from 1,197€

Excellent 4.8rating (16)

Primate Sanctuary experience

location
4 - 50 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Excellent 4.8  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Highlights

  • Get to expierence the day to day work involved to maintain and run an established primate sanctuary
  • Work with a local team, sharing experiences and learning a bit about there culture and life at the foundation
  • meet fellow volunteers from around the world, form new life long frienships, share your experience with like minded people
  • Enjoy unbelievable vegan meals making a diffrence not only for the life of the animals, the environment but to you aswell
  • vist the local tourist attraction, the Verbet Monkey Foundation is only and hour away from the famous Kruger national Park

Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+

About the program

Gain first hand knowledge rehabilitating indigenous vervet monkeys back into a natural environment, be part of a team making a diffrence

We currently care for over 500 monkeys, and we take in many orphans each year. You may be involved with hand-rearing orphans (in baby season) and be lucky enough to see them with their foster mums, watching them become real monkeys. In addition you will help the monkeys further by general husbandry, ...

About the program

We currently care for over 500 monkeys, and we take in many orphans each year. You may be involved with hand-rearing orphans (in baby season) and be lucky enough to see them with their foster mums, watching them become real monkeys. In addition you will help the monkeys further by general husbandry, feeding, building new enclosures, observations and maintaining the upkeep of the foundation. Longer-term volunteers may become involved with integrations of monkeys into social groups which is very rewarding and a lot can be learned about their behavior.

You will sleep in a wooden cabin and eat delicious vegan (cruelty free) meals. We are situated close to the Kruger National Park and local places of interest such as Blyde river canyon, Debengeni waterfalls, the Great Letaba river and beautiful tea gardens which you can visit during days off.

No previous experience is necessary although you must have an interest in conservation. We welcome volunteers over the age of 18. This is an ideal project for anyone who has ever dreamed of working with monkeys. Be prepared to work hard and experience working under the African sun with this threatened, intelligent and indigenous primate of Africa - The vervet monkey


Typical day

You will not need any prior experience as we will teach you everything you need to know – just come with enthusiasm and an interest in conservation! If you have any specific skills or interest we are happy to try and utilize them during your stay. No matter what you do, you can expect that it is ...

Typical day

You will not need any prior experience as we will teach you everything you need to know – just come with enthusiasm and an interest in conservation! If you have any specific skills or interest we are happy to try and utilize them during your stay. No matter what you do, you can expect that it is hot, dirty and hands on! Typical activities include:

 • Collecting, chopping and delivering food for monkeys.

• Hands-on care-giving of baby monkeys (baby season only), helping in our sickbay

• Monitoring and report writing of monkeys around the Sanctuary

• Cleaning monkey cages, washing feed bowls & plates and cleaning blankets

• Assisting with introductions and rehabilitation of new monkeys.

• Assisting with basic medical practices and administering medications.

• Clearing vegetation for fire breaks, looking after the volunteer village.

• Assisting with education outreach programs

• Participating in fundraising, newsletters, we can also use graphic design skills

 During the baby season (Nov – Feb) there is a possibility volunteers will work with baby monkeys, nearly all orphaned and traumatized. We introduce them to foster mothers ensuring each baby is stabilized, healthy and able to drink from a bottle when handling them.

 During the juvenile season (Mar – Oct), you may be able to see juniors being integrated into a troop within our rehabilitation program or participate in other integrations. Baby rehabilitation involves volunteers handling or observing the babies in their outdoor playpen, mixing up bottles of milk, preparing foods and administering medicine if required. You will feed and monitor them throughout the day, constantly checking their progress. 


Free-time activities

There are some beautiful waterfalls and rivers in the area that a great to spend time at, there are variouse sight seeing area aswell as a fantastic lodge just down the road with a spa and swimming pool, Kruger national park is only an hour away, the famouse Blyde river canyon and potholes with a ...

Free-time activities

There are some beautiful waterfalls and rivers in the area that a great to spend time at, there are variouse sight seeing area aswell as a fantastic lodge just down the road with a spa and swimming pool, Kruger national park is only an hour away, the famouse Blyde river canyon and potholes with a gorge swing


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Vervet Monkey Foundation

55% of your fees goes towards your accommodation and food, 45% goes to caring and looking after the monkeys at the foundation, which would cover veterinary bills, the purchase of over a ton of variouse food items for the monkeys on a daily basis, maintenance of enclosure and improvements

Accommodation

You will sleep in a wooden cabin, usually with 1 other volunteer. We provide a mattress, table, pillow and sheets but please ensure you bring a sleeping bag. There is no electricity in the village as the foundation tries to be as environmentally friendly as possible and runs on solar power accessories can be charged at the cottage.
You may wish to bring a small battery powered or re-chargeable camping light to light up your cabin at night for reading etc.
The volunteer village houses a warm, gas-heated shower, eco-toilet (composting toilet), washing sink and a campfire, which is great for an evening under the stars or a traditional braai (South African barbecue!).
Laundering is provided free of charge Mon - Fri. You can bring your own detergent for extra hand washing of small items.

Food & Beverages

We provide delicious vegan (cruelty free) meals prepared by our  chef, tea, coffee, filtered water, volunteers share cooking on weekends

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Airport Pickup at O.R. Tambo International Airport

An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. We assist you to find cheap flights to South Africa. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for South Africa provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in South Africa you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for South Africa. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

You will arrive at Johannesburg Airport, we recommend you get in contact with Sandy from Travelbuggz at time of booking, who for a small fee will arrange to meet you at the airport and safely transfer you to the bus, she can offer overnight accommodation if you arrive to late for the bus or if things dont go as planned, you will be met by one of the foundations staff at teh local bus stop and taken to the foundation, you are shown your accomodation and possibloe room mate, a short orientation is given on arrival while you introduced to fellow volunteers and sit down to the eveining vegan meal, where you can comfortably listen to there stories of the day. the following morning you will meet up with the volunteer co-ordinator and go through the main orientation with everyone else who arrived. We do prefer volunteers to arrive on a Sunday or Monday to help fsacilitate the orientations.

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

4 weeks (min. stay) 1,197€
50 weeks (max. stay) 13,466€
Average fees 284€/week

Program fees

284€ per week 4 - 50 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

4 - 50 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Vervet Monkey Foundation during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Vervet Monkey Foundation

Excellent 4.8 rating (16 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 1989

Verified by Volunteer World

  Excellent response rate

Coordinated by

Dave

About the project

Vervet Monkey Foundation helps injured and orphaned primates to be re-introduced into their natural habitat.

Meet your organization

History of Vervet Monkey Foundation

In 1989 the plight of the vervet monkey species in South Africa first came to light when an orphaned baby vervet monkey, only hours old was discovered. Enquiries to recognised authorities concerning the fate of such primates revealed that there were no facilities to provide for its care and welfare, instead they were told to kill the monkey because, such animals were regarded as vermin. 

As environmentalists and humanitarians, they saw that the solution to this problem did not lie in euthanasing these orphaned primates but rather, the need for an organisation to provide a sanctuary for them and to holistically investigate what was in fact happening to this indigenous primate of South Africa. 

It soon became apparent that very little was in fact known about this species. Most of the data available at that time was negative, contradictory, incomplete and inaccurate. This void was due to its classification as vermin, and this lack of knowledge had portrayed this indigenous primate in a very poor and negative light. At that time there was also very little information pertaining to the rehabilitation of this primate species. As conservationists they could see that the solution to this problem was not the senseless killing of these primates but the need for a programme incorporating: 

  • A facility to research the life style and environment of this species.
  • A program to rehabilitate orphaned and injured primates.
  • A program to research the claims of damage and problems caused by vervet monkeys and offer possible solutions for co-existence.
  • An education program to inform the public of the role that the vervet monkey plays in the eco system.
  • A sanctuary for primates unfortunate enough to be unreleasable but, manageable enough to be used for educational purposes.

As a high priority they began to research the possibility of rehabilitating these orphans and to develop a much needed rehabilitation programme and sanctuary where injured and miss-placed vervet monkeys would be humanely treated.

During the past decade the Foundation has developed a unique rehabilitation programme that has helped revolutionise the way in which primates are rehabilitated. Our enclosure designs are now utilised in similar primate projects. Fundamentally, the Foundation has saved and improved the lives of more than six hundred vervet monkeys. The foundation has also achieved many firsts in the rehabilitation of this primate species with the aid of volunteers, gap year students and primate carers.

About the Vervet Monkey Foundation

The Vervet Monkey Foundation operates the largest centre for vervets in the world. In 2006 we became a member of PASA (Pan African Sanctuaries Alliance) and is also a GFAS (Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries) certified sanctuary. 

During the past decade the Vervet Monkey Foundation has developed a unique rehabilitation programme that has helped revolutionise the way in which primates are rehabilitated. Our enclosure designs are now utilised in similar primate projects. Fundamentally, the Vervet Monkey Foundat has saved and improved the lives of more than six hundred vervet monkeys. The foundation has also achieved many firsts in the rehabilitation of this primate species with the aid of volunteers, gap year students and primate carers. TheVervet Monkey Foundation currently cares for over 500 monkeys and we take in many orphans each year.

With no government funding, the sanctuary depends on international volunteers to help care for the primates. Volunteering at the Foundation is probably the most beneficial as not only does your financial contribution go to aiding the monkeys but we have the extra needed hands to help with all the various ongoing tasks at the foundation.

Rehabilitation Programme for Vervet Monkeys

The Vervet Monkey Foundation has over many years developed and pioneered a new approach to the rehabilitation of orphaned vervet monkeys. In 1998 we announced our unique rehabilitation programme that incorporated the use of large electrified enclosures that are natural, and by using introduction enclosures, we had formed within this natural system, large viable troops, that would be re-introduce into protected vervet forest reserves.

Our rehabilitation centre is designed to handle orphaned vervet monkeys of all ages and more specifically designed to cope with large numbers of babies that become orphaned each year this has been made possible with international volunteers and gap year students getting involved . Babies are easily assimilated into our programme and we try to get as many of them out of the hands of the public and into our care.  To date, we have successfully rehabilitated hundreds of babies. They were rehabilitated and raised within a natural environment and retained a high degree of their natural fear of humans. 

Our programme can return an orphaned baby monkey back into a wild state in four to eight weeks, this is achieved by introducing a baby to a female in one of our resident troops living in natural environments at our centre.

16 reviews · rating4.8

Cella Leonard rating5

2023 at Primate Sanctuary experience

Beautiful lush green property with lots of cats walking around. Friendly and welcoming family with fun storytelling. Great vegan food. Hands on interactions with rescued orphaned baby vervet monkeys. Vet visits witnessing up close treatment of injured adult and baby vervet monkeys. Ride alongs for ...
Guillaume Ducci rating5

2021 at Primate Sanctuary Assistant

I just spend 5 wonderful weeks at the Vervet Monkey Foundation, the place is amazing, the staff is an extraordinary little family, what they do for the Vervets Monkeys are admirable. It’s quite an amazing experience that I will probably reiterate ! Thank you for those magical moments, keep ...
Muriël Wever rating4.6

2018 at Primate Sanctuary Assistant

I highly recommend this place! I have been there for 6 weeks and it were the best 6 weeks of my life. Everyone is so kind and supportive and the overall atmosphere is very good. It's located nearby the Kruger Park and Blyde river canyon, so you can take some touring days of and see something of ...
Twyla Unknown rating5

2015 at Primate Sanctuary Assistant

The vmf is an amazing place. I always think its paradise when I was there. I went as a 6month volunteer and ended up staying two years to help volunteer as the Vet nurse. Best decision I ever made. Learnt more about the primates and observe their behaviour. The staff and volunteers that go through ...
David Unknown rating4.8

2015 at Primate Sanctuary Assistant

So great to be able to come and help support the important work here. Good healthy, hearty and tastey Vegan food. Evenings chatting round the fire-pit. Fantastic staff and volunteers. Fun trips out organised. Amazing views, wildlife and weather. I have completely fallen in love with the place and ...
Nhiker Unknown rating4.8

2015 at Primate Sanctuary Assistant

We spent a morning volunteering at the Vervet Monkey Foundation. It is not a tourist attraction! It is a dedicated sanctuary that is staffed by enthusiastic volunteers from all over the world. While we helped, the staff told us all about the Vervet monkeys and the remarkable work being carried out ...

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