Advantages: Fun for all the family, lots of monkey business
Disadvantages: Was confusing for us to systematically work our way round

...Why nobody has written an opinion on this great place is beyond me! I've been to Monkey World about 5 times so far - though that's probably because I only live about 20 miles away from it. For those who haven't heard of Monkey World, it is a monkey sanctuary in Wareham, near Wool in Dorset. A the time of writing this, there are well over a hundred monkeys that have been given a home at Monkey World. Most of the monkeys come from abused backgrounds, e.g. Spanish beach 'entertainers', or from other parts of the world as part of the fight against illegal smuggling. The Centre = Monkey World is set in over 40 acres of Dorset woodland. The centre has grown hugely since I first went there about 10 years ago. It's been turned into a great attraction for both children and adults alike. The centre is home to 45 chimpanzees... Read review

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Advantages: Monkeys are fun and interesting to watch, the monkeys have been rescued, admission charges are reasonable.
Disadvantages: None.

...***WHERE IS IT?*** Longthorns, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 6HH. ***OPENING TIMES*** 10am - 5pm (6pm July and August). ***PRICES*** Please consult http://www.monkeyworld.co.uk **WHAT IS MONKEY WORLD?*** For anyone who watched the series 'Monkey Business' which was on TV, you will know about Monkey World and the personalities of those who live there! For those of you who have never seen the series, Monkey World is home to over 150 primates. You will be able to read about the rescue stories of these primates as you see them. One story for instance is that of the Spanish Beach Chimps who were dressed in human clothes and worked for the tourist industry. What Monkey World has done in terms of rescue is wonderful. The enclosures are generally spacious and the primates are fascinating to watch (especially the Chimps... Read review

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Advantages: Monkeys, the work the sanctuary does.
Disadvantages: Possible not enough there for a full day out, the ice cream scam.

...Monkey world is a monkey and ape rescue centre in Dorset. Many of the Monkeys there have been rescued from foreign countries where they suffered horrific abuse, so the sanctuary really should be praised for the work it does. As the monkeys all seem healthy and they have large enclosures filled with toys to keep then occupied. I visited yesterday, I live in South Wales, so it is a three hour drive, so I had high hopes. The park is large and easy to get around but apart from children's playgrounds, the gift shop and café, and of course the monkey's there is little else to do, and therefore I don't think it would entertain for a whole day. The Monkeys themselves were very cute, but weren't doing a lot, which is their choice of course, but it did mean after a while it was a little like once you've seen one monkey you have seen them all... Read review

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Advantages: The primates have been rescued and have plenty of space
Disadvantages: None that I can think of

...For Christmas last year my Dad handed us all an envelope as a present whilst having a huge grin on his face. I just thought it was money and was pleased with that. I opened it up and there was a card with an orangutan on it. Not very imaginative I thought but never mind. I then opened it and it was an invite to Monkey World for my Dads 60th and he'd also rented a cottage in Dorset for the week to celebrate the occasion (getting a free bus pass hehe). So ever since then I had been looking forward to going. So in September we all went to Dorset and it was Monkey World which I was most looking forward to. For those who have seen the TV programme 'Monkey Business' then you'll have seen a little about the Centre and what they actually do. I had seen a couple of them before going and thought they were really cute. I hadn't seen enough... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Great day out
Disadvantages: None

...Monkey World is situated near Wareham in Dorset and may be familiar to TV viewers in the South Region who have seen “Monkey Business”, a programme based around the ape rescue centre. It was set up some years ago by Jim and Alison Cronin, an American couple, who felt passionately about the plight of numerous monkeys and apes across the world who had been mistreated or abandoned, and has grown from strength to strength, thanks in no small way to numerous sponsorships from local companies. Jim and Alison are on a continuous crusade to liberate apes and monkeys from suffering in captivity in various countries across the world, sometimes having to get involved at the highest level with foreign embassies and governments. They certainly believe in their cause and are to be admired for their sincerity and belief. I’ve visited Monkey... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: A wonderful day out for the family whilst helping monkeys in peril
Disadvantages: You'll want to go again and again - it's addictive

...Monkey World is an awesome place. It's a three and a half hour drive away from me and yet I have visited nearly a dozen times in the last 18 months (I am in Leicester and Monkey World is in Dorset). There are many characters that you can get to know by watching Animal Planet's "Monkey Business" and when you actually get to the real place you can hear people talking about each of the monkeys as if they knew them - I know I do the same - "I wonder if Gordon or Tuan is out today", "I have to make sure I see Sally this time" or "I wonder how Charlie is getting on". The monkeys come into our lives and, once we get to know the stories behind the trauma of some of the apes, they come into our hearts and we can visit them like we are visiting old friends. The entrance fee is on a par (if not better) than many animal attractions however... Read review

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Advantages: Great value for money
Disadvantages: Quite busy

...I recently visited Monkey World, Dorset. I have seen the programme Monkey Business lots of times and really wanted to visit and see the likes of Charlie and Rodney the chimps. I wasn't disappointed. The cost was £8.00 per adults and £6.00 for children/oap's. There are various enclosures with various monkey's although there are more chimpanzees than any other monkey's. There is the Chimpanzee nursery with all of the young chimps that is very lively and noisy and also the batchelor pad with the older male monkeys and the rest of the chimp enclosure having a mixture of chimps. They are all very well cared for and in very natural environments and were even enjoying ice lollies on the day I visited. There is a large orang-utan enclosure and we also got to see a baby orang-utan being cared for by the staff... Read review

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Advantages: Monkey have great enclosures, all very clean
Disadvantages: Bit pricey, poor map

...Just been to Monkey World on a bright cold but sunny January day, with my 1 year old and two-and-a-half year old. First contact was the website - to get directions - and it is pretty dated and not hugely useful. directions by are are basically absent and when you click on a link for the park itself you just get a scanned in park map. Still we looked it up on a map and got there - it is near Wareham in Dorset. It wasn't crowded, being January, but it was busy. There is plenty of grass parking - hmm, wonder how boggy that gets in the rain.... Turnstiles to get in - quick and easy when we went, but a bit pricey, though it is a rescue centre not a zoo so your money is going to support their work, I guess. It cost £11 per adult. Under threes are free, but over 3s are £7.25, with a family ticket available at £31... Read review

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Advantages: Fantastic, fact filled documentary, highlighting the plight of endangered primates
Disadvantages: So much more needs to be done

...Monkey Business is shown on Animal Planet at varying times throughout the day in half hour documentaries, many are shown back to back. The programmes are narrated by Chris Serle and follow the day to day events at Monkey World primate sanctuary in Dorset, which was set up by Jim and Alison Cronin in 1987. Monkey World is based over 65 acres of land and holds 150 primates from 15 different species Primate specialists, Jim and Alison have rescued many animals from horrific backgrounds of exploitation, neglect and abuse and bought them back to Monkey World to live out their days in a safe, secure environment. Their aim is to give the monkeys back their dignity and restore mental and physical health in an environment which is as close to their natural habitat as possible. Illegal smuggling and poaching of Wildlife is an extremely... Read review

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Advantages: Fun, easy to play
Disadvantages: None

...and then your off into the world of Monkey Ball. There are different themed worlds with 10 levels to complete in each. You use the arrow keypad to direct your Monkey through each level which get progressively harder. The idea is to get as many bananas as you can as for every 10 bananas you get you gain a life. There are also bonus stages to complete along the way. Completing the 10 levels in each world opens up new worlds with new themes and more levels to complete. Aswell as the main game there are 6 party games to play for fun. Again you can play these alone or as a group with others with a DS console. Monkey Race sees your selected monkey racing round a track against others monkeys in a ball. Going through different icons can give you extra bonuses to help you win such as being able to increase your speed, dropping bombs on your opponents... Read review

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