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At the Vervet Monkey Foundation, you'll get your hands dirty caring for orphaned and injured vervet monkeys in the wild Limpopo bush. Feed babies, support reintegration into wild troops, and work daily alongside a passionate team doing real conservation. This is Africa — raw, meaningful, and unforgettable.
30 hours of help per week
Animal Care: Help look after and take care of animals.
Building & Repairing: Help with a wide range of repairs or building.
Amount: US$ 620 One time
Fee pays for: Donation to project
Description: Your $620 covers 2 weeks of accommodation, all meals, full training, and hands-on programme support. Every cent funds the sanctuary directly — vet bills, animal formula, enclosure care. No hidden fees once you're here. Personal travel insurance and off-site spending money not included.
2 days off per week
Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.
Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.
Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.
Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.
Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.
Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.
Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.
Basic Internet Access: Basic speed internet for you to work remotely
Intermediate English or Fluent English
Between 18 and 80 years old
Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers
Travel insurance
Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa
In the Limpopo bushveld, the Vervet Monkey Foundation rescues, rehabilitates, and releases orphaned and injured vervet monkeys back into the wild. As a volunteer, you'll work hands-on alongside our small, dedicated team — feeding infants, assisting with medical care, building enrichment, and supporting the delicate process of reintegrating monkeys into wild troops.
This is not observational. You'll have real responsibility from day one, in one of South Africa's only facilities of its kind. Surrounded by indigenous bush, mountains, and authentic rural Africa, you'll gain practical wildlife rehabilitation experience while contributing to a conservation mission that genuinely depends on you.
Expect hard work, extraordinary moments, and a connection to the natural world that most people never get to experience.
Activities you'll be involved in:
Preparing and delivering feeds for infant and juvenile monkeys
Cleaning and maintaining enclosures and sleeping areas
Assisting with health checks and basic medical care
Building and installing enrichment structures to stimulate natural behaviour
Monitoring monkey behaviour and recording observations
Supporting the reintegration process — helping semi-wild monkeys transition back to wild troops
Assisting with food preparation (fruit, vegetables, and specialist primate formula)
General sanctuary maintenance in the bush environment
Shifts:
Volunteers typically work two shifts per day — an early morning shift starting around 06:30, and an afternoon shift. Midday downtime gives you time to rest, explore, or simply watch the bush come alive around you. Shifts rotate across tasks so you experience all aspects of the programme. Days off are scheduled into the programme, giving you time to explore the greater Limpopo region.
Respect the animals first.
These are wild animals in rehabilitation — not pets. No unsupervised handling, no feeding outside scheduled times, no personal photos inside enclosures without permission. Your behaviour directly affects their recovery and their chances of returning to the wild.
Show up and follow through.
Monkeys don't take days off, and neither does the team. Arrive on time for your shifts, complete your tasks, and communicate early if something isn't working. Reliability matters here more than it does almost anywhere else.
Respect the community.
You'll be living and working closely with other volunteers and staff in a remote environment. Kindness, patience, and a willingness to pitch in go a long way. Conflict is handled directly and respectfully — we're a small team and there's no room for drama.
Alcohol & substances.
Moderate social drinking in the evenings is fine. Arriving at a shift impaired is grounds for immediate dismissal from the programme.
The bush is a living place.
Follow all safety guidelines around wildlife, fire, and the natural environment. This is not a controlled resort — it's a working sanctuary in the African bush. Take it seriously.
In return, we commit to treating you with the same respect — as a capable, valued member of the team.
