Please don't go to the auto safari. The animals look so sad and lonely.

I don't think they have any elephants but you can drive past and see the Ostriches with most of their feathers missing

Thank you calabonagirl and bksol. Enough said. We won't be going.

I feel really sad now. I hear that Jim Cronin of Monkeyworld has died, and he did such fantastic work with wild animals. We have been there several times, and it is a shame that all places cannot be same.

We will have to think of somewhere else to go. Calabonagirl (I think you will know the answer to this judging by your name!) - which is the nearest waterpark for us to go to and the best way to get there?

Also, any other places of interest worth a visit?

Cheers!

Im so glad you are not going to this place. There was a thread on it last year..........its appalling.

They have tiger shows, (we didnt know this, we thought we were going to one of those wildlife parks where the animals all roam freely (well as freely as possible!)

The tigers looked as if they were drugged.........I wont go into the conditions of the other animals.



The nearest waterpark is probably the one in Arenal, and its the biggest........however it can get very busy and the queues for the rides can be quite long.

There is a smaller one in Alcudia, however its a bit of a drive away from you!!!

There is a monkey world (dont know if thats the right name!) but as Ive never been I wouldnt know what the conditions are like there.

Also the Pirate show in Magaluf, though expensive is usually a big hit with kids.

Thank you Tootsie, I too thought that it would be like a safari park, just goes to show.

I was referring to the Monkeyworld in Dorset, I don't think that I would actually want to go and see any monkeys in Majorca, especially as the one in Dorset actually had beginnings with rescued monkeys from Spain. If you get a chance to go to Dorset, it is a great day out, the monkeys are so happy and well cared for. No doubt there will be something on the news tonight regarding Jim Cronin.

We went to the smaller waterpark in Alcudia a couple of years' ago and it was great, but as we are only going for a week this year, we don't want to do too much travelling. I must have a look on the map to see how far Arenal is from Cala Bona.

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

Cheers!

Hi piglet63,
I am shocked Jim Cronin has died ,we visited Monkey World 3 yars ago and sponsor Sally. Arenal is beside the airport so a hours drive, Alcudia closer but you would have to hire a car. Seemingly a small waterpark is opening in Sa Coma run by Protur Hotels in Safari Apts. As I am going to Cala Bona in May I will check this out and report back. Caves of Drach a nice day out (by local bus). We like to go to Cala Ratjada small fishing town, nice harbour and restauants ( by local bus) You can go on a boat trip up or down the coast (weather permitting) Open top bus to Cala Millor /Sa Coma /S'illot. Tourist train (tractor pulling 2 carriages ) to Cala Millor.Express bus to Palma is lovely day out and reasonable. The local buses are very good and sort of run on time. Forgot to mention crazy golf in Sa Coma is well worth a visit (go in the evening when its cooler).OOh getting excited for my hols just talking about it !! CBG

Thank you so much, Calabonagirl, what a wealth of information you have given me!

Is the crazy golf you mention the one where you can have between 18-54 holes? Sounds great to me. We would definitely go in the evening, the days are used pretty much purely for things involving laying horizontal around a pool!

I will have to have a look on my map to see how far Sa Coma is from where we are staying. I am not too good yet on my Majorca geography! I tend to like the smaller waterparks better myself, otherwise it is so easy to loose each other! Our apartments are part of the Protur group so I will have a look on their website to see if there is any mention of a waterpark.

Have a great time in May. By your name, I presume that you go there a lot!

Yes, it is very sad that Jim Cronin has died. We don't live too far from Monkeyworld and it is such a positive place to visit. One of my favourite days out.

I now look forward to finding out how long we have to sit on the coach for the journey from the airport to the resort. I understand that it is quite a long way. Lets hope that we are first drop off!

Is it possible to get a regular bus to Alcudia if we wanted to go to the small waterpark?

I have read that the Caves of Drach are a bit too touristy, and that it is better to visit the Caves of Arta. What do you think?

Is the open top bus that you mention a trip that you book in the normal way, or just on the regular bus route?

Sorry for all the questions, you are such a fountain of knowledge, and as we are only going for a week, it is so much better to be planned in advance.

Cheers!

Have just been on the Protur hotels website and have found out that the crazy golf you spoke about is within the Safari Apartments, but no mention is made of a small waterpark. There seems to be quite a bit there.

Regards.

Hello again Calabonagirl! I am so sorry, I should have done my homework before asking you so many questions. I have just had a look on the reviews for the Safari Apartments on this website and someone who went there last year mentions a kind of waterpark, but it seems to be more of a big lagoon with some slides, and you have to pay for an all inclusive day there. They seem to only let 200 people in as well.

As it seems to be so close to where we are staying we will go and have a look anyway when we play golf!

Cheers!

Hi Piglet, Yes I have been many times to Cala Bona/Millor/S'Illot/Sa Coma. Cala Bona my favourite because the resort is compact and everything you need is at hand. I have seen many changes over the last 30 years. Last year the new harbour area and promenade was nearly finished so I am looking forward to seeing the final result. I am staying at Protur Hotel Bonamar (booked off there website) You can look forward to about a hour on bus from airport. Open top bus just regular service between the 4 resorts mentioned above. The bus to Alcudia is twice a day and takes ages, you really need a car if you go. I do believe that if you are a Protur guest you will get reduced entrance to the new waterpark so I will find out. The Caves of Drach are comercialised but it is so easy to go, local bus with ticket included in the fare. (you have to wait for your time slot ,so take drinks, snacks etc )drops and picks up right outside only about 20 mins away. Let me know if you want any more info, 9 weeks to go!!!!!CBG

Hi Piglet 63, Can help a bit with Caves of Arta. Spectacular and not at all touristy. Lots and lots of steps. We visited in December 2005, and had a guide to ourselves - he just knew his script tho' and was not able to answer any other questions in English (my limited Spanish would not stretch to geographical terms!) They are quite a way from the town of Arta, and you would need a car to get there, but worth a look.

Yes agree, Caves of Arta 10 times better than Drach. Even the entrance is spectacular. As for auto safari, yes dont go there. Hardly any shade, and the animals look so bored and out of their natural surroundings. They even had blackbirds locked up in a cage as a "spectacle" there. I mean come on, locking up these birds in hot sunlight made me so angry.

The sad thing is however, the original auto safari used to be on the left of the main road into the resort of Sa Coma where there were trees, long grasses and more of a natural environment for the animals. This site was destroyed by the bad storms which hit the island I think 3-4 years back now and they had to move across the road.

Gary
http://www.aboutsacoma.com

Thank you so much Pat and Gary for your replies. I am really looking foward to having a thorough look over your website, Gary, it looks great!

I think that Auto Safari is definitely off the agenda. Could you tell me how easy it is to get to the Caves of Arta from Cala Bona and approximately how far away it is. I am hoping that it is not too far and that we could use a local bus? We are not big fans of arranged tours, they often feel so rushed.

Thank you both again.

Cheers!

Honestly speaking I cant recall how far away it is, though I remember its not that far. I dont know if the local buses go there to be honest. Personally I would hire a car, driving over there is a doddle and its really cheap to hire a car. There is a good car hire place near The Kings Head pub which is cheap and uses new Seat Ibiza's mostly or Fiat Pandas. Think I paid about £89 for 3 day hire.

Hi just returned from callor millor visited Auto Safari for the second time and can agree that conditions for Tigers and monkeys were not the best.
I would however disagree that the animals were not looked after .
A lot of animals do wonder round free but some are in cages like any other zoo.
I would not say they were in distress or that it would be upsetting for your daughter to visit . They do have elephants we watched two who seemed to enjoy being washed by there keeper.
I hope this helps anyone else going to callor millor this summer

The safari park apartments not suitable if you have kids because the main pool is one depth and that is deep, 6 foot and the shallow pool is tiny. The sunbeds are packed in like sardines. If you want to go to a protur apartment the vista badia is a better bet, apartments are identical to the safari park, stayed there a couple of years ago. Nice pool that is suitable for kids and there is no trouble getting a sunbed, we went in august. In protur hotels you get bbc 1 on the room TV, they used to have ITV before.

Stay away from the safari animal park animals like big cats kept in tiny enclosures. Poor conditions for the animals. Its not a good to used ahire to vist because the baboons will scratch up the car and rip off any arieal. Could leave with a expensive bill.

I wouldn't recommend anyone going to the Auto Safari - the monkeys and tigers we saw that day will haunt me forever!

The tiger 'show' was horrific, the tigers were clearly drugged and were constantly being hit by this Karl Nauman wielding a stick! Sorry but that's not entertainment in my eyes.

There is very little in the way of shade for the animals, cages were sparse, no fresh water down if any water at all.

This place is in the TOP TEN most complained about attractions received by the Born Free Foundation and it's not without good reason.

I would urge anyone considering going to think twice.

Tis