I booked a "behind the scenes" tour to celebrate my birthday, and I couldn't have asked for a better experience! Ethan, our guide, was friendly, outgoing, knowledgeable, attentive, personable... suggest other positive descriptors and he's probably that too! He was absolutely excellent - no notes! - a great source of info and stories! We chose to do half the tour outside, and I'm so glad we did! I had debated between the "behind the scenes" and "walk with the lemurs" options, and doing this part outside was like a mini walk with the lemurs experience! Hooray! We got to be just feet away from some of the various lemur species. A ring-tailed lemur even walked right up in front of us! The Sifaka lemurs were a joy to watch hopping and leaping. Seeing everyone head in for afternoon snacks was so fun too: they all had their own order for heading in, and you could really see their personalities as they went by too. Some lemurs were up in the trees, hopping between them, some down on the ground with us, and all of them seemed so content. Did I mention there is no barrier between you and them during this experience?! It is incredible. One of the Sifakas looked right at us and tilted her head to the side seeming to question what we were doing - definitely curious about us. It was so incredible to be so close to these fellow primates! The tour continued through some of the other buildings. We learned about food, enrichment, research; we met volunteers, scientists, other specialists. Everyone seemed so positive and happy to be there and like they truly enjoyed what they were doing. Can you blame them? It's such a cool place! Next, we got to visit some of the nocturnal species: mouse lemurs, fat-tailed lemurs, bush babies, and aye-ayes! They're nocturnal species, and red light was used to not disturb them. It is harder to see in these places, but the smaller lemurs and bush babies really are adorable and interesting. Ethan gave a tip that video does better than photos in this area (with camera phones at least). It really is hard to wrap your head around these small mouse-sized animals are actually mammals! We also got to view a few aye-ayes, and then even watch one get a special snack! It was very cool to see her use her special long finger to scrape peanut butter and to learn about other special feeding strategies that are used to mimic how they eat in the wild. The gift shop is clean and air conditioned very well in hotter times. There are lots of different items available there: toys, shirts, paintings the lemurs made themselves (!!), ornaments.... you can even "adopt" a lemur and get updates about them while supporting the great work done at the DLC. Even before our tour was over, I was already asking Ethan about other tours and when he recommends we visit again: a true sign of a wonderful experience is wanting to go back even before it's over! I'm so glad to have finally made it here: amazing place!! [A few things to note: there is an age minimum here (10 years old), and you definitely should make reservations for any tours ahead of time.] read more

See all

The Duke Lemur Center is located on Duke University's campus. It is on 85 acres and opened back in 1966. Its focus is on research, and it has the most diverse group of lemurs outside of Madagascar. Lemurs are the most endangered species, so the Center studies them non-invasively. The center has also bred 3,400 lemurs, making sure to keep the diversity. If you want to visit, make sure you make a reservation. They offer a General Tour, which is self-guided; the Walking With Lemurs tour is a small-group, guided tour; and a private tour is also available. I've done both the self-guided and small-group tours. With the self-guided tours, you walk along a path and can spend as much time as you'd like within the allotted time frame, seeing the lemurs in their enclosures. Docents and volunteers are stationed at various spots to tell you about the lemurs and answer questions. Walking with Lemurs is my favorite tour. I like the smaller group of about 8 people, and you get to go into the forest to see the lemurs up close. Remember, you need to stay at least six feet away from the lemurs and cannot touch them. It is also possible that you will not see all the lemurs, as they get to decide whether to be viewed. On my last tour, some just stayed very high up in the trees, but we did see others very close. There is a free parking lot, as well as an overflow lot if that lot fills up. If they both fill, just ask where to park, and they will direct you. Make sure to visit the gift shop before or after your visit. The Duke Lemur Center is an incredible, world-class asset to the Triangle. Whether you choose the General Tour or splurge for the forest walk, it is an unforgettable experience that directly supports a wonderful cause. read more

See all

The Duke Lemur Center is staffed with friendly, knowledgeable staff who are truly excited to tell you all about lemurs! We had a wonderful time. There wasn't a question we had that our excellent tour guide couldn't answer for us. She knew all of the lemurs by name, in addition to knowing what types of lemurs they were. We were there for about 2 hours, and we toured the veterinary and research facilities, the nocturnal area, the lemurs usual little cage homes, and then the external exclosure area where they could roam free within an outside area. The external exclosure was especially fun, as we could just walk among the trees & bamboo as they lept from tree to tree overhead. At the end, they brought us to the gift shop, and then also gave us all an educational magazine. They require donations in exchange for the tour, and all tours MUST be booked in advance (so look online before you just show up!). However, if you are looking for something truly unique to explore while in Durham, I can't recommend this enough. read more

See all

When I got the chance to visit the Duke Lemur Center for free as a part of the Duke Graduate Student Appreciation Week, I jumped at it! This was super fun, especially since it's been on my bucket list since starting at Duke. Our guide was so knowledgeable, and took us all around the facility (the outside spaces, the nocturnal space, research and medical areas, etc). We got to learn about the Center's history and a ton of cool lemur facts; most importantly, we saw so many cute lemurs! There's also a gift shop filled with lemur-related merch. Lots of parking available. 10/10 would recommend! read more

See all

The Duke Lemur Center is such a gem! They have an outdoor space with docents by each pen to answer questions. The docents are so knowledgeable and it's clear that the staff care so much about the lemurs and the preservation work that they do. The son of Jovan (from Zoboomafoo) Ferdinand actually lives here, which is so cool. Besides lemurs, they also have bush babies that are on a nocturnal cycle in an indoor space. Make sure to make an online reservation before going. This experience is well worth it when in the Durham area! read more

I truly enjoyed my tour of the center. I was fortunate to get a spot on the only day I was in town. I got to make the lemurs and engagement food item. Then we got to give it to them and watch them enjoy their treats. The people who work and volunteer there were very friendly. They answered all of my annoying questions. Do buy tickets in advance, as no walk-ins are allowed. They have a gift shop, and I bought a t-shirt to help the cause. Be sure to follow their email instructions to find the location. Glad I was able to get a ticket and experience the lemurs. I learned a ton. read more

See all

Highly educational, wondrous view at the world's most endangered species with multiple (over 14) varieties to observe. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED AND donations to experience it highly needed and recommended! Worth every penny of support at Duke AND for conservation efforts in Madagascar led by DLC personnel, students and local conservation groups. read more

Such a wonderful place with an incredible mission, dedicated volunteers, and adorable animals! This was our first time going and we will 100% be going back! We did the regular self-guided tour for $25 a person, and it was well worth the money. We spent the full 2 hours looking at the animals, exhibits, and talking to the volunteers and educators on site. Unfortunately we didn't get to do the private guided tour, though from what I've heard it's also an incredible experience! read more

See all

I FINALLY GOT TO COME HERE!! I have been wanting to go to the Duke Lemur Center for so long but it never lined up with my travel schedule until now. A super great experience! The workers/volunteers are so friendly and so so knowledgeable. At first I thought I was going to be sad not getting the guided tour, but doing just the regular visit there are tons of people around explaining things and teaching you stuff. I learned so so much! Truly an amazing experience! I want a lemur of my own!! They had free roaming ones and ones in exhibits. Here, they house over 30 lemur species, including nocturnal ones. The way they protect and take care of these endangered mammals is so amazing. I definitely recommend getting some tickets if it lines up with your schedule. Fun Fact: did you know that black blue-eyed lemurs are only black if they are male. If their female, they're brown! read more

See all

This place is so delightful! The employees are so knowledgeable and the place is very respectful of the animals. I really appreciated that. I can't wait to go again. read more

Great family program and interactive. Will be back. They also have a gift shop that helps to raise funds for the program read more

See all

TLDR: Unique experience for locals and tourists alike. Reservations required. Tours are self-guided. Plan to spend about an hour here. Go earlier in the day when the lemurs are more active. Even after living in NC for a while, a group of friends and I realized we hadn't visited the Duke Lemur Center before. I heard about it before COVID when zoboomafoo was there. I wish I had gone at the time, but happy we finally made plans to visit in 2023. Reservations are required and easy to make online. You do not need to print tickets since they will have your name on a list when you arrive. They provide instructions on how to find the facility and where to park. We had no issues locating it and ample parking was available. After parking, we checked in and used the restroom. We then started at the nocturnal building then proceeded to the outdoor cages to view the diurnal lemurs. Masks are required only in the nocturnal building. Knowledgable volunteers are located throughout the tour to answer questions and provide additional information. I really like the set up of the tour. We spent as much time in each area as we desired to view the lemur, listen to the volunteers, and ask questions. I enjoy learning at my own pace. Thank you to all of the volunteers there including Marsha, Jenn, Coulan, Anna, Kevin, Emrys, and, Abby. I did not catch everyone's name and may have spelled some of them incorrectly. They were all welcoming and helpful. The center seems to care for the lemurs and ensure the lemurs were paired up and provided with adequate food and enrichment. We visited around 10 am during their feeding time. It was fun to watch them eat (fruit first then veggies). If I remember correctly they have 1 wild caught lemur, 2 from a reserve in Madagascar, and the rest are born at the center. Overall, we enjoyed our visit here and learned a lot about lemurs! read more

See all

Very informative, and just enjoyed watching the Lemurs. I came when the center first opened in early May, and there wasn't a whole lot of activity. It's probably better to go in the Summer. read more

What a great place to visit! This was my 3rd time going to the Duke Lemur Center, and it was just as fun and exciting as the first time. Went with a group to do some volunteer work putting gravel into a few of the outdoor enclosures. After we finished, we were given a tour of the grounds by a couple of the staff. You can tell they care about the lemurs and love their job. We saw several species of lemurs. The highlight of the tour was being in the open-air enclosure with 2 Sifakas and 2 Ring-tailed lemurs. Sharing a few of my pictures. read more

See all

I was impressed with the knowledgeable docents. The lemurs were cool looking. I enjoyed the night time habitats that looked like red rooms used to develop photos. The gift shop was impressive. read more

See all

We've been here twice in the last few months. We did the normal tour of the lemur center and the more expensive, more guided lemur tour inside the lemur's forested enclosures. Both tours were great and educational, with a lot of lemurs of many varieties. The staff is very knowledgable and friendly and the lemurs are really amazing to see in person and relatively up close. The tour inside the outdoor enclosures (which you can go on by getting on the center's email list as it is weather dependent) was amazing as you get to see the lemur's without fences and in more of a natural environment. MOST IMPORTANTLY, this is an animal experience where the priority is animal welfare, as it should be. They invest heavily in lemur conservation in Madagascar and the animals here at the center are treated well with access to huge outdoor areas (not visible from the regular tour), excellent medical care, enrichment, diet, etc. This also means there is probably some risk of not seeing certain things on a tour because the facility will not force the animals to do anything, and they will certainly not allow you to touch/hold the lemurs. Again, this is as it should be for the sake of the animals. read more

Duke University Lemur Center - On the "Walking with Lemurs" Tour - Zoos Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We did the public tour for about an hour and half. It's self guided. They have very knowledgeable volunteers and you get to see lemurs up and close! They had 10 species of lemurs available to see the day we went. They have a nocturnal exhibit which is something I've never seen before! Would 100% return and try out the private tour option where you can walk around with the lemurs. read more

We LOVED THIS!!! The lemurs are ADORABLE! The tour is incredible. The docents are very informative and friendly. Our ONLY complaint is about the other visitors who did not respect the rules and the lemurs. We were ALL asked to follow a few SIMPLE rules, in respect for the lemurs. For some reason, a few visitors felt they did not need to respect the lemurs or the rules that were in place only to protect the sweet lemurs. Reservations required! Call ahead! read more

The lemur center is the BEST! I'm a student, so you get a discount and only have to pay $9 for a tour. You must make a reservation if you want to go on a tour and they fill up really quickly! I'd try to make one at least a week in advance, especially if you want to go on the weekend! Also check in on Yelp when you go because you get a free sticker at the gift shop! The tour is super fun and you get to see and learn a TON about lemurs. All of their tour guides are really well informed and the lemurs never disappoint! They have so many that it's inevitable that you'll get to see a ton of different lemur species! read more

Duke University Lemur Center - Zoos Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous! What a great tour! I honestly think they should be charging more... It was a great tour and our guide was awesome. The information provided was excellent, however the first video you watch is super cheesy. The video is made by children for children... We went in April (had to get on a waiting list for reservations, so book early). Most of the lemurs were in the inside enclosures, due to the temperature, however, if you go in the summer, you get a completely different experience! The inside enclosures were a bit difficult to continue to look at, as there is a chain link fence and sometimes that makes your eyes go wonky. I really enjoyed this tour and will booking another one during the summer months! Everything is funded on grants and donations... makes you think about how important this research is! read more

We loved the Duke Lemur Center. To quote my friend: "Cutest tour, ever!" We basically love the lemurs. Although we wish they were in the wild, given that humans are turds and continue to slash and burn their unique habitats, we're relieved that breeding and research programs like this exist. We registered (SEVERAL WEEKS IN ADVANCE) for the regular tour. It lasted 90 minutes or so. Our tour guide was fun and cheeky, we give her five stars too! Afterwards, we decided to totally fan-girl out for lemurs and bought some lemur merch--the ladies' tanks are particularly cute and only $20, and that money goes into keeping the center funded. We're happy to help contribute to that while also rep-ing cute tanks with lemurs on them! Highly recommend! read more

See all

I discovered NC's lemur collection via Groupon several months before booking a tour. I kicked myself when I realized that the Groupon was no longer available but I went ahead and scheduled a "Lemurs Live!" tour anyway. It's around the same price as going to the movies and you get to walk around and see some fascinating primates, all of which are on the endangered species list. You will probably only ever see these unique creatures either in Madagascar or at the Duke Lemur Center. Ultimately, the 90-minute tour was worth every penny of the admission price. The "Lemurs Live!" tour begins with a film about lemurs and the work being done at the Duke Lemur Center. This short, informative and oddly entertaining film is a good introduction to lemurs. The lemurs' own natural habitat in Madagascar is being destroyed and the DLC is the next best thing to their homeland. It is the largest lemur sanctuary in the world and covers 85 acres. The DLC's lemur population is second only to Madagascar in size. This is amazing when you consider this possibility: up to 90% of all lemur species will face extinction within the next 20 years or so according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The DLC tries to keep their diet and surroundings as close as possible to those provided by Madagascar but some things just cannot be introduced into NC for various reasons. The lemurs at the center seem to thrive but some species are much hardier than others. They don't all respond well to being in captivity. It's somewhat bittersweet; lemurs in cages but some are still having babies. Visiting the center is by appointment only. This may have to do with staffing requirements or the fact that you are dealing with endangered species. Whatever the reason, an appointment is easy to make and it keeps group sizes manageable. There were approximately 30 guests on the afternoon we visited and the tour guides split us up into two groups of 15 or so each. There are several different species of lemurs at the DLC including the aye-aye, loris, sifaka, ring-tailed lemur, and more, many of which look like something right out of a Dr Seuss book. There are blue-eyed black lemurs all named after famous blue-eyed stars like Elvis Presley and Robert Redford. The ring-tails are a spectacular sight with their bold black and white striped tails. The aye-aye looks like a bat with its big ears and pointed nose. Sizes of the various species range from as tiny as a mouse up to 2 or 3 feet tall. A separate building is home to several nocturnal lemur species. It is kept dark during the daytime so they can be studied when they are active. At dusk, the lights are turned on and all the nocturnal lemurs retire for their "night." The nocturnal building is included in the tour so you may catch a glimpse of the mysterious aye-aye or loris or dwarf mouse lemur. It's a bit like walking around in a darkroom with warm red lighting and if you do see the mysterious aye-aye, it's definitely a treat. If Madagascar isn't on your flight path any time soon, you can still see these unique and fascinating endangered creatures right at the Duke Lemur Center in Durham, NC. I highly recommend checking it out, the "Lemurs Live!" tour was definitely worth it. read more

See all

Highly recommended to visit the Lemur Center if you are visiting Duke! This is a great, unique experience that's perfect for out-of-town guests, friends, family, or anyone that has a reason to come to the university. Who doesn't love baby-sized animals? The Duke Lemur Center has the largest population of lemurs outside of Madagascar. They have both nocturnal and diurnal species, so the regular Lemurs Live tour starts inside a darker infrared room before seeing the outdoor lemurs. The tour is ~1 hour give or take depending on how many questions you ask, photos you take, etc. I first went with a group of MBA students and then took my parents all who had a great time. $9/students, $12/adults. Make reservations a few weeks in advance as they book up quickly (you call 919-401-7240, leave a message, and then they call you back - posh celebrity lemurs right?). For the future, I'd love to try out the Walking with Lemurs tour where you get to walk through the forest with the lemurs with no barriers - would be great for photos with the little guys! Great experience and even loved the cute gift shop gifts! read more

Duke University Lemur Center - Duke Lemur Center - Zoos Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Ok, I've been waiting to tour the Lemur Center for ages and finally after 5 years I made it over for Lemurpalooza. They're beautiful and cool looking creatures and the Duke University Lemur Center is doing a great job rep'ing them. So why only four stars, jerk?! The reality is that I feel a bit over-sold on the Duke University Lemur Center. You see all these beautiful pics on their website but if you do the standard tour, you'll have to view these lemurs through a double-gridded cage. Lemur's are pretty smart so I guess they have to be extra secure but these double-grid cages means that a good picture is really, really difficult. And these creatures are a bit shy so you get the picture. Or in this case you won't get the picture. What you see on the website is not what you'll get on the standard tour so you'll have to fork over the $95 to see the lemurs without the visual barriers. But other than that complaint the center is well-run with plenty of knowledgeable volunteers. And they are doing a wonderful job with conservation of these endangered critters. So while I didn't expect to have a lemur on my shoulder, munching on peanuts, I was still a bit disappointed at my experience. Just understand what you'll get on the standard tour and you'll have fun here! read more

Duke University Lemur Center - Zoos Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The Lemur Center is such a great thing to do in Durham! Since it's kinda tucked away, I don't always think about it as a place to visit, but I'm always happy after I've been! I'd love to do one of their behind-the-scenes tours sometime. read more

Duke University Lemur Center - Zoos Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I finally got to make a trip to the Duke Lemur Center for the "Walking with Lemurs" tour on Saturday, September 27th! This tour is seasonal, so check to make sure you're going during the time of year it's offered. Tour was great and tour guide amazing and friendly as well! "Walking with Lemurs" was just as amazing as I had anticipated and I highly recommend it to any tourists in the Raleigh/Durham area and families with kids (older kids that can be respectful of the lemurs' space). We came all the way from Texas to experience this. What's cool about this tour is that you get to be with the lemurs as they eat their breakfast around 10:30 am. Otherwise, if you were in the forest at any other time, you *might* not even notice them because they wouldn't want much to do with you. Bringing food changes that. It's different from a zoo in the fact that you are communing with "wild" lemurs that free-range in the forest. You also see other lemurs that aren't in the forest and that's very interesting as well. Only disappointment was that a lemur did not touch me. You cannot touch them, only they can touch you! They will, however, get very close to you and walk around your legs. You have to be careful where you step because you could accidentally step on one. One tip - wear long pants!! When we were in the Duke forest, I got bitten by some mosquitoes and there are some tall grasses which made me a bit itchy. Call the DLC as soon as you know you're coming. They say that tours fill up fast, especially in the summer. read more

See all

My husband surprised me with the Behind the Scenes tour as one of my birthday gifts. The rest of the group for our tour cancelled, so it was the 2 of us and our guide, Kyle. He was very knowledgable and did a great job answering questions. The tour itself allowed us to get really close to the lemurs. It was about an hour and a half long and during that time I learned a lot about lemurs and also about the type of research that they carry out at their facility. At the end of the tour, they had a birthday card for me and wished me a Happy Birthday. There is a gift shop that has some really cute lemur swag. Overall, it was very entertaining and educational. read more

Duke University Lemur Center - One of the amazing lemurs just hanging out. - Zoos Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Total five stars for this place, it is definitely the closest thing you can get without traveling to Madagascar to see some Lemurs. I took a group of children from summer camp here for a field trip and they all loved it. I unfortunately cannot comment much on price or scheduling a tour, because we booked several months in advance and got a group discount. However, I have noticed some other reviewers commenting on prices, and by the looks of it they can get pretty expensive. There is a cheap walking tour that is self guided, however I really enjoyed having a tour guide to tell us so much information about these interesting, endangered creatures. We saw several different species of Lemur, most were in cages outside, however there is an area where there is no barrier between you and the lemur, and you can walk right up to them, this obviously would not have worked with thirty elementary school children, so we opted out of this option. There is also a dark room where the nocturnal Lemurs stay. They keep the lights out during the day, and turn them on at night, so the Lemurs are awake during the same hours we are. Our guide was friendly and very knowledgeable. He knew everything about every species of Lemur in the center, and was really good about answering all the children's questions. Whether on your own or with a group, I would recommend checking this place out! read more

Duke University Lemur Center - Lemur at Duke University Lemur Center - Zoos Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

One of my favorite college memories was the time I came to the lemur center to shoot for the student newspaper. As it was summer, after wandering around the indoor pens we had the chance to go outside and see the lemurs in their native habitat. Trails were relatively easy to follow though a little bushwhacking was involved when investigating the lemurs up close. And boy did they get close. We had ring tailed lemurs that sauntered right up to us, less than a foot away, and seeing the Sifaka's jumping from tree to tree was a sight to behold. Best of all were the big groups of lemurs that would just wander around and snuggle with each other; too adorable. read more

See all

A group of us (4 in our late 20s) thanked our lucky starts that we landed in the all-adults group, when 1pm tour was divided between two guides. Some other time, rock-throwing kid, some other time... Highlights: hilariously terrible intro video, a little baby clinging to lemur mom's belly, the insanely loud alert calls of one of the lemur species, peppy and informative guide, and gift shop treasures. If you go on the regular tour, it's only $12 for an adult...after that, you're looking to spend at least $95. I was fine looking at them through their cages. Make sure you call in about 2 weeks in advance to reserve your spot! read more

Duke University Lemur Center - On the lemur walk - Zoos Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

Perfect for my family with 2 small children. Our basic guided walking tour lasted about an hour and was filled with great information and fun Lemur watching. We got to see nocturnal, caged, and free range (out swinging in the trees) varieties of Lemurs. read more

Duke University Lemur Center - Zoos Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

When I lived in NC, I visited the Duke Lemyr center after pre purchasing a behind the scenes your. I was one of about 10 in the group. They took us after hours on a tour of the nocturnal species first. After they took us on the inside of the ours enclosure. I loved every minute of it! It was a dream come true to be in such close quarters with so many lemurs! Several times a couple of lemurs were standing right against my leg. I got so many great photos and it is an experience I WL treasure for a lifetime. read more

See all

We visited the Duke Lemur Center on a Saturday for a "Lemurs Live" tour and loved it. In the spring & summer months, you'll need to set weekend appointments more than a month in advance, but it's worth the wait. I was impressed by how pleasant the overall experience was from the moment we arrived. The parking here is very convenient, and the first step of the tour is checking out the gift shop (I highly recommend the hats) to pay for your admission, followed by a fun introductory video by the Duke Lemur Center. After a few minutes, the tour guides came in to begin the tour. Our tour guide, Mark Chandler, was great at telling our group about lemurs and what the DLC does. Although the actual distance traveled for the tour is pretty small, this ~$12 per person tour is more educational than you'd expect. We saw just less than a dozen or so different types of lemurs, most of them being behind cages - these lemurs were not easy to see and some were almost invisible. A few of the other ones we saw were in a nocturnal building behind glass - this part of the tour was really fun, getting to see these lemurs in more of their natural habitat and spotting them in the darkness. I'd recommend checking this place out to anyone who knows nothing about lemurs and lemur enthusiasts alike. The Lemurs Live tour is a fun and affordable introductory tour that will probably get you excited to check out the other tours they offer. Another plus is their website, which is really well put-together and informational for anyone who is interested. Make sure you check-in on Yelp when you arrive to get a free sticker! read more

See all

What a cool place!! My family and I took the basic group tour which lasted about an hour and I learned so much! Our tour guide really knew her stuff! They offer more expensive tours where you can actually interact with the lemurs and if I get a chance to go back that is what I will do! read more

See all

Man... I really struggled with the rating here. For what you see, this is clearly a "5". So, gee, Yelp fans, why am I giving it a "4"? Because to get there, I spent $600. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret it - but my circumstances aren't necessarily yours. Why? I have 2 kids: - An 18-year old who is majoring in Zoology as a freshman in college who watched Zoboomafoo on PBS kids for years from age 4-8 and met the Kratt Brothers. The Lemur used in the series and the locale for filming was right here at the Lemur Center. - A 12-year old who loves lemurs So... I sprung for the Walking with Lemurs (or something close to that) and Painting with Lemurs. We got to see Lemurs really, really up close - with a guide who could answer anything. Walking with Lemurs was about 90 minutes; and we saw Sifakas leaping - just like in Zoboomafoo. We saw a couple other species of Lemurs up close - so close we could have touched them if allowed (and it shouldn't be allowed - and isn't). For Painting with Lemurs, we got a private tour and stories about the lemurs and ideas about how they live and how to work with them. So... unlike most others - my review isn't on the cheap core tour. That would not have worked for my enthusiasts. I have to tell you, my 18-year old came out excited that she might have an opportunity to work there next summer. My 12-year old was babbling about how many species of lemurs there are and how Zoboomafoo was filmed there. This is a great place to go for Lemur preservation and behind the scenes experience. The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 - is that for the excellent service - the cost was high. I can't judge what the vast majority of people would do (the core tour) - didn't take it - but that wouldn't have been enough for us. read more

Went with a group of extended family & friends (16 people) so we got our own tour guide. The animals were very visible & active which made for a fun tour. One species also got into a "shouting match" midway thru our tour & it felt like you were surrounded by them. If I heard that in the wild I certainly would back down! There were two sections to the tour, nocturnal and diurnal. I was perfectly clear that we were headed into the nocturnal side first but my mom & brother missed that instruction and were surprised to enter a red-lit, shaded-windows hallway area. They spoke loudly about their shock and were curtly hushed. The guide raised the shades on each of 4 species, all of whom were surprisingly active for us. I wish the windows were bigger; I felt like the group crowded each viewing pane to see as much as possible. On the diurnal side it was easier to see more, and the lemurs seemed genuinely responsive to the guides and thus to us. Stick close to the guide, or at least pay attention, and you'll have a better experience than if you don't. (That success principle applies to all of life!) read more

Very informative and a really neat facility. They are so dedicated to this worthwhile cause, and their passion is infectious. It's impossible not to get excited while you're here, and the lemurs are so darn cute! Definitely book in advance as they fill up quickly. It's worth a gander, rain or shine! read more

I did a normal tour with guests while in town. I actually thought this place was more of a rescue than a research center, so I wasn't a fan of the small habitats (not free-range) for the animals. I also know that a staff member mentioned that humans have limited interaction with the animals, but then why are enrichment activities offered where humans have direct contact with lemurs while painting (staff only)? Also, while the lemurs were awesome to see (the paired lemurs), the family lemurs were often in the back and not viewable to the tourists. I suggest allowing humans to go into the back, if possible, or consider not having that as part of the regular tour? Was hoping to see a baby lemur, and yes, one was in the back that we weren't able to see. Unfortunately, didn't happen. One awesome thing we got to see were the lemurs making a warning cry when a hawk was circling above. While startling, it was quite amazing. I do not foresee myself coming back, as I do not support the enclosures of the lemurs that are bred and kept in captivity. While these animals are endangered, they are not bred to restore the population - just for research purposes. Note, the tourist was knowledgeable and friendly, but could've been louder for such a large group. read more

What is there not to love about this place. They open with a dorky video of a guy who's way into lemurs then you get to tour about the place and learn fun factoids and see the most adorable creatures. Come check out the blue eyed lemurs that just had babies- as if they could get cuter! It's pretty darn hot in the summer, so go earlier in the day. They're fairly active in the outdoor cages, but the bars make it quite a bit harder to photograph them. Love these lemurs. I take every out of town visitor here. read more

Lemurs are cute sorta-monkeys from Madagascar and Duke University in Durham, NC, has nearly all of them outside of there, and in a forest research setting! Tours are run by volunteers who make do with the facilities the research institute allows them. It's better to see the lemurs in the summer than in the winter (even though they're a lot of fun to look at any time of year.) Make an appointment and do it, it's a must-see in the Durham area. read more