Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre Dorset

What makes us a great choice for education?

Monkey World, the internationally-acclaimed rescue centre, opened in 1987 to provide a home for nine abused Spanish beach chimpanzees. Now, it is home to over 250 primates of more than 20 different species, including Europe’s only orang-utan nursery!. Many 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, and some are even part of international breeding programmes for endangered species. 

Combining fun with conservation, half-hourly keeper talks at the park explain all about man’s closest living relative.  Visitors can see the stars of TV’s ‘Monkey Life’, then ‘monkey around’ in the south’s largest Great Ape play area. There are several food outlets available at the park, or visitors are welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy lunch in the beautiful surroundings.

What is typically included on our school trips?

There’s more to learning outside the classroom than just monkey-ing around! At Monkey World, our dedicated education team can lead your class in a curriculum-focused workshop, or talk. We are proud to offer sessions suitable for all ages, whether you would like to learn more about Monkey World’s history or to discover how woolly monkeys use their tails! 

Group Sizes Catered For

We cater for groups from 10-75 in one sitting.

Materials, Resources & Information Provided

Teachers can visit the website to see sample talks and subject topics. Teacher packs and student workbooks are also available. These are linked to key stages and the curriculum.

Photography, Filming & Audio Restrictions

Children are welcome to take photos for their own personal use.  Monkey World retains copyright of the images of all primates at Monkey World. Many primates have been subjected to horrific abuse and exploitation at the hands of photographers, and Monkey World will not allow their images to be used for any commercial purpose without express written permission from Monkey World, and without being credited to Monkey World at all times.

Risk Assessment Details

We strongly recommended that group organisers make a pre-visit to Monkey World and carry out their own risk assessment. We allow one free entry per class/group which is available on request when booking your visit. In the event that a pre-visit is impossible, the document on our website provides a general outline of the risks and controls identified

Education Officer Information

Our education officer is Tara Shaw. Contact her by phone on 01929 401022 or email education@monkeyworld.org.

Pricing Information

Children (3-16)                       £7.00
1 teacher to 6 children            Free
Additional Teachers               £8.50
Talks for up to 35 students     £30
Talks for up to 75 students     £45

Clothing Requirements

Monkey World is mainly an outdoor attraction, and so children must dress for the weather. Sensible comfortable shoes are a must, with warm waterproof clothing or sun hats and sun-cream depending on the weather!

First Aid Information

Monkey World has first aid facilities and an emergency first aider on site, but we strongly recommend that members of your party are also first aid trained.

Available Facilities

Monkey World has ample picnic areas for visitors to enjoy their packed lunch, or alternatively, they can enjoy hot or cold food and drinks from our on-site cafes. Vegan and gluten free options are available; please contact the site before hand for any queries or sample menus.

Enjoy a memento of your day at Monkey World by buying a souvenir from the gift shop. Lots of items feature the fantastic primates from the park, so children will want to bring their pocket money. With gifts from as little as a pound, there is something to suit everyone.

A soft play area is available for the little monkeys, while the older children can enjoy the 3 play areas, including the South’s largest adventure playground, the Great Ape Play Area, with a massive array of slides, climbing frames and play equipment.

Accessibility & Disabled Facilities

Accessibility for all is key to Monkey World, and the park is wheelchair friendly, with the exception of the woodland walk (which does not hold primate enclosures). Motorised scooters are available for adults with lower mobility, as well as wheelchairs and a dual control wheelchair for children. Sensory statues of the primates for visually impaired or autistic visitors are planted around the park. Wheelchair swings and birds-nest swings provide great fun for all. Changing facilities can be provided. If you have any other special requirements, please contact the park prior to your visit.

Opening Hours & Information

Monkey World is open every day, except Christmas Day, from 10am to 5pm, (10am to 6pm during July and August) with last entry an hour prior to closing.

Testimonials

"Annie from Monkey World visited on a Friday afternoon, Annie was full of enthusiasm and cheer from the moment she arrived. She was patient with our children even after lots of the same questions! The tone and content of her visit was perfect for our preschoolers aged 2 to 5. She had them all enthralled for over an hour and they loved the pictures of the monkeys. After asking the preschoolers what their favourite bit was they said "making monkey presents". Annie bought a thoughtful and engaging activity with her to complete her visit which appealed to all as they made toys for the monkeys. I would more than recommended a visit from Annie and Monkey World"

Natasha Jarvia
  Stepping Stones Preschool.

"We visit Monkey World in the autumn and are keen that our primary school pupils understand the ethos behind the place.  The Monkey World's liaison officer very kindly agreed to visit our school in Basingstoke prior to the trip this year to help with this aim.  The children were fascinated and shocked by the stories behind the primates' various life stories.  She had the ability to bring alive the work that Monkey World does in a way that was accessible to children and involved them emotionally in the success of this huge venture.  Our visit to Monkey World was further enhanced by Annie joining us and pointing out specific animals to the children about which they had learnt.  On a previous occasion, she visited our school after our annual trip to help us with a new curriculum topic of animal classification.  Her presentation to the children greatly assisted in developing their understanding of this complex subject.  
We are very impressed by Monkey World's vision in spreading the word of the work they do and building understanding about these fascinating animals."

 Claire Warwick
  Fairfields Primary School.
February 2015

"Many thanks for spending the time at the end of January to facilitate a visit from Duchy Foundation degree Animal Health students. The students very much enjoyed their time spent at Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre. It was most beneficial, the tour of the centre was excellent and all students agreed that the information that was disseminated during the guided tour was most in depth and all was amazed at Mike’s outstanding knowledge. Experiences gained from our visit has continued to be referred to within both our delivery and student application within lectures. Many thanks again hopefully we can maybe repeat this visit with another cohort in the future. Again thank you for the hospitality and the time you spent with the group on an extremely cold and windy day in Dorset."

Michelle Chappell
HE Animal Health & Management Programme Leader, Duchy College

Other Information

Outreach Visits

If you teach or run a youth group within a 100 mile radius of Monkey World, then book a session with our Education Team today! From Early Years to Higher Education, we can cater for all of your educational needs. Our 1 hour sessions link with the national curriculum and are a great way to enrich topics such as Teeth, Food Chains and the Rainforest. Please see website for available sessions. If you'd like to cover a different topic, please get in touch with our Education Team to discuss your requirements. The Education Team are always happy to discuss what you want from your session and can be flexible on timings. To book your talk or discuss your needs then get in touch today on 01929 401022 or email education@monkeyworld.org Please note: we do not bring any primates to our talks.