Join this hands-on project to rehabilitate, study, and conserve an African primate

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All Volunteers Get Training and Orientation

Program Overview
Life on the Program
Project Details
Volunteer Testimonials

Program Overview

Travel to the breath-taking foothills of the Wolkberg Mountains that neighbor the world-renowned Kruger National Park to work with us in the Letaba district as we collaborate on a primate conservation project.

This program cares for over 500 monkeys, many of which are vervet monkeys, an indigenous species to South Africa. You’ll have the opportunity to really dive into nearly all parts of the work done in the center by preparing and feeding the babies that arrive all throughout the year, along with other hands-on tasks.

Life on the Program

Your days will be varied as you work on a number of different tasks along with the responsibilities of running the center. You will need to arrive at the center by around 7:00am and will be free after 4:00pm with time in the middle of the day to rest and have lunch.

Accommodation will consist of a simple but comfortable wooden cabin in the volunteer village located within the grounds of the sanctuary. You are free to enjoy your evenings in the village or up in the cottage where you will spend time with your fellow volunteers.

During their free time most volunteers will explore Tzaneen where they purchase supplies or simply hang out. You can always travel a bit further on a tour of the beautiful landscapes of Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon or God’s Window.

Project Details

Your responsibilities will be varied and may be different from others who have travelled at another point in the year, but generally include:

- Collecting, preparing and delivering food

- Hands-on care of baby monkeys

- Monitoring and reporting of monkeys

- Cleaning monkey cages, feed bowls, blankets

- Assisting with introductions and rehabilitation of new monkeys

- Assisting with basic medical practices and administering medications

- Clearing vegetation for fire breaks

- Education outreach programs

The main aims of the center are to conduct research of the lifestyle and habitat of the vervet monkeys while rehabilitating the orphaned or injured monkeys to hopefully release back into the wild. For those that can’t be released will be incorporated into an educational outreach program to inform the surrounding communities of the integral role that vervets play in controlling bird and insect populations, not to mention spreading seeds and assisting with plant pollination.

How this program makes a difference:

The program was established in 1993 to help orphaned, injured and rescued monkeys. Currently the foundation runs the biggest rehabilitation centre for monkeys in South Africa. The centre also runs outreach programs and gives talks at schools, clubs, organisations and conservancies aimed at raising awareness of these incredible animals and the role that vervet monkeys play in the eco-system.

Volunteer Testimonials

Mark Ashcroft, United Kingdom

The 4-weeks spent at the sanctuary has been one of the best experiences of my life. The opportunity to work closely with monkeys while spending time in a beautiful place like Africa made this an easy choice for me. During my stay at the foundation I mostly worked on helping to construct a new enclosure for the baby orphans. Putting in the hard work and seeing the progress we made was a great feeling, and I know the babies will love it. I also got firsthand experience looking after these little primates in their current enclosure.

Hilary Brown, USA

My time at the sanctuary was an experience of a lifetime! Upon arrival I immediately felt welcomed! Work in sick bay mainly consisted of preparing food, providing water, doing dishes, doing laundry, cleaning cages, disinfecting enclosures, handing out seed pods and grass, and making sure each monkey is physically okay. When I wasn’t working in sick bay I was observing some of the monkeys who had been fighting with each other. I also helped input data into the computers and typed up the notes that were taken every day on the babies and their integration into troops.