Affenberg Salem is a popular animal park in South West Germany. Translated as ‘Monkey Mountain’, Affenberg Salem first opened back in 1976 and has since become a top tourist attraction. In fact, if you stay anywhere in southern Baden-Württemberg, chances are that your accommodation will come complete with a leaflet advertising the park.
As its name suggests, Affenberg Salem’s main draw is its large colony of Barbary macaques that roam freely in its grounds – a tempting prospect for any animal lover. But is it really worth a visit? Here is everything you need to know about visiting Affenberg Salem.
Table of Contents
Where is Affenberg Salem?
Salem is a municipality in the Bodensee (Lake Constance) region of Baden-Württemberg, As Affenberg Salem is set in 20 hectares of woodland, it is very much on the outskirts, and is around a 10-minute drive from the town’s centre. The park itself is just a few kilometers away as the crow flies from the edge of Lake Constance.
Getting There
Thanks to its rural location, Affenberg Salem is really best reached by car. You’ll find it on the K7765 road between Oberuhldingen and Salem-Tüfingen. From June until the end of October it’s also possible to get the Erlebnisbus 1, which will collect you from Salem train station. It operates every hour and will only set you back around €3 a ticket, with special offers for groups. If you are travelling in a group of 10 or more, however, you’ll have to pre-register.
Parking
There is a car park and a large field right behind at Affenberg Salem, offering plenty of free parking spaces. Despite this, we found ourselves stuck on the road for a while queueing to get in, as people seemed to be waiting for a space in the small car park, closer to the entrance. If you go on a day where people are more sensible, you’ll be parked up and getting your tickets within a matter of minutes. As it’s just off a main road, there isn’t anywhere else suitable to park nearby.
How much does it cost to get in?
Ticket prices are reasonable, with special discounts offered for students, those with disabilities and various card holders. Children under 6 can get in for free.
| Adult | 9,00 € |
| Child 6-15 years | 6,00 € |
| Child under 6 years | 0,00 € |
| Students (with proof) | 8,00 € |
| Season pass: child 6-15 years | 35,00 € |
| Season pass: adult | 50,00 € |
| Owner of Bodensee Card PLUS Summer | 0,00 € |
Though you can purchase your ticket online, there isn’t really any benefit. You will still have to join the main queue and once your online ticket is scanned you get a physical ticket as well. You’ll need to show this when you get to the gates for the monkey enclosure, as this is in its own separate part of the park.
Are there any other animals there?
While the monkeys are the main attraction at Affenberg Salem, you can’t help but notice a different kind of creature as you approach the entrance to the park. There are almost 50 pairs of storks who breed every year on the roof of the building. At one time only 15 storks were left in the region. In part thanks to the stork station installed at the park, numbers have dramatically increased, and there are now more than 1000 pairs of storks in Baden-Württemberg.
The park is also home to a herd of fallow deer (think along the lines of Bambi), though they are much shyer than the park’s other residents. During my visit I only saw one from a distance, although there is a daily feeding at 4:15 pm where guests will get the chance to feed the deer themselves.
Can you touch the monkeys at Affenberg Salem?
There is a strict no-touching rule at Affenberg, with visitors advised to stay at least 1 metre away from the monkeys at all times. However, the monkeys have no qualms about getting up close and personal, particularly at feeding times, where they will happily sit and munch fruit in front of you or scurry straight past you to get in on the action. The feeding takes place 10 times a day, so you needn’t worry about missing out on seeing the Barbary macaques in action.
Thanks to the nature of the park, the monkeys are obviously very used to the presence of humans. However, they all seemed perfectly happy, and there was plenty of room for them to roam around and take part in their natural behaviours.
Is Affenberg Salem a good place to go with kids?
In my opinion, Affenberg Salem is a great place where children can learn about Barbary macaques, have fun and get a bit of fresh air and exercise. Kids can’t help but be delighted by the monkeys walking around the enclosure, and it’s a great way to teach them about respecting wildlife. One thing to bear in mind is that it’s not uncommon to see the monkeys touching themselves in inappropriate places – they are animals after all! Once you’re done with the monkeys, there is plenty to keep kids entertained in the rest of the park too.
How long does it take to go around Affenberg Salem?
As there is the rest of the park to walk around as well as the monkey enclosure, you could easily spend an afternoon here on a day when the weather is good. According to the Affenberg Salem website, visitors spend on average 2 hours walking around the grounds (which includes a large lake) before even visiting the monkeys, playground, restaurant and gift shop.
With that being said, I visited Affenberg Salem on an adults-only trip and probably spent a total of 2 hours there just walking around the lake and seeing the monkeys. It will really depend on your interests and the age range of your group.
Food and Drink
I did get a little peckish towards the end of my visit and was hoping to grab a bit in the restaurant. But it was a scorching hot day and as there wasn’t much in the way of a light lunch, and not much choice for vegetarians, unfortunately I had to skip it. However, there was a fairly extensive menu of simple dishes as well as ice cream, coffee and cakes.
The restaurant itself is self-service and has a charming beer garden type set up, though there are also plenty of seats inside. It’s in a great spot too, right by the entrance where you are surrounded by large chestnut trees. In summer, your meal will be accompanied by the bill-clattering noises of the resident storks.
Gifts
There is a small but well-stocked souvenir shop on site with gifts for kids and adults of all ages. You’ll find the usual suspects here, from stuffed animals and other toys to keyrings and postcards, clothing and books. As with almost all gift shops, the prices are a little on the high side, but not so much as to put you off.
Conclusion
It’s easy to see why Affenberg Salem is such a popular tourist attraction. It offers a unique experience in a well-maintained and beautiful setting, and there is something for people of any age to enjoy. The animals all appear content and cared for, and there is a genuine commitment to conservation to protect this endangered species.
While I wouldn’t travel for hours to visit, the park makes for a fantastic day trip if you are staying in nearby Meersburg, Konstanz, Friedrichshafen or anywhere in the Bodensee region.
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For information about other destinations in South West Germany, take a look at:
