Description
Finding the best things to do with kids in Dorset brings families straight to Monkey World, an internationally acclaimed rescue centre and wildlife park located near Wareham. This expansive 65-acre sanctuary allows children and adults to observe over 250 rescued and endangered primates, including chimpanzees, orangutans, and gibbons, living in natural social groups.
Standard online admission prices start from £12.00 for children aged 3 to 15 and seniors, while adult tickets are priced from £18.00. Family tickets are available online from £50.75, and children under the age of 3 enter completely free of charge. Visitors can book tickets online in advance to secure discounted entry rates for their day out.
If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines wildlife conservation with an engaging outdoor experience, this Dorset attraction offers a brilliant day out. Its daily keeper talks, massive adventure playground, and scenic woodland pathways make it a top choice for families.
Beyond the Main Attraction:
- The Tank Museum (Bovington): World-famous military museum housing an extensive collection of historic armoured vehicles located just minutes away.
- Corfe Castle: Historic medieval castle ruins standing majestically above a picturesque Purbeck village.
- Lulworth Cove and Jurassic Coast: Stunning geological rock formations and scenic coastal walking trails situated a short drive south.
What Visitors Love:
- Parents frequently praise the ethical mission of the park, noting that it feels rewarding to support a genuine rescue sanctuary rather than a standard commercial zoo.
- Children love watching the chimpanzees and orangutans interact closely with one another on the large climbing frames.
- The massive adventure playground receives glowing reviews for giving kids a chance to play safely in a woodland setting.
- Staff members are widely commended for being exceptionally friendly, approachable, and eager to answer children's questions during keeper talks.
What Visitors Don't Like:
- Because the park covers a sprawling 65-acre woodland area, walking the entire perimeter can feel tiring for families with very young toddlers.
- Catering queues can become quite long during peak summer holiday lunch hours.
- Online booking tickets are non-refundable, which can catch out families if plans change unexpectedly.
Attractions and Experiences:
- Chimpanzee Enclosures: Multiple large-scale compounds housing rescued chimps from laboratories and entertainment.
- Orangutan Palm Forest Pavilion: Specialized indoor climbing structures designed to mimic natural rainforest conditions.
- Lemur Walk-Through Enclosure: Open outdoor habitat where ring-tailed lemurs roam close to visitor pathways.
- Macaque and Langur Habitats: Diverse rocky outcrops and enrichment areas housing stump-tailed macaques and langurs.
- Daily Primate Keeper Q&As: Half-hourly scheduled educational talks held across various enclosures.
- The Great Ape Play Area: Large adventure playground featuring slides, climbing frames, and toddler swings.
- Sensory Statue Trail: Tactile bronze primate sculptures allowing touch-based exploration for kids and visually impaired visitors.
- Self-Guided Audio Tours: Available device rentals providing detailed commentary on the park's rescue missions.
- Visitor Education Centre: Interactive indoor displays exploring global animal welfare and conservation history.
- Souvenir Gift Shop: On-site retail shop offering ethical toys, books, and adoption packs.
New for 2026:
- Upgraded Visitor Walkways: Newly resurfaced tarmac paths ensuring smoother pushchair and wheelchair navigation across the park.
- Expanded Educational Signage: Updated multimedia information panels highlighting recent international rescue operations.
- Enhanced Primate Enrichment Zones: Newly installed climbing apparatus and natural foliage structures within the great ape enclosures.
21.62 miles
