CENTRE STAGE Animal a sound reaction magic
If the little monkeys are driving you crazy at home, there are loads of great animal attractions to help keep them under control within an hour’s drive of Swansea. From bearded dragons to little egrets, spider monkeys to lions, here’s our pick of some of
Don’t forget the ducks at Llanelli Wetland Centre Where: Parc Tawe Retail Park, Swansea SA1 2AL When: Open Monday to Sunday, 10am - 5pm Along with some visiting animals which include meerkats and exotic creepy crawlies, Plantasia is the home of Rainbow the green winged macaw, cotton-top tamarin monkeys, chameleons, bearded dragons, a Burmese python, parakeets, lorikeets and lories, fish in the aquarium and a whole load of insects and spiders.
LLANELLI WETLAND CENTRE
Where: Llwynhendy, Llanelli SA14 9SH When: Open daily, 9am - 5pm A haven for wildlife, the 450-acre nature reserve at WWT Llanelli boasts all manner of seasonal and permanent visitors, listing their ‘mustsee’ wildlife attractions as: bittern, black-tailed godwit, black poplar, dragonflies, little egrets, little ringed plover, hawks and owls, warblers, water spiders, water voles, wild orchids and winter wildfowl.
WALES APE AND MONKEY SANCTUARY
Where: Caehopkin Road, Abercrave, Swansea Valley SA9 1UD When: Open daily from 10.30am The hard-working gang at the sanctuary look after all kinds of apes and monekys in need, from chimpanzees to baboons to spider monkeys to capuchins. Not only will you be supporting their great work by popping along, you’ll also have a great family day out – just don’t get too close to the gorilla! Where: Parkmill, Gower SA3 2EH When: 10am-5.30pm Monday to Sunday Pop along to Gower Heritage Centre’s Animal Farm, where many of the animals, including chickens, ducks, sheep and goats, and free range and are free to explore the farm with you.
But keep an eye on the chickens, who have a tendency to follow people in the
hope of being fed!
MARGAM PARK
Where: Margam, Port Talbot SA13 2TJ When: Open all year round 10am4.30pm, but with shorter seasonal opening times – please check before travelling.
The Farm Trail at Margam Park is the perfect place to make some new animal friends, including goats, Shetland ponies and Glamorgan cattle. In the Children’s Farmyard Corner you’ll find rabbits, chickens, turkeys and ducks. Where: Begelly, Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire SA68 0XA When: Seasonal opening times please check before visiting Where do you start with a park the size of Folly Farm?
Between the Jolly Farm and Barn, Folly Zoo and Vintage Funfair there’s everything from sheep, pigs, donkeys and horses to lions, penguins, giraffes and rhinos.