Monkey Forest, Monkey park and petting zoo in Yodfat, Israel
Monkey Forest is a monkey park, zoo and petting corner at Moshav Yodfat in the Lower Galilee. Visitors walk along paths inside the enclosures rather than looking through cages or fences, and can feed the squirrel monkeys larvae sold on site. The animals kept there include common squirrel monkeys, crab-eating macaques, green monkeys, donkeys, ponies, goats, sheep, raccoons, ostriches, emus, ferrets, Israeli gazelles, pond turtles, horses, Indian peafowl and ducks.
Monkey Forest began in the 1970s as a children's petting zoo in Moshav Yodfat. The first squirrel monkeys arrived from a breeding facility in Belgium, and the site took its name from them. The monkeys were given a large plot of forest that became their territory.
The name comes from the squirrel monkeys brought from a breeding facility in Belgium, after which the site was called Monkey Forest. Visitors walk along paths inside the enclosures and can feed the squirrel monkeys mealworms bought on site, a practice the park presents as an alternative to watching animals through bars.
The terrain inside the forest is uneven, so sturdy shoes are a good idea before arriving. Weekday visits tend to be quieter, giving more time to observe the animals without crowds.
The park's name comes from its first squirrel monkeys, brought from a breeding facility in Belgium; they were given a large plot of forest that became their territory. Visitors walk along paths inside the enclosures and can feed the squirrel monkeys larvae bought on site.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,712 contributors worldwide.
