SAFETY GUIDE
Baboons on your property.
Stay calm, assess the situation, think — then act.
TOP TIPS
Respond safely and confidently
🛡️Avoid conflict
- Never approach or corner baboons as when frightened they can make a worse mess.
- Stay calm and back away slowly if the baboon is near you.
- Avoid eye contact as staring may be seen as threatening.
- Never try to get food back from baboons, and if they try to grab food you are holding, let it go.
- Warn children to drop food items and move away.
- Make sure the baboons have a clear escape route; open more windows and doors.
🛡️ Encourage exit
- Once there is a clear exit, bang pots and pans, clap hands and speak in a commanding voice to chase them out. Shouting may cause them to panic and defecate in your home.
- Be confident and assertive or baboons will ignore you.
- Spray with a water bottle to encourage baboons to leave. Never use anything stronger than water, as they may react negatively.
- A hosepipe works well in the garden.
- If you cannot get a baboon to leave, phone the Overstrand Municipality Baboon Hotline for assistance.
🛡️ Keep pets safe
- Bring pets inside if baboons are in the area.
- Keep pets out of the way if baboons enter.
- Never set a dog on a baboon as this can lead to serious injury to both animals.
- Leash dogs if walking where baboons are ranging.
USEFUL CLEANING CONTACTS
Support after a visit.
Broomstix
Koos van Rooyen: 028 312 1032 (office hours) or 082 891 2351
Home Genie
Christel: 076 069 7384 · homegeniehermanus@gmail.com
Smart Cleaning Services
Rian: 082 670 9671 · smarthermanus@gmail.com
🛡️
Clean safely
Remove baboon faeces with gloves, paper towel and a household cleaner such as Handy Andy as soon as possible, as faeces may carry disease.