home would be feeding the birds or squirrels in a park. And let’s face it – monkeys are way cooler than squirrels! It was also a nice activity to do at our own pace, with no time schedule or pressure from tour guides. Definitely make time to check out the monkeys if you are in Phuket!
