dannygirl Posted July 30, 2018 Share In mountainous areas one frequently encounters troops of baboons. If they're in the gravel road in front of you, or in the vegetation on the side of the road - do you continue riding? Or wait until they move on? I previously encountered a troop in Bainskloof (upper Welvanpas) who followed me silently in the woods - scared the living daylights out of me. Yesterday came across this troop feeding (in Eden) and was waiting for them to move on. Two other cyclists didn't seem to mind them and just continued straight down the road, while I waited a good half hour for them to move on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaGearA Posted July 30, 2018 Share I doubt they will attack you withour reason , but stay clear of them An average size baboon could probably kill A full grown man OneLove and matthieup 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloukrans Posted July 30, 2018 Share They move out of the way when you shout "Strava" MrJacques, davidvh, MDJ and 16 others 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikebloke Posted July 30, 2018 Share they just curious - they wont attack you - i ride past them often they will sit close enough to touch you and just stare - watch the little ones though they may run in front of you - live and let live _David_, Odinson and Sepia 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odinson Posted July 30, 2018 Share They won't do anything unless provoked. Just maintain a reasonable speed as you pass them and don't stop. They might heckle you if they see you're wearing short socks and rock a saddlebag, but don't retaliate. Imploder, coppi, Long Wheel Base and 13 others 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadenceblur Posted July 30, 2018 Share I always take care and avoid riding near the babies - the adults are no doubt very protective Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grease_Monkey Posted July 30, 2018 Share I generally keep riding, but if there are little ones I will try and go very wide around them. I'm no baboon expert - just seems like the safe thing to do to not get attacked by an angry mother! Gen 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatt Posted July 30, 2018 Share Whatever you do, don't ride between mother baboons and their babies... This may result in a fair bit of screaming, and the dominant male will try and nail you... In short, use common sense when riding near them, or for that matter any wildlife.. Tom Gen 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grease_Monkey Posted July 30, 2018 Share That said I did encounter a troop in the Eastern Cape on a gravel road, they were on either side of the road and right in front of me, I slammed on brakes and headed in the other direction very quickly! Something about the sheer number of babboons in that troop and the amount of grunting and shouting they were doing was a lot scarier than the ones I encounter in Jonkershoek every now and then. Sepia and Tatt 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaGearA Posted July 30, 2018 Share stay away from hem teeth Long Wheel Base 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheJ Posted July 30, 2018 Share I always take care and avoid riding near the babies - the adults are no doubt very protective As a kid I was bitten by a mommy baboon for that very reason. I think I was like 8 at the time. Walked up to a mommy and her baby and tried giving the baby something to eat. Next moment I was running back to the car with mommy in hot pursuit. As I jumped into the car she bit my leg. Had to get stitches. Grantc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stefmeister Posted July 30, 2018 Share I've encountered lots of baboons, but only once one gave chase whilst climbing up jonkers. I just popped a back flip, and decapitated the bastard with my rear wheel. No big deal. Blokman and Hackster 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shebeen Posted July 30, 2018 Share my philosphy, which has no scientific basis beyond just common sense. Keep riding, and make all your moves deliberate - no sudden changes and they will leave you be. if there's some little ones in the road that you would be coming close to, then maybe avoid - just don't give them a reason to be aggressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breezer Posted July 30, 2018 Share If you are on a mountain bike, greet them. On a road bike just stare straight ahead. They understand. Bloukrans, thisismyotherbike, Rowber and 23 others 26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grease_Monkey Posted July 30, 2018 Share If you are on a mountain bike, greet them. On a road bike just stare straight ahead. They understand.Hahahaha post of the day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wannabe Posted July 30, 2018 Share stay away from hem teeth This must be a "Cape Baboon" lol...... If I encounter them, I just slow down a bit, and go "tieng tieng" on my bell. They are then aware of you, and mostly move of the road / trail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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