Media Centre for Volunteer in Ghana

Joyce Botham

The monkeys were really lovely and all that I imagined and more! I spent loads of time with the big babies (12 – 18 months). They sure were cute but if you upset them or they did not warm to you – boy did you know about it – they turned into little gremlins! Luckily they seemed to warm to me and I them, especially when I got used to how to act when I was with them. It was the messiest shift for obvious reasons as you can't put a nappy on a monkey, but it was one of the most rewarding. It was quite therapeutic when they groomed you!

The veggie food was lovely and did not miss meat! Arthur the founder of the sanctuary is a kind, caring, interesting and intelligent man - he had time for everyone. There are quite a few permanent workers who do the bulk of the work - e.g.main feed basically you just help put food for the monkeys in loads of bowls and go round with the workers to give the monkeys the food.

Maggie and Katie (Africana ladies) cooked tea for us during the week. They were lovely and friendly. Also they were spiritual healers and fortune tellers. Maggie made me a bracelet (red and white for protection) Maybe I could have done with the green and black for luck/good fortune.

We visited the Lion Park and it was just great! We got to see the baby lion and leopard cubs. Also baby hyenas – they are funny looking with far too bigger heads for their bodies! Another drive through park. We saw Giraffe, Zebra, wild dogs, wild boar, leopards, buffalo, Lions (including white), rhino, crocks, ostriches and many more.