Residents across the Cape Peninsula are investing in baboon proof windows as Cape Town’s chacma baboon troops continue to raid homes through open windows and doors. A compact stainless steel window lock is emerging as the preferred solution.
Baboon raids on the rise across the Peninsula
From Simon’s Town to Plettenberg Bay, baboon troops are entering residential properties with increasing frequency. The City of Cape Town’s baboon management programme monitors 16 troops totalling more than 500 individuals, many of which have regular contact with urban areas.
The animals are remarkably strong and intelligent. They can open standard window latches, slide aluminium frames and even turn door handles. Once inside a home, baboons cause extensive damage — raiding refrigerators, scattering rubbish, breaking crockery and, in some cases, confronting residents.
The dilemma for Cape Town homeowners is familiar: the Mediterranean climate demands open windows for ventilation, particularly during the hot summer months between November and March. Yet every open window is an invitation to a baboon troop on the move. People living in baboon-active areas need baboon proof windows that still allow fresh air into the home.
Why standard security measures fall short
Traditional approaches to the baboon problem each carry significant drawbacks:
- Burglar bars — effective at keeping baboons out but block natural light, restrict emergency escape routes and give homes an industrial appearance. Professional installation across all windows is expensive.
- Electric fencing — useful on boundary walls but does not protect individual windows. Baboons frequently bypass perimeter defences by climbing trees, walls and rooftops.
- Baboon-proof bins — reduce outdoor food attractants but do nothing to prevent a baboon entering through an open window.
- Keeping windows closed — eliminates the baboon risk entirely but creates ventilation problems, mould buildup from trapped moisture and uncomfortable indoor temperatures.
What homeowners need is a solution that locks the window in a partially open position — wide enough for ventilation but too narrow for a baboon to fit through or reach inside.
LockLatch®: the most popular choice for baboon proofing
The LockLatch® is a lockable stainless steel latch that restricts a window or door opening to between 9cm and 17cm. This provides generous ventilation while making it physically impossible for a baboon to fit through the gap. Once the security pin is locked, the window cannot be opened further or forced closed.
LockLatch® is the most popular product among homeowners dealing with baboon intrusions. Its wider adjustable range provides better airflow than narrower alternatives, while the C304 stainless steel construction will not bend under pressure, corrode in Cape Town’s salt-heavy coastal air or degrade in UV exposure. It is backed by a lifetime guarantee.
For homes with vervet monkey problems — more common in KwaZulu-Natal — the MiniLatch® offers a narrower opening of 4.5 to 8cm. However, it is worth noting that the effective gap is reduced by 3 to 4cm because the footplates mount mid-frame rather than at the very edge. For baboon exclusion, the standard LockLatch® is the recommended choice.
Where the baboon problem is most severe
The City of Cape Town identifies several high-risk residential zones:
- Kommetjie and Scarborough — regular troop movements through residential streets, particularly during fruit season and late summer.
- Simon’s Town and Glencairn — daily incursions into homes near the mountain slopes, with troops moving between the naval base and residential areas.
- Tokai and Constantia — troops moving down from the Tokai Forest into suburban gardens, often entering through upper-storey windows.
- Hout Bay — large troops with frequent contact with residential and commercial properties.
- Welcome Glen and Da Gama Park — among the most severely affected areas, with baboons known to enter homes daily through any available opening.
- Garden Route to Plettenberg Bay — baboon troops are active along the entire coastal stretch, affecting residential properties and holiday homes from Hermanus through to Plett.
For residents in these areas, baboon proof windows are not a precaution — they are a necessity.
Holiday homes and Airbnb properties at particular risk
Vacation rentals and unoccupied holiday homes in baboon zones face elevated risk. Guests unfamiliar with local wildlife may leave windows wide open, and a single baboon raid can result in thousands of rands in property damage and devastating online reviews.
Fitting LockLatch® to every window in a holiday rental is a one-time investment that eliminates this risk. Guests can enjoy Cape Town’s breezes and mountain views through open windows while the opening remains physically restricted. For property managers running multiple units, the device offers a cost-effective way to baboon proof windows across an entire portfolio.
The cost of inaction
A single baboon raid can cause damage running into thousands of rands. Broken crockery, torn upholstery, scattered food and contaminated surfaces are common outcomes. In severe cases, baboons have injured residents who attempt to chase them out. Insurance claims for baboon-related damage are notoriously difficult to process, with many policies excluding wildlife damage entirely.
The cost of fitting LockLatch® to every vulnerable window in a typical Cape Town home is a fraction of the cost of a single baboon incident. For property owners in affected areas, it represents one of the most cost-effective preventive measures available.
For smaller openings and monkey exclusion: MiniLatch®
In areas where vervet monkeys are the primary concern — particularly in KwaZulu-Natal — the MiniLatch® provides a narrower adjustable range of 4.5 to 8cm. Originally developed as the MonkeyLatch, this product is designed for the smaller, more agile primates that can exploit gaps a baboon cannot.
For comprehensive wildlife exclusion, many homeowners fit LockLatch® on windows and doors throughout the property, with MiniLatch® on any openings where an especially narrow gap is required.
Installation and availability
Both devices can be fitted by any homeowner with a drill and screwdriver or rivet gun in under 15 minutes. No locksmith or contractor is required. Full installation instructions and all fixings are included with each unit.
The products are manufactured from C304 stainless steel in South Africa and are available worldwide at the LockLatch® online shop, with free shipping on orders of three or more units.
