Volunteer with monkeys in South Africa
Description of Volunteer with monkeys in South Africa
Make a Difference at a Primate Rehabilitation Centre in South Africa!
Join our vital mission at a primate rehabilitation centre in South Africa, where your help is needed to care for orphaned baboons. Each year, countless baby primates are rescued from dire situations—car accidents, hunting, and human encounters leave them injured and orphaned. By volunteering with us, you'll play a crucial role in nursing these adorable creatures back to health and preparing them for a successful return to the wild.
Become Part of a Life-Saving Team
With over 450 primates currently in our care, ranging from newly rescued infants to those ready for release, your contributions will make a real impact. As a volunteer, you will become an integral member of our dedicated team, taking on a variety of fulfilling tasks, including:
Daily Food Prep: Assist in the milk kitchen to ensure the orphaned baboons receive nutritious meals.
Troop Cleans: Maintain clean and enriched enclosures by adding fresh hay and providing new enrichment items.
Feeding Other Animals: Care for a range of animals at the centre, including rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, snakes, and lizards.
Creating Enrichment: Make engaging toys and activities for the baboons and observe their interactions.
Grooming: Spend quality time grooming older baboons who are not suitable for release.
Nursery Care: Provide attentive care for nursery orphans in a safe quarantine area.
Bonding Facilitation: Help facilitate bonding between infants and their adult baboon surrogates in specially designed enclosures.
Monitoring Behavior: Collaborate with staff to observe and learn about baboon social structures and troop dynamics.
Wildlife Experiences: Enjoy game drives, sundowners at the Picnic Spot, and wildlife spotting river trips, including outings with the babies.
Preparation for Release: Assist in preparing primates for current and future releases back into the wild.
Veterinary Clinic Support: Observe and assist in the veterinary clinic as needed.
The Rehabilitation Process
Every year, many baboons arrive at our leading rehabilitation centre as victims of hunting, poaching, and accidents. These orphaned infants require round-the-clock care. As they grow, they are integrated into a group under a surrogate, spending less time around humans and learning essential social skills.
The process typically spans four years, during which the baboons form a cohesive troop. Initially, they reside in an enclosure with food provided, eventually transitioning to a larger space with minimal provisions. Finally, they are released back into their natural habitat, where they can thrive as part of the wild.
Join Us in This Life-Changing Adventure!
By volunteering at our primate rehabilitation centre, you will not only gain invaluable experience working with baboons but also contribute to their conservation and welfare. Your time here will create unforgettable memories and make a lasting difference in the lives of these incredible animals. Sign up today and help us create a brighter future for orphaned baboons in South Africa!
Itinerary
| Day 1: | Monday. Arrive to Hoedspruit airport for collection and transfer to the project site. |
| Day 2 - 7: | Tuesday- Sunday. Induction and volunteer project takes place. |
| Day 15: | Monday. If you are just staying for 2 weeks, you will leave from Phalaborwa airport today. You can stay for up to 12 weeks however. |
| Day 16+: | Volunteer project continues for the duration of your stay |
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Reviews
15 Reviews of Volunteer with monkeys in South Africa
Reviewed on 04 May 2022 by Jolanta Weiss
Amazing, unforgettable trip of my life and I'm 60 year old but pretty strong and young soul hahaha. I did it all by myself but I will definitely go back there with my granddaughter. This is amazing way to teach the kids about work, animals needs and more.. Read full reviewReviewed on 25 Apr 2019 by Karsten Georges
The contact with these very social baboons was the most memorable part of our holiday. Sometimes they play like crazy, sometimes they just like to be close and sleep so deeply when you hold them in your arms. Read full reviewReviewed on 02 Oct 2018 by Shannon Hiltabrand
An amazing experience. Would recommend to anyone who loves animals and is willing to work hard. Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Feb 2018 by Gill Stevenson
The highlight was sitting on a stool in the babies enclosure and having the privilege of a baby baboon sitting on my boot working out how to undo my shoe laces, a 'cuddle' of baby monkeys holding... Read full reviewReviewed on 27 Oct 2018 by Stephanie Chasseloup
My most memorable moment was when I had to carry Luna (6 weeks old baby baboon) one hour in my arms while she did not know me and was terrified. Read full reviewReviewed on 13 Nov 2018 by Christine Hammond
Worthwhile for the chance to help the monkeys but mostly for students in my opinion. Debbie and Steve were a great asset and positive role models. Read full reviewReviewed on 17 Nov 2017 by Lisa Byron
There wasn't a single most memorable thing, I woke to lions roaring, to monkeys on the patio outside the door, chopping trees to building roads for manual labour... Read full reviewReviewed on 04 Aug 2016 by Gillian McGowan
Totally unforgettable. We didn't want to leave and wish that we had been there for longer. We will be going back. Read full reviewReviewed on 03 Jul 2016 by elaine thornton
Excellent. It's a very, very, special unique opportunity for anyone to embrace a very valuable volunteer role in a beautiful country. Read full reviewReviewed on 01 May 2015 by emma pound
The best 4weeks of my life, cant wait to book my next! Read full reviewReviewed on 01 May 2015 by Laura Lockhard
If you love animals you'll love this volunteer work. You can't help but fall in love with them. Be ready for how difficult it is to leave them. To know these lost little ones will be able to get back out into the wild again is the best. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
Planet
Our projects are designed to immerse you in a different culture, living and working with local people. There’s plenty to gain personally from this. But we make sure that local people benefit too by choosing projects that bring tangible improvements to their lives.The importance of the project:
The centre started when its founder rescued a monkey from death and abuse and realised that help was needed for many more. It was decided to establish a centre where orphaned, abused, injured and mis-placed monkeys could be treated and rehabilitated. Now the centre is held up as an example of good practice by government bodies as well as NSPCA. It also has links with academic research organisations. However, funds are tight and charitable donations and voluntary help are crucial for its survival.
Rehabilitation process:
With scientifically based methods and techniques full rehabilitation takes about 3-4 years and happens in about 4 stages. The first stage of rehabilitation is working with the very young orphaned baby monkeys. The volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that they are regularly fed, kept warm and fully cared for.
After several months of this close care, attention and dedication babies are put into the second stage of the rehabilitation program - that is where 'family groups' are formed with monkeys of different ages and sexes. Monkeys stay in this second stage until the 'new family' have about 12-20 members and all are accepted by the other members of the family. At this stage they are living in a large enclosure with natural shrubbery, but their diets continue to be subsidised with fruit, vegetables and bread.
The next stage involves moving the troop into an even larger enclosure where the primates fend for themselves fully, yet under the careful eye of the centre to monitor their progress. Once the troop is fully functioning and surviving happily in stage 3, the release is planned. After the release the monkeys are monitored for at least 3-4 months to ensure that they are coping in nature and that the troop formulation remains as it was before release.
Protecting the world:
We insist that all participants bring their own water bottles when they travel with us, and clean free water is always available. We have even created a water bottle that can be purchased before departure and encourage people to use it at all stages of their journey including at the airport, on flights and whilst on their project. We are striving for all of our projects to be free of single use plastic.
People
Meeting local needs:As well as helping to protect monkeys and other animals, this rehabilitation centre plays an important role in protecting the local economy. This rural area relies on its wildlife and landscape to attract tourists, as there are no big cities nearby. The centre brings visitors to the area and has created jobs for 9 local people. It also promotes local art and helps villagers to market their wares to tourists. By helping at the centre, our volunteers are ensuring its survival and allowing it to expand the number of animals it can help. They also contribute to the local economy themselves, creating jobs for domestic staff at the centre, eating locally grown produce and shopping in the town.
Cultural sensitivity:
We emphasise the importance of showing respect for local people and their customs in our briefing material. Participants will work alongside permanent staff, forming close bonds and getting an insight into real life in rural South Africa.
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