14805
Hamlin Mill Rd. (S.W. 216 St.)
(305) 235-1611
Cost: Adults $13.50; children 4-12 $8.
The problem with many animal-theme parks is
their advertising beguiles you into thinking you'll
have an in-the-wild-with-the-beasts experience, but
usually it turns out to be rather bland. That's where the Monkey Jungle turns
the tables a bit. The attraction bills itself as "where the humans are caged and
the monkeys run wild."
Incidentally,
Monkey Jungle was hit by Hurricane Andrew, when he pummeled
Florida in August 1992, and this
venerable old attraction needed to
do lots of rebuilding. Like much of South Dade, the
Monkey Jungle's scars are healed
and now things look better than ever. The outside of the
attraction is caged to
keep the nearly 400 monkeys ranging in 35 species
contained, but
once inside, visitors tour the
Amazon-like jungle in screened-in walkways,
providing a chance to watch the
"natives" in a near natural setting.
However, the apes and orangutans and baboons and gorillas are not the only
inhabitants. For the aviary is quite spectacular, too.
And for those who'd rather
watch trainers put the kings
of the jungle through their paces, there are
continuous shows throughout the
day.
It's a bit of a schlep from
downtown Miami or
the beaches, but Monkey Jungle
is worth the visit. Combine a trip there with
one to Metrozoo and the
Parrot Jungle to get the whole Wild Miami tour.
To get to Monkey Jungle,
take Florida's Turnpike south to exit 11.
