You're bound to feel as if you stepped into a movie like "The Lion King," or "Madagascar" as you take a tour at the only Lemur Center in the U.S. The Duke Lemur Center, located in Durham, is home to a large population of the cute creatures - and you'll want to go asap!
Most people don't realize there are nearly 100 species of Lemurs in the world, residing primarily on the island of Madagascar.
The Duke Lemur Center currently has 17 different species and 240 primate residents. What's more: you can take a tour and see them up close!
A trip here is certain to wow everyone in the family, as you watch the cute little creatures go about their lives.
The center was created as a living laboratory in 1966 to provide a way for two devoted primate scientists to study them without being invasive.
Some fifty-plus years later, the center contains the largest living collection of primates in the world. The grounds include a park-like setting with some outdoor enclosures, as well as an indoor nocturnal enclosure - and much more.
And how cute they are! The natural tendency is to believe these primates are related to monkeys but, in fact, they are not.
You'll get a sense of the differences between the two if you take a tour of the park/center. The only way you can visit is to pre-book one of their nine tours.
The center regularly hosts a variety of tours appealing to all ages and interests. One of our faves is the Walk With Lemurs Tour, where you'll go for an actual walk with the cute creatures.
Our other faves are the Lemurs Live Tour and the Lemur Keeper For A Day — which can be pricey, but the money goes to a good cause: the upkeep and care of the Lemurs.
This one-of-a-kind Lemur Park/Center is fun for the whole family and is sure to create memories everyone will cherish forever.
The Center is only open to people who have booked a tour. Find out more about the tours, pricing, hours, and times on their official website.
Duke Lemur Center is located at 3705 Erwin Rd., Durham, NC 27705. Please note that you must have a reservation to visit the Duke Lemur Center.
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