Baboon 'protocol'

[dannygirl]

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. 

 

 

[Bloukrans]

They move out of the way when you shout "Strava"

[bikebloke]

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

[Odinson]

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. 

[cadenceblur]

I always take care and avoid riding near the babies - the adults are no doubt very protective 

[Rigardt@Scott]

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!

[Tatt]

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

[Rigardt@Scott]

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.

[TheJ]

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.

[stefmeister]

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.

[Shebeen]

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.

[Breezer]

If you are on a mountain bike, greet them. On a road bike just stare straight ahead. They understand.

[Rigardt@Scott]

If you are on a mountain bike, greet them. On a road bike just stare straight ahead. They understand.

Hahahaha post of the day!

[Wannabe]

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.

[Psyrax]

Baboons might be the closest thing most of us get to having "fans" beside the trail.

[SwissVan]

I encountered a baboon on a bike yesterday...

He stopped right in front of me on a steep descent (he pulled in front from a side road) despite me shouting a warning nearly t boned him... Bloody baboon was wearing earphones