Conserve, research and rehabilitate one of Africa's primates

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All Volunteers Get Training and Orientation

Program Overview
Life on the Program
Program Details
Volunteer Testimonials

Program Overview

Join us in South Africa’s picturesque Letaba district, at the foot of the Wolkberg Mountains, near the famous Kruger National Park and assist us with our primate work.

This volunteer project looks after over 500 monkeys, of which most are vervet monkeys, indigenous to South Africa. This hands-on project gives you the chance to get involved in just about all aspects of the work done at the centre, looking after rescued monkeys or preparing for and feeding the many baby monkeys received by the centre each year.

Life on the Program

Days will be spent working on a range of specific tasks and the general running of the sanctuary. You will start around 7am and run through till about 4pm with time off to rest during the middle of the day.

You will share a wooden cabin in the volunteer village, a simple, yet comfortable base within the grounds of the sanctuary. Your evenings will either be spent quietly at the village or up at the cottage where you can socialise and get to know your fellow volunteers.

On days off most volunteers travel to Tzaneen to purchase supplies or relax. Some may choose to explore further and popular tours include the world famous Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon and God’s Window.

Program Details

The duties that you will assist with are varied and change during the year but may include;

- Collecting, chopping and delivering food

- Hands-on care-giving of baby monkeys

- Monitoring and report writing 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 sanctuary aims to research the lifestyle and environment of vervets as well as rehabilitate (and hopefully release) orphaned and injured monkeys. Those that can’t be released will be used as part of an education program to inform the public of the valuable role that vervets play controlling bird and insect populations as well as spreading seeds and pollinating plants.

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.

Taking care of the baby orphans is absolutely fantastic, they will pull at your hair, play with your clothes, make you look filthy, and then when some start coming to you for comfort or just fall...

Eugenie Dadachpour, France

Taking care of the baby orphans is absolutely fantastic, they will pull at your hair, play with your clothes, make you look filthy, and then when some start coming to you for comfort or just fall asleep in your arms you truly reach bliss. You also observe vervets in their natural habitat, see how they behave with each other, how they groom each other and how they inform each other of approaching danger – amazing! I also had the opportunity to go touring at the Kruger National Park – seeing elephants, zebras, hyenas, leopards and other wildlife up close is absolutely fantastic.