Barbados Wildlife Reserve

Did you know that Barbados doesn’t have a zoo? They have something better! They island boasts an amazing Wildlife Reserve that is home to a variety of animals in the natural habitat, free from a lot of human interaction.

You are free to walk through the park, which is located directly across from the road from the Farley Hill National Park. People are not the only ones free to walk through the park at their own leisure: many of the animals, the monkeys especially, are free to come and go as they please. Because the reserve offers minimal human interaction, it’s as if the animals are living in the wild; although they are under special protective services because of the reservation implementation.

You’ll see birds and reptiles that are native to the island of Barbados. You’ll also see a variety of international animals that have found safe haven in the compounds of the reserve: deer, armadillos, and caiman, which are much like the common alligator we know around the world.

Children will especially enjoy the atmosphere the park has to offer. The reserve is nestled in a mahogany wooded area and children will have hours of fun searching in bushes and looking up and down trees searching for the wildlife that call this spectacular park home. The simple nature of the park, with the freedom of the animals allocated to them to move about at their leisure, means that each visit to the park is unlike the last. Sometimes you’ll the monkeys and sometimes you won’t. But sometimes you’ll see the jackrabbits and sometimes you won’t. There is a very interesting dynamic that occurs between man and animal when man steps into the animal kingdom. For once, we are not in control.

At very reasonably priced rates, $23.00 for adults, and $11.50 for children, the Barbados Wildlife Reserve is an affordable vacation destination for families of all sizes. And of course, the proceeds of your admission go to help continue to maintain the reserve and its facilities for the animals and people who enjoy it every day.

You’ll want to plan your trip to the reserve for mid day (approximately 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.) for feeding time. The reserve comes alive with the sounds of animals hungry for their daily meals! This popular tourist destination comes highly recommended by the locals and travellers alike: it’s been rated in the top ten vacationer destination spots by many travel advisories.

Many of the animals at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve are endangered and the conservation program helps to maintain the population of the species at risk. You can learn about the wonderful work the employees and programs at the reserve are doing when you arrive and are greeted by friendly faces.

Interestingly enough, the reserve is home to the only primates on the island of Barbados. The Green Monkeys, as they are called, live amongst the treetops and are originally from West Africa. The monkeys are, understandably, the park’s main attraction – especially at feeding time!

Don’t forget to spend a generous amount of time at the state of the art aviary where nearly 400 species of birds live and interact with other! Don’t be surprised when you see non-native birds flying around the reserve such as pelicans and sparrows.

When your walk through the park is complete, be sure to stop by the snack bar for a mid day snack: they offer tasty Paninis and hot dogs. You can sit by the built-in salt water aquarium and enjoy your lunch. Don’t feed the animals though! They won’t like your Paninis!