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Quote: Originally posted by johne on 01/09/2005

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I agree with scrufts about the cost of visiting monkey world (unless I missed it they didn't even put the entrance costs in their publicity leaflet), definitely take your own picnic and go right to the far end of the place where the large adventure playground is with loads of picnic tables to eat it.

In my humble opinion Monkey World suffers from a bit of an identity (or maybe expectation) crisis. They appear to do very good work in rescuing apes from neglect or abuse and have very large pens for them, but I think people expected to be able to see more of the monkeys more of the time, i.e. a more 'traditional' zoo environment, it seems to me that providing the inmates with a safe, unstressed environment is not compatible with showing them off to the public. It may sound a bit daft but I would happily give Monkey World a donation to help them look after their animals, but wouldn't rush back therre to view them.

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           There is a camp site at a place called Wool right nearby.

           With reference to the above, do you know you can sponsor the apes, this is a good way to give an xmas present to someone you are stuck on ideas for, you can choose the ape and get updates on it. Herehttp://www.monkeyworld.co.uk/main.php 

Wareham touring park, just round the corner pretty much, and has the added advantage that you can wander over to the Parkdean site, and watch cocky 15 year olds in hoodies falling on their backsides learning to snowboard.

try to avoid the pitches to the right hand side of the entrance as the ones nearest the road can be a bit noisy early in the morning, with lorries etc.

other than that pretty good, nice and clean, take heavy duty pegs though, ground is very stony

We went to Monkey World May BH - but it was cold and windy and the monkeys didn't seem to like the weather. They all stayed inside their shelters which meant lots of people crowding round trying to see very little. My 9 year old struggled to see much. In fact some of the monkeys were sleeping on top of the heaters! 

We stayed at Ridge Farm nr Wareham - a small peaceful site, no playground though, but is very friendly and has an excellent shop selling fresh croissants in the mornings. Dogs allowed too I believe.

Just a heads up .... Monkey World is not at all dog friendly.  By that I mean of course they are not allowed in the reserve itself, but that they make NO provision for visitors dogs, the car park has no shade, and I'm lead to believe their brouchure advises visitors not to bring their dogs with them.

We went to portland may bank holiday week and stayed in a cottage so can't help with the campsite.  While we were there we went to monkey world as well.  We left after only seeing half of it because it was packed, people were rude and inconsiderate of letting the kids get to the front to see and they hogged the windows for absolutely ages.  We ended coming home early from that holiday.  Anyway I hope that because you are planning to go in October you won't have the same problems as we did