I've heard horror stories on monkeys destroying cars. Is this actually true?

[Guest]

Longleat help please.. I've heard horror stories on monkeys destroying cars. Is this actually true? Do people just hire cars to avoid? Or just take your own car and its only minimal damage caused?

Would love some real people advice.

[Lucy]

We always bypass the monkey enclosure. It was the lions being naughty last week - kids had quite the birds & bees experience!

[Kirsteen]

I'm confused why you'd think hiring a car would be better?! I wouldn't be happy to damage those any more than my own car.

[Chloe]

We've never had any damage. My husband swears by the fact he had cleaned the car previous to going... so there wasn't anything for them to pick at (bugs or bits of leaves/plants in wiper bits??) I think probably coincidence

[Lena]

You can buy a ticket for £9 per person on double decker safari bus, can't purchase in advance so first come first served on the day you go.

I did this last week and got front seats on upper deck - was brilliant and very funny watching -- climb on other people's cars.

I have been in my own car in past before the safari bus existed and the bus is much more fun!

[Beth]

Longleat are missing a trick here... they should have vehicles available to hire that it doesn't matter if the trims etc get pulled off!

[Holly]

Rubber seals pulled off, the whole carbon fibre spoiler was taken -- and they broke on of the wipers, shagged on my bonnet and shit on the windscreen -- honestly will not go back through it but the kids found it hilarious of course.

We got the spoiler back after about an hour but there wasn’t much left to save from it unfortunately, they had ruined it. The keeper was apologetic but it wasn’t anyone’s fault.

[Kaylor]

It’s fine honestly!

Just don’t let your husband drive your car and turn the window washer fluid on! As it’ll obviously attract them! Although the kids thought it was hilarious.

[Claire]

You can’t go to longleat and not drive through the monkeys, the bus wouldn’t be the same. I’ve never had damage but last year watched them swing off someone’s rear wiper and snap it off … had us in fits of laughter.

[Leanne]

My daughter and granddaughter went last Thursday. She was debating taking her new car through. I advised against it. She took the bus and was glad she did.

She said the monkeys were all over the vehicles, ripping stuff off.

[Teresa]

I haven't read all of the comments, but I would never take my car in again. About 25 years ago, we were laughing at the car infront loosing their back squirty for the back window and the monkey was swinging it around it's head and whilst that was happening we were having chunks bitten out of our hard rubber roof rack thing which was an original part of the car and could easily see the chunks missing whilst stood behind my car! Xxx

[Gemma]

I've had the rubber rails on the roof ripped off, wipers eaten, and the ariel stripped where it goes into the car.

If you have a nice car or care about that type of things do the bus or take the clearly marked route past the monkeys without entering their zone.

[Debbie]

We went through and apart from one sitting on our wing mirror for a lift around we didn't have any damage. It was a new car too so i had ummmed and aaahed whether to go through but decided it was worth the risk for the enjoyment.

Glad they didn't do any damage and not sure I'd risk it again though just to be safe x

[Samantha]

You’ll be fine as long as you peel all the rubber off from around your windows and remove wing mirrors and aerials!! Lol the monkeys are honestly a nightmare!

[Rachel]

We were lucky.

Last year and very hot so they weren't very active. Drank water from washer so we panicked they would get ill. You can cut out that section of the drive through. Sister had parking sensors pulled out and they were behind us.

[Becky]

You can miss that section out. No need to drive through it. Probably the kids favourite bit though.

If you do go in hold back as long as you can get away with so you can slightly speed up when they start heading towards you.

[Jessica]

I live not far from longleat and have been taking my daughter there for years. The monkeys can be very destructive, over the years they have pulled out the window washers, ripped off the car aerial and ripped out rubber door seals. I didn’t mind when I owned an old car but now I have a newer car I don’t go in there!

It’s worse in the summer when it’s very busy because you can’t get out of the enclosure quickly so they have more time to damage things. Still, it’s very funny when they jump on your car and it was the highlight of my daughters visit every time! x

[Rachel]

We went 3 weeks ago, you can take the safari bus, it’s really good.

I did see monkeys pull off wind wipers and there was other car debris laying around. You can’t prebook the bus, as soon as you get there that’s the first thing you need to do, run and book it before it books up.

[Christine]

Take the bus it’s loads better as they know all the best bits. If you take the last bus of the day they say is best as not rushing for next slot.

The monkeys try to get your wiper squirters cos they have alcohol in them.

A friend’s car got kicked by a deer. The bus can get closer as well.

[Sara]

We went on Monday had this cheeky monkey sitting on my mirror hitching a ride all the way round.