At one with nature

It was like walking through a scene in a fairytale.

Monkey’s swinging all over the place, various animals wandering around you as you take in everything the reserve has to offer.

Please watch your step, and don’t tread on any passing turtles like I almost did, they are everywhere, and will gladly walk up to you and nudge your nice white pumps before stepping right onto them, leaving you with a lovely muddy footprint as they go off on their merry way.

What about snakes?

Yes there are snakes.

No they do not roam around freely, they are kept in sealed enclosures,  along with the crocodiles so relax!

Freedom

Sadly, there were some beautiful birds locked in cages for our viewing, unable to fly freely.

 

Feeding time

This was the most memorable part of this visit.

You absolutely must make your way to the feeding point for the allocated time, 2pm to be exact – this is the main highlight.

Now as far as I know, animals don’t wear watches or read clocks, but they all instinctively knew when it was feeding time and began to make their way through the reserve and congregate around the designated feeding spot in anticipation.

Diners included, deer, tortoise, turkeys, monkeys, hens, peacocks and a few other species – quite a gathering.

It was like so sort of non-discriminatory animal food convention.

Enjoy the show

There are benches dotted around the feeding area, so you can sit and observe at close range. You may even find a monkey decides to sit beside you, assuming the seat isn’t already taken.

Again, if you don’t manage to get a seat, please be careful not to step on anyone (animal or human) around you and don’t touch the monkey’s tails – they hate that.

Dinner is served

Once the food is dropped off by wheelbarrow, a surreal feeding frenzy begins.

All the animals, despite their differences, dine together peacefully in a remarkably civilised and unified way.

Well almost.

Mind your table manners

The monkeys can be a bit cheeky, scratching at the deer to get them to move out of the way when they ‘unintentionally’ block the monkey’s access to the food. The monkeys just want to get at the buffet – they don’t scratch maliciously to draw blood, just enough to make the deer jump and move out of the way.

Monkeys also like to use the tortoise shells as a dinner table seat.

The deer have a habit of stuffing way too much food in their mouths and then struggle to chew, as may well be the case with some of humankind!

Serenity

As I watch this dinning experience, I can’t help but notice the silence, except for the sounds of food being chewed before me.

This was definitely one of the highlights of my stay in Barbados, and is one not to be missed. I’d recommend doing this visit through ‘Glory Tours’, which will cover a range of attractions in one round trip.

 

Video clips 🎥