A Very Special Visitor at De Leeuwenhof Estate

There’s always something interesting happening at De Leeuwenhof Estate. Our days are filled with the natural rhythms of farm life: baby lambs taking their first wobbly steps in the paddocks, cheeky squirrels darting through the trees (including the occasional rescue case), and of course, the gentle beauty of the winelands all around us.

But a few months ago, we had a truly special and deeply moving visitor: a tiny, injured infant baboon who needed urgent care.

His story began in tragedy.
Along the R301 road, his mother was struck by a truck. Sadly, she succumbed to her injuries at the scene. The impact sent the little baby tumbling as well, leaving him with a cut above his eyes and a knock to the head. Alone, frightened, and hurt, he wouldn’t have survived long on his own.

A kind-hearted member of the public saw what happened and immediately stepped in to help. They carefully gathered up the injured infant and brought him to us at De Leeuwenhof Estate.

When he arrived, he was exhausted and in shock. Tessa, who has a special place in her heart for all animals, quickly took him under her wing. She gently cleaned his wound, made sure he was warm and safe, and provided constant care over the next two days including a visit to the vet to assess the wounds and treat accordingly. The little baboon clung to her as he would have clung to his mother, slowly calming enough to rest and begin healing.

But as much as we grew attached to our tiny guest, we all understood one important truth: baboons are wild animals. They are not pets, and should never be kept as one.

Wild baboons need their troops to grow up healthy and learn the skills they need to survive. Hand-raised baboons who aren’t returned to the wild often face a lifetime of frustration, loneliness, and behavioral problems. That’s why, after stabilizing and comforting him, the next step was clear: getting him to professionals.

We contacted a specialist wildlife organization the moment the little one arrived, a organization who is dedicated to rehabilitating and reintroducing baboons into the wild and who believe that the life of the baboons matter. It was bittersweet to say goodbye, but also a relief. He will received expert treatment, socialization with other baboons, and within a few days had the chance to return to a troop where he belongs.

We share this story not just because it’s part of the life of our farm and part of life in South Africa in general, but because it carries an important message: If you ever find yourself in the position of rescuing a baby baboon (or any wild animal), please don’t try to keep it as a pet. Instead, contact the proper wildlife authorities or rescue organizations. They have the experience and facilities to give these animals the best chance at a natural life.

At De Leeuwenhof Estate, we see ourselves as caretakers not just of our land and guests, but of the creatures who share this beautiful corner of the world with us. From new lambs to wayward squirrels, and in this case one very special little baboon, there’s always something happening that brings us closer to nature, and reminds us of our responsibility to protect it.

We’re grateful to the caring member of the public who acted quickly, to the dedicated rehabilitation teams who do this work every day, and to everyone who believes in giving wildlife the future it deserves.

We’re not a wildlife rescue facility, but in emergencies like this we do what we can to help until professionals can take over. If you ever find an injured wild animal, please contact a licensed rehabilitator or CapeNature immediately

ALL PROFFESSIONALS WERE INFORMED ABOUT THIS CASE AND APPROPRIATE ACTION WAS TAKEN. 
The little man was adopted very quickly by a troop of baboons in the Worcester mountain ranges.