The Monkey Haven, Primate Rescue Centre
Newport, Isle of Wight
When I hear the word 'haven,' I think of somewhere homely; a safe place; an area that is well cared-for and relaxed. After our visit, I would say that this is a very apt description for The Monkey Haven, Isle of Wight.
On arrival, one of the most striking things about the attraction - before we'd even seen any animals- was how spotless and well-kept the Haven was!
In my experience, places that involve both children and animals can have a tendency to look a tad chaotic (trust me- our living room is prime example!) However, the Monkey Haven is remarkably pristine throughout! The garden areas are beautifully kept: this is clearly a place where lots of care and attention to detail is made.
This attention and care remained evident as we ventured towards the monkeys. The monkeys had large living spaces, with swings, tunnels and ropes galore! There were plenty of different types of monkey to see and lots of information to accompany each species. There were talks, too, where the keeper told stories and quirks of the animals as individuals, as well as generally. We had two toddlers and a baby in tow, so they found the most fun was in observing and watching these fascinating creatures. The monkeys seemed ever so friendly, too- lots of them were curious enough to come up close and peer back at us, which Tot loved!
Although the Monkey Haven is not huge in size (it took us about an hour to see all of the animals,) we were surprised by how many other animals there were to see and additional activities to do. There's a section dedicated to some stunning owls; a reptile house; lemurs; a laughing kookaburra; and meerkats (or "KNEECAPS," as my niece took to calling them!) I have to say, the laughing kookaburra was a favourite of ours- 'he' really had us giggling!
If our children were older, we could have spent more time using the guide book provided and playing around with the Monkey Haven's own app! Both were smartly designed resources with fun facts, activities, and photo filters! This is definitely something we can add-in to a return trip when our little ones are a bit more grown up! I'd recommend setting aside half a day, to enjoy the Centre fully.
For toddlers, there’s a play kitchen area, a slide climbing frame, and a clever sit-in (Little Tikes style) car area. Our little ones had loads of fun ‘driving’ the cars around the looped circuit! However, our Tot did take a particular liking (/obsession!!) to the slide (honestly- you can imagine the tantrum that ensued when we wanted to move on, bless her!)
She was thrilled when we reached the opposite side of the park and discovered the bigger children's play area! She was happy to stick to just the ‘big swings’ though, as the second play area was definitely for bigger climbers! And again, we were impressed that both play areas were so clean and tidy (seriously-what's the secret?!) We also thought the soft rubber-chip flooring (used in both parks) was an excellent idea: I wish every play area used this stuff! It’d save so many tears!
Additionally, there's a lovely café - Xhabu's Tea Room. Good selection of lunchtime bites and snacks. Yummy cake (I opted for an enticing and exciting piece of watermelon cake!) No problem finding highchairs. Very spacious outdoor seating with good indoor space. Lots of the seating is also right next door to the playground- handy!
Overall, we had a great time! The Monkey Haven is a fab place for a fun and relaxing afternoon out! We'd certainly recommend it to others: great for all ages, and I'd say it's an asset to the Island! A haven for sure.
Check out Monkey Haven's site by clicking here.
