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Description
The Salem Monkey Mountain ("Affenberg") is located between Salem and Überlingen at Lake Constance. The 20-hectare outdoor enclosure is home to more than 200 Barbary macaques.
An animal experience for the whole family
A visit to Germany's largest open-air monkey enclosure is a fascinating experience for young and old. The animals, which originally come from Morocco and Algeria, can be seen up close without any barriers. The baby Barbary macaques, which are born in May, are particularly popular with visitors.
Stork station and fallow deer enclosure
But the monkeys are not the only inhabitants of the grounds. In the wooded area you will also find a herd of fallow deer as well as a free-flying breeding colony of white storks. From the footbridges and platforms at the large pond, you'll see impressive carp, great crested grebes, ducks and swans with their fluffy chicks in tow. If you want to learn more about the animals of the Monkey Mountain, you can inform yourself at interactive stations or learn interesting facts at the feeding sessions.
Mendlishauser Hof
The park is open from mid-March to early November in all weather. As the paths are barrier-free, the Monkey Mountain is also accessible to wheelchair users and families with strollers. Visitors' physical well-being is catered for by the cosy "Hofschenke", which is located outside the open-air enclosure.
Historical Information
The Salem Monkey Mountain was opened in 1976 with the aim of providing a safe habitat for the Barbary macaques. The behaviour of the animals in Salem should not differ from the animals living in the wild. The Barbary macaques also cope very well with the climate of Lake Constance all year round. It suits their original mountainous home in Morocco and Algeria, where their conspecifics are highly endangered.
Barbary ape populations have declined dramatically over the last 25 years. It is estimated that there are far fewer than 10,000 Barbary macaques left in the wild. The main reasons for this dramatic decline in populations are habitat destruction but also the illegal trade in baby Barbary macaques.
How to get there
By car
If you are coming via the A81, take the A98 at the Hegau junction. At Stockach-Ost, continue on the B31n via Überlingen to Oberuhldingen. There you leave the roundabout at the third exit and drive in the direction of Tüfingen. The Monkey Mountain is located on the district road between Salem-Tüfingen and Uhldingen-Mühlhofen. There is a large, free parking lot on site.
From Ravensburg take the B33 to Hefigkofen and then turn right to Fuchstobel. Via Deggenhausertal you go to Stefansfeld and past Salem Castle in the direction of Tüfingen. Shortly before Tüfingen you turn left towards Uhldingen. After about 1.5 kilometres you will reach the Affenberg.
By public transport
From April to the end of October, an adventure bus runs between Uhldingen-Mühlhofen railway station and the Monkey Mountain Salem. It is about 3 kilometres on foot from Uhldingen-Mühlhofen station. The train station Salem is 5 kilometers away.