Monkey World Reviews 

Visited Monkey World yesterday after many years since our last visit but was very disappointed. It looked very tired and unkept. I took my father who is in need of a wheelchair at the moment. There was nothing mentioned about the unsuitable areas for wheelchair users and the fact that it has some quite steep inclines (which made the trip interesting). It feels like they have lost there purpose from the original reason for the parks existence and joined the money making rat trap. I felt the need to constantly remind myself of the fact that these poor animals have at large been rescued from far worse circumstances but if the park are going to charge the prices that they are for the public to attend then they really need to up their game. Paths should be made more accessible, communal areas need to be tidied up, glass should be cleaned, etc etc. Such a shame as this park used to be the pride of Dorset but currently isn’t meeting the standards it should be.

We have been a supporter of MW for years, however on our last visit we decided to purchase some cheese sandwiches, very expensive with one very thin slice of cheese, but as you look at the front of the sandwich it looks as if their are two slices of cheese but this is a con as it is a thin narrow piece placed at the front of the sandwich to make it look fuller, £4.50 come on MW !!

The whole family throughly enjoyed visiting our ancestors on Easter Sunday. It's well worthwhile making the trip. Apparently, it gets busy in the summer so this time of year is
perfect. 👌

First visit to the primate rescue centre . Great experience first having a casual walk around the various enclosures . Arrived earlier in the day 11ish and then had a tour booked at 1pm . Ali, one of the educational team gave us a hugely informative tour of the site with lots of insight to the work and stories of the rescues. Brilliant .She was assisted by Janet, a volunteer , who also guided us around to finish the afternoon . Well worth the extra cost to add to the whole day out. Hats off to the whole team. Long may the amazing work go on ! Thanks too to Alison Cronin for leading the charge . ( especially for the incoming Lebanese baboons) 🤞🤞

Arrived at MW with mini bus and the elderly from care home. As Neil Coomber has reported. The woman on the pay desk came out and said. Got all your paperwork ready. ? No hello nice to see you. She is aggressive.
A complete turn off. Needs training unless you want her like this. I understand you can only pay with card. At coffee shop. If you have cash and there is change they don’t give you the change. !!! It’s legal tender that’s thieving
The exit gate like one at a football ground but larger difficult to get large wheelchairs out
I was going to take towels and blankets but I won’t now shame for monkeys.
Loved seeing monkeys but won’t be returning
Michelle. .

My other half gifted me a tour for Xmas, knowing my love of Orangs & Chimps. We were pleasantly surprised to find we were the only ones on the tour and Shannon our guide was wonderful. Extremely knowledgeable and sensitive when it came to telling us some of their tragic stories.
Our tour was at 10am on a beautiful, sunny day, and it was perfect timing, as all the monkeys had just been turfed out of the indoor areas so the big cleanup could commence!
Highlights were seeing the baby Orangs, Gordon who I have watched grow up on TV over the years and Gibbons (Peanut & Pung-Yo) the later having a very special relationship with Shannon, it was beautiful to watch how excited he was to see her!
After the tour we explored the park all over again and I was blessed to have an Orang in the nursery take an interest in my bandaged finger. She came to the window and stood in front of me, pointing to my finger with concern in her eyes. Such a magical moment I will never forget. Thank you Shannon & thank you, Monkey World, for your continued efforts in rescuing primates.

Visited mid August on a baking hot day with my 15 year old. This was our first time and we weren't disappointed. The animals were all eating lunch and receiving iced treats. There were some great talks especially by the chimp keeper. Food and drink was a little expensive but I thought entry price was very reasonable. The primates were out and about even in the heat. They had lots of space which was wonderful to see. Lots of people enjoying the park but plenty of space. Staff were really friendly and helpful. Plenty of great facilities. The lemur enclosure was closed but didn't spoil anything. Well done team keep up the great work rescuing these mistreated animals.

We visited Monkey World after watching Monkey Life on TV. It did not disappoint. Well worth a detour and every penny of the entrance fee. Its just lovely to know that such efforts are being made to rescue these amazing animals and give them a chance of a good life. Will be back. We found plenty of places to eat and plentiful toilets.

Came on a very quiet day. Was understaffed as there was a number to call to get in on the wall, and noone appeared for quite a while. But, once we were in it was great. Lots of monkeys, some chilled, some fighting and playing, posing, eating lettuce. All rescued from disaster. There are kids play parks every so often and saving the best until last, a truly magnificent one awaits at the very end. Whoever designed monkeyworld did a great job. Really great day out with 2 under 4s and the sparse guests I saw were all having a similarly happy day. There are some reviews saying its run down. This is really only the cafe and gift shop and I'd rather they were run down and the money go on the monkeys! It's all very servicable. Lots of nice things in the gift shop and cafe staffed by nice staff, i didn't eat, i wanted directions. I thought the fact these areas needed a lick of paint made it more charming. I hope this place doesn't change.

After watching the work that Monkey World do via the TV programme, we just had to come & visit the rescue center. I have to say that we were not disappointed. Plenty of car parking, easy access after our online booking, polite staff, especially the two members of the education team who we spoke with at the entrance to the center. We found the whole experience to be very informative regarding all the rescued primates and the center had a very calming and relaxing atmosphere. We would highly recommend a visit to this wonderful place, but please remember its a rescue center and not a zoo. Alison and her team do an amazing job and long may it continue.

Very enjoyable day. We booked online so good value. We saw almost all the primates except the loru.

I recently visited monkey world for the second time this year with my wife and daughter who is my career the first time lovely visit pleasant staff the second visit recently a week ago very rude lady on the gate would not take my national disability card as proof of being disabled we had to go back to car and get disability card for parking as proof I told the lady kindly that they just don’t hand out the national disability card you have to send proof ie pip forms etc I I was not the only one in line to dispute disability the lady was very rude to everyone I think monkey world should put it on there website that they expect the national disability card otherwise our day was very nice I respect what they are trying to do but the lady who was at the ticket office that day should be shown or given more training on how to deal with people with disability many thanks

The whole site is geared for the older family, for small children I'd say 6 and under is totally pointless to visit. Why is it pointless because the enclosures are overgrown so all smaller children can't see unless you pick them up (when you have multiple kids it's just not possible), also the park layout has extremely steep paths and awkward terrain.
In the booking email you're encouraged to bring unsalted nuts etc to help support the venue which we were more than happy to do, just to find notices on each enclosure that feeding monkeys is strictly prohibited!?? All monkeys we saw were all scratching themselves lot too like many have posted.
Overall a lot of money to walk around a hilly run down looking site, little to nothing to do for younger children, the toilets are few and far between with no baby change facilities. The large playground is again for older children. Wish we never went which was a real shame as we'd always wanted to visit since watching the TV series many years ago.

First and last visit to Monkey World 4/8/24
Place looks very fun down, most primates scratching themselves a lot and displaying institutional behaviours.
Lots of empty enclosures and many severely overgrown so difficult to view really.
I totally get that this is a rescue Centre, but would presume like a lot of businesses nowadays that they are struggling financially which is a real shame.

We arrived at Monkey World on a Sunday Morning in our way down to Cornwall from Northampton, pretty much the instant we arrived a Ashley the security chap walked over and said “we are shut, you can’t park her”, despite the car park being empty. We explained that we had always had Monkey World on our visit list and would wait until it opened, Ashley replied no you cannot wait, you must leave and park elsewhere then come back in 2 hrs.In my opinion this is terrible customer service and has changed my view of visiting Monkey World, abysmal customer service.

I have never been here.
But I'm puzzled by all the bad reviews.
This place is obviously NOT a zoo.
So because all the efforts of the staff are focused on rescue, rehab and breeding programs of endangered primates....Not to mention the health of all the resident primates...why do visitors expect that this place should be geared to human entertainment? Be it food, toys or even seeing the primates if it's cold out?
Monkey World is not about entertaining humans..it's about rescuing primates FROM human abuse and exploitation.
So if you want the zoo type experience this is not the place to go....I don't mean to insult anyone.
This place needs financial support...so DO go there to support the staff and what they do.
Just understand it is animal centered..not human centered.....it's not a zoo.
Also it seems to run on a shoestring staff and budget...so accept that also.

I'm surprised at some of your comments surley the monkeys are better in natural surroundings rather than manicured cages also they could breed with every breed of primate but it's a rescue centre

Unfortunately the maintenance and upkeep or money has dramatically decreased. Overgrown is a understatement. Most enclosures are hard to see inside especially for kids. All the glass panels covered in algae. Every single monkey i saw was scratching to death. I don't know how the enclosures are getting clean with the extreme over grown brambles ect. Its sad used to be a wonderful place. I wont be going back. 50% of enclosures were "empty for maintenance" or just had nothing in them.

I visited on Sunday 05.05.2024 having been several times beforei have always been a big fan of monkey world a few years since my last visit I was disappointed by lack of monkeys at times only trees to look at I know the day was wet and dull but seemed abandoned I'd taken my nearly 2 year old grandson not enough to stimulate him.

Amazing, fantastic place! Well worth paying the extra for the guided tour, John gave us the guided tour and was so knowledgeable and passionate that he was a brilliant tour guide so thank you so much to him! Cannot recommend enough!