Hi

The Clan Hunt (all three of us) are going to Longleat on Thursday. Mrs H has read that the monkeys have a reputation as car destroyers.

Is this all media hype or would we be better getting the tour bus?

Am quite tempted to deploy 100% neat screen wash despite my animal loving nature [emoji6]

I've never had a problems, but it's always a risk!

Could you let us know how you get on please?

 

Clan BJM (4) are going there on 11th May - same worries as you.

Not sure about longleat, but when they had monkies at West Midlands Safari Park there was an alternative route you could take if you didn't want to run the gauntlet. If you do go through the secret is to keep moving so the little ******* can't get onboard.

Not been to a safari park, but I have seen the Barbary apes in Gibraltar ripping the wipers and Aerial off of two service vans at the top of the rock. 

Put an Arnold Clarke sticker on your car........even apes have standards...lol

Edited 13 April, 201511 yr by faradaycage

I've been twice and been lucky on both occasions.

It was funny watching a couple in a Fiesta transfixed on a cute monkey sat on their bonnet, whilst his big brother was yanking the rear wiper off.

Seriously..... Do not take any car you like through the monkey enclosure.

Have seen them strip cars in the past.

One guy thought he would spray the monkeys and ended up having to replace all the rubber/plastic bits of trim.

Do not do it.

Okay...tour bus it is then.

There is a bypass bit then Samuel will see less.

If you like your car then I recommend you don't! When we went we saw monkies remove the roof gutter strips on a number of cars. Fortunately we had a old shed of a car at the time so quite enjoyed it.

Okay...tour bus it is then.

There is a bypass bit then Samuel will see less.

Hire a cheap car for the day and smother the roof with peanut butter and chopped bananas. :peek:

I would avoid it if you like your car, they removed my washer jet nozzles

We've driven through Longleat, it is possible to drive past the monkey enclosure. There is loads to see so you don't feel as though you've missed out.

 

You still drive past and can see the monkey's. It was more entertaining for me to see the little ****'s jumping all over other peoples cars knowing mine was safe on the other side of the mesh fence.

 

That was until we got to the rhino's and two of them started rucking next to our car, the keeper had to break up the scuffle using a tractor!!

I would avoid it if you like your car, they removed my washer jet nozzles

There is footage on YouTube of that....and lots of swearing!

There is footage on YouTube of that....and lots of swearing!

Wasn't that bad it was a focus, so fairly easy to replace, quite funny at the time, but not have a newer car wouldn't be willing to risk it

I had the blade edges from my wipers peeled off the rest of the rubber - wipers were left intact.

 

And then they stole my offside indicator repeater out of the wing.  When the attached wiring stopped them, the smartar$e undid the connecting plug and legged it!! Dexterous little s o d.

 

Gaz

Me and the wife went to Longleat, I solved the monkey problem by sitting the Wife on the roof, the monkeys sat in the car good as gold

 

 

 

Sorted

It has always been my understanding that the monkies are collecting car parts in order to escape by building their own car and simply driving out.

It has always been my understanding that the monkies are collecting car parts in order to escape by building their own car and simply driving out.

The monkies are mainly the ones already driving the cars.

Never had a problem in mine. Ariels seem to be their favoured toy, but mine's built into the rear windscreen, so not an issue. I have no rear wiper either, so there's not much for them to steal apart from at the front of the car, where I can see them.

 

The biggest 'problem' I had was when a baby monkey sat on the windscreen and wet itself - the auto wipers started going. Mummy monkey wasn't too impressed. I'd suggest making sure they're turned off (if fitted!).

Avoid at all cost. There is an alternative route that takes you past the enclosure. I watched a Golf completely stripped they started by unscrewing the aerial they then used this as a pry tool to take out the roof guttering strips the front and rear wipers and plastic trim and they even got in the car by somehow opening a window and stole lots of things from the rear of the car. The driver was unable to do anything due to being sandwiched in a line of very slow moving traffic. The last glimpse we had was of him parked up outside trying to work out how to re-attach the front bumper. The Keepers just stood watching and laughing you are warned plenty before entering after all. Im sure they must receive training they are quicker than the VW mechanics at take apart ;-)

Edited 14 April, 201511 yr by Scribbler

Well in the end we did it. The dash cam has picked up a rather amusing conversation between my wife and I discussing the pros (it is Samuel's treat, the aerial is safe in the car and the wiper blades need replacing anyway) and the cons (everything else).

In the end the locals were too busy pulling the sealing strips from a Volvo 4x4, biting out the washer jets from a Focus, and trashing a Zafira. Two the monkeys got a parking sensor apiece from it.

We got clambered on to Samuel 's delight. Squirter one little fellow who was getting a little too keen and all we'd his mates to fish out the beech nuts that fallen under the rear edge of the bonnet.

Sam was dying to have another go...

I will put some footage up this evening.

We got clambered on to Samuel 's delight. Squirter one little fellow who was getting a little too keen and all we'd his mates to fish out the beech nuts that fallen under the rear edge of the bonnet.

 

 

The detailers will be having nightmares.

Haha!!

I am not that obsessive although I was banned from hoovering the inside before we left home.