In 1992 Dirk Cilliers developed and launched Olymkids pre-school gymnastics and movement education programme at various nursery schools in South Africa. Dirk has a wealth of hands on experience as he was a gymnast from a very young age and involved in the gymnastics world for a number of years.

“Olymkids” was aimed at fun and fitness for ALL children and included the basics of gymnastics, aerobics, ball skills, body awareness, strength and flexibility.

Dirk later attended a course in Specialised Children Movement in Holland presented by the Royal Dutch Gymnastics Federation and this knowledge gained, gave enormous depth to the original ‘Olymkids’ programme and contributed greatly to the success and development of our members.

Dirk incorporated Olymkids and established Monkeynastix in South Africa in 1995 with a starting membership of 500 children.

The first international Monkeynastix franchise opened was in Botswana in 1998. The following year we opened a new Monkeynastix franchise in Northern Ireland and the year 2000 we opened in Scotland and England. Monkeynastix was also started in Mauritius in 2003, in Australia and Kenya in 2004/5 in Zambia and Dubai in 2005/6 and India, Turkey and Egypt in 2007.

Monkeynastix currently has more than 80 franchisees in South Africa, Botswana, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Australia, Kenya, Zambia, Mauritius, India, U.A.E., Turkey, Egypt, Canada, U.S.A., GREECE and growing.

The concept is a franchise system in the movement education and health and fitness world for children ages 1 – 8 years old.

There is nothing quite like this unique concept anywhere in the world. We promote an image of professionalism, quality and non-competitive fun for the children. We concentrate on the development of confidence and a positive self-image for our members.