Arguably, the monkeys of Gibraltar are the main attraction at the Rock of Gibraltar. They are all over the rock and it’s impossible not to be mesmerized by their antics. You will stay there for hours and be entertained by these creatures. Although they are called apes here, make no mistake about it, they are in fact monkeys not apes. They are part of the Barbary Macaques family which come from Africa and Gibraltar is the only place to see these magnificent creatures in Europe.
THE HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR:
The history of Gibraltar is short and sweet. As I alluded to in the previous paragraph. These animals are not indigenous of Gibraltar, but rather Africa. The Barbary Macaques monkeys from Africa are the exception to the rest of the Macaques family which live mostly in Asia. No one is exactly sure how these animals arrived in Europe. The main two theories are either they were brought over from Africa by British soldiers or they somehow managed to pass through subterranean passages from Morocco. However they arrived in Gibraltar, the population has thrived there. Once a year, a census is conducted to help monitor the population.
WHERE TO SEE THE MONKEYS IN GIBRALTAR:
Finding the monkeys in Gibraltar is not difficult. The short answer is that the monkeys live on top of the Rock of Gibraltar. With almost absolute certainty, the minute you step of the cable car or bus, you will encounter these adorable creatures. In the past, you could only visit the monkeys at “Ape’s Den”, but now there are multiple places to visit the animals. My personal favorite place to see them is on top of the Rock of Gibraltar. I recommend that you take the cable care to the top of the rock. As soon as you get off, the creatures will be there to greet you.
I’m must issue a word of caution when it comes to these animals. The monkeys are used to humans. They have learned to tolerate us only because they see us as an opportunity to snatch the possessions of some unsuspecting tourist. The creatures are looking for treats and they associate bags with food so use caution when getting close to the animal. I’ve witness this first hand. I’ve had a monkey try to rip my camera out of my hand. They are smart so make sure you have your wits about you.
OTHER THINGS TO SEE AT THE ROCK OF GIBRALTAR:
Trust me, the monkeys of Gibraltar are enough to keep you entertained for hours. At least it was enough for me, but there is plenty of other things to see at the Rock of Gibraltar. The view on top of the Rock of Gibraltar affords some astounding views of the Mediterranean Sea, not to mention that on a clear day you can see across the strait over into Africa and Morocco. One cool feature, that comes with your paid cable car ticket, is free wifi. It’s a totally cool experience to go live on Facebook or Google while trying to interview the apes. It was also at that moment when monkeys tried to snatch my phone while blogging. If you haven’t already done so, refer to the video at the top of this page to witness the monkey trying to make a snatch and grab.
Another attraction, besides the monkeys of Gibraltar, is St. Michael’s Cave. The rumor is this subterranean cave at one time extended all the way to Africa and provided the means of passage for the residents of monkeys that currently preside in Gibraltar. The cave is extensive and has an interesting history. The cave served as a bunker and hospital for the British during World War II. I didn’t spend much time here. The cave also serves as a place for concerts, ballets and plays.
GETTING TO GIBRALTAR:
First, let me say that you can see pretty much everything there is to see in a day. Gibraltar is not a very big place. Having said that, I don’t recommend staying in Gibraltar. I’ve never stayed there, but considering how small and condense the place is, I suspect staying there would be very expensive. A better alternative is to stay in Marbella, Spain which is only an hour away. You have more accommodation options and is a good base for your visit to Gibraltar. Getting to Gibraltar is pretty straight forward. Essentially there are two main options. You can book with a tour company or you can rent a car and drive.
OPTION ONE: BOOK A TOUR COMPANY FOR A GIBRALTAR TOUR:
I’ve been to Gibraltar twice. The first time was with Viator. Definitely go this route if you want no fuss and no hassle, but let me say that I personally hate to book a tour company for a Gibraltar tour. Everything was structured and seemed rushed. It was convenient because I didn’t have to deal with driving or concern myself with how to get there, but once I got there I was very disappointed. Once we got to the city of Gibraltar, they gave us an hour to shop in Gibraltar which is ok if you’re into such things, but I was there to see the place. Another thing is, not included in the initial price of my tour package was a tour of Cathedral Cave. They took us to see the cave as well as the Southern part of Gibraltar. I would argue that paying the extra Euros was not worth it. I must also note that they only place I saw the monkeys on the Viator was at St. Michaels Cave and I didn’t get to spend a whole lot of time with them because I was being shuffled off into the cave. My experience with the tour was not very good, but I’m sure there are other tour companies that provide a much better experience. Before you book, make sure you read carefully as to what’s included in the tour. I must say, I naively thought a tour of Gibraltar would include a visit to the top of the rock. That turned out not to be the case with Viator.
OPTION TWO: SELF DRIVE TO THE ROCK OF GIBRALTAR
I was so disappointed with the tour I booked and felt so short changed, I decided to make another visit to Gibraltar, only this time, I would be my own tour guide. I rented a car and drove myself. The drive from Marbella is only an hour drive and never did I experience any traffic during that drive. Also, the scenery on the drive is quite pleasant. This is the option I recommend. Before you do so, make sure you download, via wifi, the area on Google Maps so you can access it while offline. This will help you out tremendously with navigating to Gibraltar. Once you get there, make sure you park in Spain(The City Of La Linea) and walk across the border. You can drive your car across the border, but coming back is quite a hassle. The lines can be long when you leave. Walking across the border is easy and hassle free. Also, be sure you bring your passport when you go to Gibraltar. It is another country (U.K. Territory) so you aren’t getting in without your passport.
GETTING AROUND IN GIBRALTAR:
Once you are across the border is when things get interesting. Before you can really get around in Gibraltar, you have to cross the country’s only airport runway. It’s set up like a railroad crossing. When a plane is about to land, the rails go down indicating you cannot pass. Security is positioned to ensure that you comply. After the aircraft has safely landed, you are permitted to cross. Walking across the runway is a pretty cool experience. As soon as you cross, there is public transportation that will take you to the city center for about 2 or 3 Euros, but if you prefer you can walk there yourself. It only took me about 20 minutes to walk to the center of the city. Arriving at the cable car station, take it to the top of the Rock. As soon as you get out of the cable car, you will instantly see the beautiful monkeys. The top of the rock has amazing views of the surrounding area. You can literally stay up there for hours and not get bored for a moment.
CONCLUSION ON THE MONKEYS OF GIBRALTAR:
In closing, I just want to say that the monkeys of Gibraltar is something that you must see if ever you are in the area. The monkeys are adorable and will keep you entertained for hours. Not to mention the stunning view from the top of the rock. It gives you a sense of being thousands of feet on top of a mountain as you watch the clouds roll in over the rock. Be respectful and cautious while being around the apes. Although they are used to humans, they are not tamed and may not enjoy being petted or stroked which could result in a bite or a scratch. After you visit, please let me know if you found this information useful. Also, please share with anyone you know thinking of making the trek to this part of the world.
LINKS:
https://www.viator.com/Costa-del-Sol-attractions/Gibraltar-tours-tickets/d790-a32?pref=02
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/gibraltar
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g187510-Gibraltar-Vacations.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_kcnFwOst4
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