Planning a big trip often requires flexibility. In some cases, it may also require mentally preparing for a baboon attack.
While monkeys may be cute, they can cause a load of problems. Earlier this year, power went out for the entire country of Sri Lanka after a single monkey went rogue. Even the United States has the occasional monkey problem; earlier this week, a truck carrying disease-riddled monkeys crashed and let the primates loose, and a monkey was recently spotted hanging out in a Spirit Halloween.
So, if you’re going to a place where monkeys might be an issue, you should know how to handle them. Otherwise, you might end up like TikTok user Kendall (@_kendallnf).
What Went Wrong On This Couple’s Honeymoon?
In a video with over 130,000 views, Kendall explains how her South African safari honeymoon went awry thanks to an innocent mistake.
“This is a PSA to anybody that is thinking about honeymooning in Africa on a safari,” she starts.
While she says that she would recommend the experience, she states that it’s important to follow the advice that your hotel gives you.
“They told us when we checked in, ‘Don’t forget to lock the doors every time you leave,’” Kendall recalls. She says that they diligently locked the doors every time they left the room—until one time, they did not.
Upon returning from dinner, Kendall says she saw baboons hanging around their room. Thinking little of it, she entered—and was shocked by what she saw.
What Did The Baboons Do To This Couple’s Room?
According to Kendall, the baboons managed to enter their hotel room and cause a wave of destruction.
“When my husband opened the door, one was defecating on his suitcase,” she recalls. “And then, fortunately, they just scampered out.”
“It looks like a tornado went through our room,” she states.
Additional videos show that the room is covered in feces, with drawers open and items stolen. Kendall states that the animals also “drank our mini bar dry and ate 200 fiber pills.”
In the end, Kendall admits that it was her mistake.
“Don’t be like us. Remember to lock your doors. You have nobody to blame but yourselves for this,” she declares.
Is It Common For Monkeys To Break Into Hotel Rooms?
There’s a reason that the hotel was not surprised that this happened.
Monkeys, not just baboons, are known for messing with tourists. The internet is filled with stories of people going on vacation to a destination with monkeys, only to have those animals steal their possessions or simply mess with them.
Consequently, many hotels in areas with proximity to monkeys have ways of dealing with them. These typically involve simple locks, latches, and staff who are trained to deal with monkeys, though prevention efforts can also include electric fences and fake snakes to deter the animals.
In Kendall’s case, she says that she’s thankful for the hotel’s response.
“Apparently this happens a lot, so they knew exactly what to do,” she wrote in a comment about the hotel staff. “Fortunately none of the furniture was broken or anything like that, so no official damage charges but we were glad to tip the housekeeping staff that helped get the room back in order.”
@_kendallnf they drank our mini bar dry and ate 200 fiber pills #safarihoneymoon #africa #baboon #sabisands #greenscreenvideo
Commenters Have Stories
In the comments section, users shared their own tales of dealing with monkeys.
“In Costa Rica I had a spider monkey go into my backpack and steal my bottle of tea,” recounted a commenter.
“Crazy thing is locking doesn’t stop them they break in,” offered another. “They had a time with our mini bar and ALL of my vitamins and make up.”
“OMG THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO US. YOU ARE NOT ALONE,” exclaimed a third.
BroBible reached out to Kendall via TikTok direct message and comment.