Barbados Wildlife Reserve (Barbados)

The Barbados Wildlife Reserve is located in the parish of St Peter over the road from Farley Hill National Park. The entrance price for adults is (Barbados dollars) BDD$23 & BD$11.50 for children (3-12 years) (that’s about £6.50 and £3.20 respectively so it was extremely good value. There are a couple of washrooms at the main entrance as well as a small bar & restaurant serving snacks and guides on hand should you have any questions.

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...many of the animals in the reserve, although the animals are not tame. Besides the monkeys there a giant tortoises, turtles, deer, rabbits, peacocks, parrots, various other birds (including fowl, ducks, flamingos...), reptiles (snakes, iguanas, small alligators) as well as otters racoons & agouti. You may find the animals all over the reserve during your visit and you are encouraged as you walk along, to "take your time... look up... look down... ... more

The Barbados Wildlife Reserve is located in the parish of St Peter over the road from Farley Hill National Park. The entrance price for adults is (Barbados dollars) BDD$23 & BD$11.50 for children (3-12 years) (that’s about £6.50 and £3.20 respectively so it was extremely good value. There are a couple of washrooms at the main entrance as well as a small bar & restaurant serving snacks and guides on hand should you have any questions.

It’s a natural mahogany wood where vistors can walk amongst many of the animals in the reserve, although the animals are not tame. Besides the monkeys there a giant tortoises, turtles, deer, rabbits, peacocks, parrots, various other birds (including fowl, ducks, flamingos...), reptiles (snakes, iguanas, small alligators) as well as otters racoons & agouti. You may find the animals all over the reserve during your visit and you are encouraged as you walk along, to "take your time... look up... look down... look carefully amongst the bushes and the trees in the mahogany woods"

The reserve offers a sanctuary for the green monkeys which inhabit the island, the monkeys used be treated as pest by Bajan farmers and they were often killed, now the reserve offers farmers a reward for live monkeys. The monkeys are probably the main attraction at the reserve but they are free to leave and re-enter the reserve at their will (which they do!). They tend to re-appear early afternoon for the 3pm feeding so aim to be in the reserve around that time. The Tortoises are huge and wander around the pathways as they please, so you often have to step over them!!

Seeing loads of different species of animals crowded around a big feeding station or pond is the most amazing thing! Make sure you take a camera as the photo opportunities are fantastic. I'm sure I saw a sign which said no video recorders, although there were certainly people there with hand held digicams wandering around.

Please note that the monkeys are harvested to provide approximately 70% of the world polio vaccinations. I believe the centre does get the occasional demonstration outside it doors but there wasn't one when we were there in January 2004.

Definitely worth a trip if you are in Barbados, one of the highlights of my trip and I would definitely visit again should I ever return to Barbados. Kids and adults alike will love it!

 

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