Family day out: the Monkey Haven, Isle of Wight
Minnie isn’t short of animals that she loves, but when monkeys and owls feature strongly in the top five (along with bears, cats and parrots), a visit to the Isle of Wight Monkey Haven was a given during our trip to the Isle of Wight.
review visit*
Although a few of the island’s attractions are closed during the winter months, this is open daily (apart from in dreadful weather) so we managed to sneak in during our February visit before it closed again until Easter.
And even in the kind of chilly rainy weather which makes you wish you were covered head to toe in fur like its inhabitants, the Isle of Wight Monkey Haven was a lovely place to explore.
A rescue centre, all the animals have found sanctuary here – whether they were bullied in their original groups, or injured and unable to live in the wild, this new home really is a haven.
For kids, it’s just a fantastic chance to wander round and see endless monkeys and gibbons, around a dozen different types in total, as well as the birds of prey, including some very beautiful eagle owls.
And if Minnie was fascinated by the extremely cute cotton-top tamarins, they were equally curious about her, clustering by the glass to gaze back at her.
Her blue and white stripy gloves got about half the attention – I can only guess whether they liked the colours or thought it was some kind of exotic caterpillar.
The rhesus macaques, meanwhile, should have counted themselves lucky to have a barrier between themselves and my toddler. Spotting their array of toys, she was determined that she should also be allowed to play with them all.
Although like any toddler, the monkey we watched was far more interested in the cardboard box and what he might be able to do with that.
There are events which run throughout the day, including feeding and talks, plus a chance to meet the animals. Some depend on the weather, and we had somehow managed to time it so we missed every single one – but even so, there was plenty to do.
Another big hit with Minnie was the chance to collect stamps as we wandered round, with a sheet of paper listing some of the animals and ink stamps tucked away in little storage boxes by the different enclosures.
And while it was too drizzly to make the most of the play areas (one for under fives, the other for older kids) or the cafe’s outdoor tables, we did gladly make a pitstop in the Wise Owl Lodge.
As I eyed up the rescued reptiles, including a boa constrictor and a waxy monkey frog (which genuinely looked like it was made of wax), she headed straight to the colouring while another girl played with the room’s interactive map.
Then there was just chance for Minnie to stop by the acrobatic lar gibbons again, and tell them sternly to ‘be quiet’ as they whooped their way enthusiastically from rung to rung.
They paid about as much attention to her as she does to me…
For more ideas of things to do on the Isle of Wight with kids, check out my top picks
Need to know: Isle of Wight Monkey Haven
Tickets to the Monkey Haven cost from £15.95 for adults, £13.95 for children aged four to 14, three-year-olds and under are free. There are also family tickets from £56.
Check the website for occasional discounts as well. Every full paying visitor can return for free within seven days as well (with proof of ID), so it’s worth a repeat visit if you have time. The Monkey Haven is closed for most of November, December, January and the first half of February – opening hours vary throughout the year.
There’s free parking at the Isle of Wight Monkey Haven as well as play areas and a cafe. It’s not far from Newport and on the way back from the south of the island to Fishbourne and Ryde if you’re heading to the Isle of Wight ferry back to Portsmouth and Southampton.
For more family days out on the Isle of Wight with kids, we’ve visited Carisbrooke Castle, the Needles, searched for dinosaurs and hunted bears as well as visiting Amazon World Zoo Park during our repeated trips to the island
PIN FOR LATER: MONKEY HAVEN, ISLE OF WIGHT
Disclosure: My trip to the Isle of Wight was courtesy of Wightlink Ferries. Entry was courtesy of Isle of Wight Tourism and the Monkey Haven. All opinions and stern toddlers remain my own.
Images and video: copyright MummyTravels
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