June 16, 2011

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve built this section to help you quickly answer some common queries, and allow you to get on and have some fun!

Some quick links to help you out:

What is Go Ape?

Where are Our Adventures?

Can I Go Ape?

And here are some questions we get asked a lot…

Booking your Adventure

Do I need to book in advance?

We recommend that you book in advance as our courses tend to get booked up especially during weekends and school holidays. You can check availability and book online or by phone on 0845 643 9215.

What are the opening times?

Opening times vary dependent upon which of our 28 UK sites you plan to explore. We close our courses during December and January, partly because of the winter weather and partly so we can maintain our courses to our high Go Ape standards. Opening times also vary on daylight hours – some even open at 8am in the summer for those really keen Gorillas! You can check availability and book online or by phone on 0845 643 9215.

What will it cost me?

Our prices are:

Gorillas (18 years +): £30

Baboons (10-17 years): £20

Are there any restrictions for under 18 year olds?

They can’t swing in the trees on their own – they’ll need a Gorilla (over 18) to enjoy Go Ape too. Basically it’s one Gorilla to two Baboons (10 – 15 year olds) or one Gorilla to five Baboons (16 – 17 years). Your baboon stays with you at all times while you’re up in the trees.

Arrival and Ape Attire

What time do I need to arrive?

Make your way to the Go Ape cabin and be ready to get going on your Go Ape adventure at your booked time. Late arrivals that miss their session will be charged at full price. Allow plenty of time as it may take considerably longer than you think to drive into the forest, park and get to the Go Ape cabin, particularly on busy days when traffic queuing is more likely. At most sites you’ll have to pay for parking. This is because car parks are managed by forest owners, not us. Parking charges vary from course to course and can change at any time, so bring plenty of loose change.

What should I wear?

We suggest that you wear something you don’t mind getting grubby. Dress for the weather so bring along a mac if it’s raining! Make sure your stomach area is covered. Please wear appropriate footwear with soles with good grips. No sandals or slip-off shoes. You’ll need closed toe shoes. Some people recommend thin gloves. Long hair must be tied back.

Can I bring my camera/camcorder?

Yes you can! Getting a camera into the trees is straightforward. Talk to the guys at the Go Ape cabin and they’ll sell you  a lanyard so that you and your camera are always attached – safer for everyone (Please note that lanyards are available to purchase for £2 at the Go Ape cabin). Or bring your own if you have one.

Are there storage or changing facilities?

Most sites will store your belongings while you’re in the trees. There are toilets on site where you can change before and after your Go Ape experience.

What happens in bad weather?

Go Ape is an excellent wet weather activity! The course remains open in all weathers, except when it is icy, stormy, in high winds or during lightning. Rain makes the course muddier than usual – which all adds to the fun! Don’t forget to dress for the weather.

Do I need to bring any paperwork?

Ideally you’ll have your booking confirmation with you – then you’ll just need yourself and your tribe.

Up in the Trees

How long does the course take?

The Go Ape adventure takes approximately 1 and a half hours -3 hours to complete and that includes your safety briefing. It all depends on how speedy you are, how busy the course is and who you’ve got in your group.

Is there a time limit to complete the course?

Nope, you can go at your own pace and let people ‘overtake’ if you fancy taking a little more time over an obstacle or section. If you want to reduce the chance of being held up by people in front of you, we recommend that you book an early morning slot, as there will be fewer people ahead of you.

Can my pri-mates come and watch, take pictures and observe from the forest floor?

Yes – that’s a great idea to get them in the forest. The only course that states you can only have one observer is Woburn Safari Park, all other courses you can have as many of your pri-mates as you want capturing those swinging moments.

Swinging Safety

Is it safe?

Go Ape! courses are substantial and physically testing tree-top obstacle courses. There is inevitably a risk of injury when undertaking such activities. Participants will be responsible for attaching themselves to the safety system. If you do not attach yourself to the safety system you risk falling, which could result in a serious or fatal injury. All participants receive a safety briefing from a trained instructor at the start and have to wear a safety harness at all times.

Is there an instructor with you on the course?

You will receive a 30 minute safety briefing and training from an instructor before you start the course. After that you’re on your own, free to swing through the trees. Of course, instructors are always on hand, regularly patrolling the forests (not in monkey suits unfortunately!)

I’m afraid of heights!

If you’re worried about your knees knocking and your arms trembling – never fear; Go Ape is here and we are proud to have helped lots of people to conquer their fear of heights. Why not give it a try – you might surprise yourself!

Do I need to be fit or strong?

Doing Go Ape does require a degree of physical fitness but if you can climb up a rope ladder you should be fine. You can always catch your breath between obstacles.

Is Go Ape insured?

Yes; Go Ape holds £10m of public liability Insurance covering all of its courses.

What if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

The staff at Go Ape are not medically qualified and so are not in a position to assess the capacity of participants to undertake a course. It remains your responsibility to undertake such an assessment prior to use of the course. We advise you to visit the course prior to booking to undertake your own risk assessment. You may also wish to contact your doctor for further advice.

Can I do the course if I’m pregnant?

The Go Ape policy is that we recommend that pregnant women do not take part on the course (as it is a robust forest adventure and therefore, there are associated risks). However, we do not want to be discriminatory and ultimately the choice is yours. We are not medical experts and therefore suggest that you seek advice from your doctor on the matter.

We do not operate with full body harnesses, but have a sit harnesses (petzl pandion) with a separate chest harness (petzl voltige) for those who require it. We can not allow customers to wear their own harness due to our own insurance position.

If you decide to proceed, you will need to declare that you are pregnant and then sign a disclaimer stating that: “I have made Go Ape! aware that I am pregnant and as a result Go Ape! has recommended that I do not take part on the course. However I have decided to take part on the course in the full knowledge that this may incur risks to my unborn child”.

Cancellations

What is your cancellation policy?

You can cancel your adventure but need to do this at least 48 hours before the booked start time by calling the booking line on 0845 643 9215. You will be fully refunded.

Go Ape might need to cancel your booking. If this happens, we’ll refund you in full. Sometimes, unfortunately,

we might need to close the course for reasons beyond our control. If you have already started the course you will not be entitled to any refund (in part or in whole). We will do our best to offer alternative dates or times at reduced rates.

Gift Vouchers

How do I give the gift of adventure?

The gift of Go Ape makes a great present for any Gorilla. You can buy gift vouchers that last for one year and can be used for any of our Go Ape experiences at any of our 28 UK sites.

And we have more outdoor activities for you to enjoy.

Go Ape! Forest Segway and Go Ape! Forest Biking and Go Ape! Tree Top Junior