Posted 26 Nov 2009

People volunteering abroad or taking a gap year in South Africa next year have been warned that expensive hotel rooms and busy crowds are not the only potential annoyance they may face.

The risk of being pestered by baboons is a very real one in some locations – specifically Cape Town – it has been highlighted.

"Tourism is going through the roof and this equals exposure to native people and rich pickings," explained Justin O-Riain, head of the baboon research centre at Cape Town University.

"People who stop the car – they’re going to get raided," he added.

The primates are reportedly becoming an increasing nuisance and have even mastered the art of opening car doors and rummaging through travellers’ belongings.

Overall, there are five different species of baboons, all of them live in Africa or Arabia and can grow to weigh anywhere between 15 to 37 kilogrammes, according to National Geographic.

Category: Asia