Monkey World; Ape Rescue Center - Dorset
Two amazing days were had at the incredible Monkey World! We handed out the adoption certificates and introduced everyone to their chosen primate as we made our way to the 65 acre park, home to the stars of TV’s ‘Monkey Life’ and ‘Monkey Business’! You could feel the excitement in the air as we wandered around the grounds, impressed at the thought of meeting over 250 monkeys!
During the course of our visits we were fortunate enough to see several Chimpanzees, three Orangutans & an enclosure full of Gibbons! We even managed a picnic lunch in the sun before exploring the homes of the Macaques, Woolly Monkeys, Marmosets, Tamarins and Lemur.
We watched and laughed as the mischievous Chimpanzees chased each other around their enclosure whilst playfully wrestling and rolling on the ground. During our visit, we attended a keepers talk and learnt about the amazing work being done at the centre. We even got to see the nursey Orangutans; Bula Mata, Rieke, Mimi-Loren & Oshine & could see just how well the animals are looked after!
An obligatory stop in the gift shop was a must to remind us of our time here.
Everyone was very excited to be taking the steam train from Swanage to Corfe Castle. We waved as the train pulled into the station & excitedly stepped aboard Pullman Car No. 14 – the luxury observation car from the famous ‘Devon Belle’ train.
As we embarked on the scenic trip through the picturesque countryside it was an honour to be spending such a wonderful moment together.Once in Corfe, we enjoyed a leisurely walk exploring the pretty village before tucking into homemade sandwiches and cakes in a quaint little tearoom overlooking the iconic castle.
We them made our way to the Railway Museum where we learnt about the important role the railways played in the first & second world wars. Once back in Swanage, we wandered down to the seafront to enjoy an ice-cream on the beautiful sandy beach with fabulous views of the dazzling chalk cliffs.
How amazing is Sand world! As we wandered around, we were blown away at the incredible showcase of work on offer by some of the world’s leading sand artists. The sheer size and scale of each piece was extremely impressive! Many of the sculptures were based on films or TV shows including Avatar, Dr Who, Dumbo, Star Wars & The Little Mermaid. They were so beautifully detailed that it is hard to believe that they were just made from sand and water!
We jumped aboard the ‘Jolly’ bus & made our way to Poole, Europe’s largest natural harbour. Once there, it was decided that we would get the passenger ferry to Brownsea Island which is owned by the National Trust and generally recognised as the birthplace of Scouting.
The journey took 20 minutes, and we were fortunate to get top deck seats with spectacular views of the Jurassic Coastline. As we stepped off the boat, we were all in awe at the beauty and tranquillity of the island! With it’s interesting mix of woodland, heathland and a lagoon, it’s the ideal habitat for wildlife such as the Red Squirrel, Sika Deer and a wide variety of birds. We started with a gentle stroll through the nature reserve before exploring the island’s church and the visitor’s centre. We enjoyed interactive displays and listened to stories about the wildlife found here.
Once back on dry land, we took a short drive to Lulworth Cove for the last of the evening sun. Spirits were high as we sat on the beach, enjoying yet another ice-cream surrounded by more breath-taking views!
A great day was had at the Sea Life Centre where we watched the fun & friendly seals Web, Luna, Sija and Tyne perform for the crowds! It was then off to Penguin Beach to meet the Humboldt & Fairy Penguins who were eagerly awaiting their lunch. We learnt that Fairy Penguins (also known as Little Blue Penguins) are the world’s smallest penguin measuring just over 25cm tall and weighing around 1 kg. They’re also the only colony of Fairy Penguins in the whole of Europe! After a spot of lunch, we further explored the aquarium & a few brave souls even stroked a Star Fish at the Rockpool! Before leaving, we finished our adventure in the Ocean Tunnel surrounded by Blacktip Reef Sharks, Green Sea Turtles, and a beautiful array of tropical fish.
The Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre was a great find with its interactive displays and information on the wildlife living in the sea. Did you know that a Fin Whale weighs more than 12 elephants & is as long as 5 family-sized cars!
It was game on as we hit the bowling alley for a few friendly but competitive games of bowling! There were a few strikes and some high scores.
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