Manor Wildlife Park — formerly Manor House Wildlife Park — is a 52-acre zoo just north of the village of St Florence, about four kilometres from Tenby.
It was bought in 2008 by the television presenter Anna Ryder Richardson and Colin MacDougall, who rebuilt it, and it has been through a subsequent change of ownership since.
Its character is different from the big family attractions nearby: more zoo, less funfair, on a large site where the animals have room.
Rhinos, in what visitors describe with some surprise as a huge field — the space given to the larger animals is the thing people most consistently comment on.
Lemurs and wallabies in walkthrough enclosures, where the animals move freely around visitors.
Zebra, camels, giant tortoises, red pandas, otters, meerkats, monkeys, birds of prey, and a reptile house.
A farm section with domestic animals.
The consistent report is that the animals look relaxed and well kept, with plenty of space and places to withdraw from view — which is what a good enclosure provides and what visitors notice.
Worth singling out because it reflects how the park is run.
Feed for the wallabies is sold in limited quantities at set times only. That means the animals are not overfed by a steady stream of visitors all day, and it means you may not be able to buy feed when you happen to arrive.
Visitors who understand why generally approve; it is a decision made in the animals’ interest rather than the shop’s. Ask at the entrance about times if it matters to you.
Prices are described as fair — repeatedly, and by comparison with the region’s other attractions.
Food on site is well rated, and visitors quote its prices approvingly — the stone-baked pizza in particular.
It does not get overwhelmed. Visitors report arriving on a Saturday afternoon in the school holidays and finding it comfortable, which is not something anyone says about Folly Farm in August.
Access and parking are described as good.
Time: three to four hours.
They are eight kilometres apart and the choice comes up constantly.
Folly Farm is much bigger, has an indoor vintage funfair and extensive soft play, fills a full day, is very busy, and is the better choice if you need to entertain children for eight hours in any weather.
Manor is smaller, calmer, more focused on the animals, has more space per species, and is the better choice if you want a zoo rather than a theme park — and if you would rather not spend the day in a crowd.
Admission charged; online booking advisable.
Time: three to four hours.
Facilities: café — well rated — picnic areas, shop, toilets.
Parking: free on site, and described as ample.
Access: the site is large and largely level with good surfaces.
Weather: largely outdoors with some indoor houses.
Season: open through the main season, with reduced operation in winter. Check before travelling.
St Florence, off the B4318 north of Tenby, about ten minutes by road and signposted.
Heatherton World of Activities is next door, and the two are sometimes done on consecutive days.
Fifty-two acres, which for the number of species means a lot of space per animal.
Yes — there are walkthrough enclosures for lemurs and wallabies.
Feed is sold in limited quantities at set times to avoid overfeeding. It is a welfare decision.
Manor is smaller, calmer and more animal-focused; Folly Farm is much bigger with a funfair and soft play, and is far busier.
No — prices are consistently described as fair, and the on-site food is well rated and reasonably priced.