Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre
Overview
Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre in Dorset is home to over 260 primates, including over 50 chimpanzees, and Europe's official crèche for orphaned orangutan infants. Many of the park's residents have been neglected, kept in unnatural conditions, or experienced unbelievable cruelty. At Monkey World, they can all enjoy the company of their own kind in a safe and natural environment. Combining fun with conservation, self-guided audio tours explain all about man's closest living relative, whilst half-hourly keeper Q&As allow visitors to hear about the primates from the people who know them best! Visitors can see the stars of TV's 'Monkey Life', then 'monkey around' in the south's largest Great Ape Play Area with its huge variety of swings, slides, and climbing frames.
Contact details
Tout Hill Longthorns Wareham Dorset South West BH20 6HH United Kingdom
https://monkeyworld.org/visit-the-centre/disabled-facilities/
Access Card notes
The team at Monkey World are dedicated to making sure that every one of our guests has a memorable experience with us and have an enjoyable time. the park is accessible to wheelchairs & mobility scooters, with lowered windows & ramps to view the primates. There are a number of benches located at intervals along the path so there is no rush when enjoying Monkey World, you are welcome to go at your own pace around all our exhibits. Access to the entrance is level and the large car park features designated disabled parking bays for Blue Badge holders which is located to the right of the entrance gate, and a drop off zone in front of the entrance. Parking is free for all our guests. To make sure everyone enjoys their day at Monkey World, a range of sensory statues of our primates can be found around the park to provide a more immersive experience when at the various exhibitions. As well as Q&A sessions with the keepers, printed talks are also available, and the talks are also available digitally with subtitles via download on a smart device. An audio tour is also available & free for those who are visually impaired. There are cafés & kiosks serving a selection of hot and cold food and drink, or you can bring along a picnic to enjoy in the beautiful woodland setting, with wheelchair friendly picnic benches. There are two blocks of disabled access toilets, eateries have public accessible toilets and the First Aid Hut is also suitable for adults who need additional changing areas. All of our eateries are able to cater for visitors with special dietary requirements, in addition to the children's menu, there are also gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, nut free, vegan and vegetarian options. Once you've seen the stars of TV's Monkey Life and explored the various exhibits teaching you about a range of primates, your own little monkeys can let off some steam in the Great Ape Play Area, the south's largest adventure playground. The play area has a number of wheelchair swings installed to ensure that everyone is able to enjoy their day at the park.
This provider accepts the Access Card as supporting documentation for accessible facilities and tickets. The information in this listing is submitted by the provider.
Access guidance
- The areas where queues may form have level standing, and close by access to benches. Anyone requiring the assistance of an essential carer is permitted one free of charge when paying for a full price ticket.
- The park is accessible for wheelchairs, and the majority of it is tarmacced, although some areas do have steep slopes due to it's location in the Dorset woodland. Benches are prvided to rest on. The only areas not accesible for wheelchairs/ mobility scooters is the Woodland Walk. There is some areas only accessible over grass or gravel. All viewing windows to the primates are low enough for wheelchair users, aside from those with open air access, where it would not be safe to have a lowered viewing area.
- The park is 65 acres and so benches are provided at regular intervals to rest. The park also has handrails around the majority of the walkways.
- The park has three toilet blocks, including two disabled access blocks. The First Aid Hut is also available for an emergency and adult changing. Please note; we do not have a hoist.
- Registered Assistance dogs are accepted at the park by prior notification only, as they can upset our rescued primates. Essential carers are permitted for free.
- Visitors requiring the support of an essential carer are offered free admission for one accompanying carer when they pay the full price.
- Talks are available in video format, and half-hourly Q&As are held by the keepers every day. The self-guided audio tour is also available free for the visually impaired. Sensory statues are available of an orangutan's head, a chimp's head and a marmoset's body, so the visually impaired can feel the shape of the animals at the park.
- The talks are availble in printed format, and in video with subtitles. The audio tour has a printed companion, and all primate enclosures have written signs.