Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

Monkey Bay protects around a thousand acres of pine savanna, broadleaf forest and the Sibun riverbank, and it has run since 1990 as a field station and education centre, hosting student groups and researchers alongside individual visitors. Trails run through the savanna, the river is swimmable, and the bird list is long because of the habitat mix. It is a working conservation and education operation rather than a lodge.

What you actually see

• The pine savanna - open savanna, an underrated Belizean habitat, across the sanctuary.
• The Sibun river - riverbank forest and swimming holes along the boundary.
• The trails - walking routes through the different habitats.
• The birding - a long species list from the savanna and forest mix.

When to go

December to April is the dry season and the most comfortable. Student groups fill the accommodation at times and booking ahead matters. Birding is best in the early morning.

Honest expectations

It is a field station, so accommodation is simple and the atmosphere is educational rather than resort. Student groups can dominate at certain times of year. The highway runs along one boundary and is audible.

Nearby

The Belize Zoo is nearby on the same highway, and Belmopan is west.