Monkey World is not a zoo; it is a globally recognized sanctuary.
Founded in 1987 by the late Jim Cronin, the park was set up to provide a safe, permanent home for abused primates from around the world. Today, under the guidance of Dr. Alison Cronin, visitors can walk through 65 acres of beautiful Dorset woodland, watching rescued chimpanzees, orangutans, and gibbons living in natural social groups. It is an inspiring, emotional, and highly uplifting day out.
Located near the military camp of Bovington, it is very easy to find and well-connected.
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By Car: Drive along the A352 towards Wool. The park is heavily signposted with brown tourist signs. There is a massive free car park right at the entrance.
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By Train: The closest station is Wool (on the London Waterloo to Weymouth line). From there, it is about a 1.5-mile walk or a very short taxi ride.
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By Bus: During the summer months, the Purbeck Breezer connects the local holiday parks and towns directly to the sanctuary gates.
While the park is open year-round, the primates have their own routines!
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Keeper Talks: Try to align your visit with the daily half-hourly keeper talks. The keepers know every single ape by name and share their incredible rescue stories.
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Weather: This is predominantly an outdoor attraction. While there are indoor viewing areas, visiting on a dry day allows you to see the apes fully utilizing their massive outdoor climbing frames.
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Mornings: Arriving right at opening time often gives you the best chance of seeing the primates at their most active as they head out for breakfast.
Monkey World is widely celebrated as one of the most accessible and inclusive attractions in the UK.
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The Terrain: The park is built on mostly flat ground with wide, smoothly paved, or compacted gravel paths suitable for all wheelchairs.
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Neurodiversity: The park provides specific sensory guides, quiet rooms, and fast-track entry options for visitors with autism or sensory processing needs.
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Mobility Hire: A large fleet of electric mobility scooters and manual wheelchairs are available to hire (advance booking is highly recommended).
The sanctuary is open every day of the year except Christmas Day.
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Standard Hours: Typically open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
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Summer Hours: During July and August, the park stays open slightly later, usually until 6:00 PM.
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Tickets: Booking online directly through the Monkey World website in advance is recommended during the busy school holidays to secure your entry.
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From Rescue to Rehabilitation
The story of Monkey World is what makes a visit here so special. Every primate you see has a unique, often heartbreaking background. Many of the chimpanzees were rescued from the illegal pet trade, used as photographer’s props on Spanish beaches, or saved from laboratory testing. When you read the plaques outside their massive enclosures, you learn exactly where they came from and how the dedicated team at Monkey World has slowly rehabilitated them back into natural, happy family groups.
Meet the Stars of ‘Monkey Life’
If you have ever watched the long-running television documentary Monkey Life, visiting the park feels like stepping onto a film set. The sanctuary is home to the largest group of chimpanzees outside of Africa. You will also meet the critically endangered Bornean and Sumatran orangutans, agile gibbons that swing spectacularly through the high canopy, and cheeky woolly monkeys. Because the enclosures are vast and designed for the apes’ comfort rather than purely for human viewing, finding and watching them interact is incredibly rewarding.
The Great Ape Play Area
If you are visiting with children, Monkey World holds a fantastic trump card. Located near the café is the Great Ape Play Area—the largest outdoor adventure playground in the South of England. It is a sprawling complex of massive climbing frames, slides, and obstacle courses designed to let kids burn off energy by climbing just like the monkeys they’ve been watching all day.
Supporting a Vital Cause
Monkey World does not receive any government funding; it relies entirely on visitor entry fees, gift shop purchases, and its famous Primate Adoption scheme. By choosing to spend your day here, buying lunch at the watering hole café, or adopting an ape in the gift shop, you are directly funding future rescue missions and the ongoing care of these incredible animals. It is a day out that genuinely makes a difference.
