It’s the third day of terrible fires spreading on the Hoerikwaggo mountains when Smiley and Knuckles, two young baboons, stumble upon a human baby separated from her parents.

Smiley, curious and always hungry for adventure, convinces a much more reserved Knuckles that they just have to save the baby. After some resistance from Knuckles, and from the others back home, the two baboons are propelled into a quest to reunite the baby with the humans.

Challenged by a rival baboon lurking in the shadows and hell-bent on sabotaging their plans; stalked by a mysterious bird trying to steal the baby; and facing discrimination from other animals, they race through the dangerous, fire-ravaged mountains to get the baby back home.

Smiley and Knuckles’ story is told through the eyes of a mysterious shamanic healer named Xam. Regarded as an outcast of society, she lives in a cave in the Hoerikwaggo Mountains of South Africa and is often found telling stories to groups of children outside. She is a secret keeper of the mountains and seems to also hold some secrets of her own.

The story is meant to highlight our discourse with nature and to raise insightful questions about our relationships with each other, and with nature. I want the reader to experience the adventure of the two main characters; to feel their excitement, joy, and suspense; while getting the opportunity to reflect on their encounters with topics like fear, discrimination, courage, friendship, and community.

Hoerikwaggo. A Tale of Two Baboons is based on a children’s play by Jungle Theatre Company. I originally adapted and expanded it for an animated film then, after a while of developing it further, decided to turn it into a book instead.

This is the first story in a series of four, all of which take place on the Hoerikwaggo mountains. Each story is a standalone adventure following different characters each time, taking us deeper into the mythology of the mountains.