Volunteer @ Animal Protection & Environmental Sanctuary

The Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation Centre was established by Dawn and Rodney, a couple that have been working with monkeys for over 19 years. Besides monkeys, they also take care of ducks, geese, cats, dogs, and any other wildlife. Their home is Khobotho Ranch, situated deep within ”Zulu” country on a 3000 acre game reserve neighboring a rural community where traditional Zulu huts are still the norm. This nature reserve is surrounded by a heavily wooded series of hills, cliffs and valleys mainly of virgin bush. The reserve includes a stone built, thatched bush camp that sleeps up to 12, where there are many species of wild animals to be seen. As a volunteer, you become a part of this big family, and you are required to assist with preparing feeds, hand-rearing infant monkeys (if and when necessary), feeding, cleaning and many other tasks in and around the centre.

The centre is unique in its approach to rehabilitation and over the years they have had great results, seeing many vervet monkeys return to the wild. The centre rescues orphaned and injured vervet monkeys (some only a few hours old) and with care and correct management. When they have healed or reached maturity, they are released back into their known territory or on site.

Some of the rescued monkeys live on the property as a free troop by choice. They are able to interact with the vervets in the enclosures. Some of these are unreleasable monkeys that can never survive in the wild due to previous injuries, others are infants waiting to be released. Wild troops that live outside the centre are encouraged to visit the centre’s free troop. Over time these troops get to know each other, allowing for easier integration.

Infant vervets need a great deal of love, attention and stimulation. Feeding takes place every four hours throughout the day and in some cases throughout the night. When they are older, they spend their days in their outside enclosure, and are brought indoors overnight until they reach plus minus 7 months, at which time they are mature enough to remain outside permanently with the older monkeys. The centre does not have infants all year round, and most of the infants that are cared for by the centre are orphans, their mothers having been killed one way or the other.

There are many other things to do, for example maintenance work, assisting with house chores, fence repairs, snare patrols, game counts etc. Volunteers must be willing to muck in with daily life at the centre, and not be afraid to get their hands dirty. Monkeys are wild animals, so there are no guarantees that you won’t get a nip or two (but no life-threatening bites!).Remember that monkeys DO NOT carry rabies!

There are also opportunities for volunteers during school terms to interact with rural children on a cultural and educational level by assisting the teachers. This can also include maintenance, painting, repairing fences, environmental and recycling education, etc. Many of the children walk long distances to get to and from school, they and the teaching staff look forward to meeting volunteers from overseas.

There are many exciting opportunities for volunteers; overnight stays at our bush camp, hiking trails, visits and overnight stays with traditional Zulu families and “live like a Zulu” experience. You can be sure of a truly memorable African experience without the usual luxuries of city living.

The centre also encourages volunteers to visit other areas of KwaZulu-Natal, Tours can be organized for them. N.B.Tours etc are to the volunteers own account: For example trips to Hluhluwe gamepark to see the Big 5 and many other species of game, visits to St Lucia wetlands it isa world heritage site, underwater dives, hiking in the Drakensberg, visit the Battlefields or go to Durban’s Shaka land, Seaworld, educational tour to the Shark Research Centre etc We encourage our volunteers to see as much as possible of our beautiful country.

All inter country transport are to the volunteers own account, excepting collection and delivery to and from Mooi River, which is on the main Johannesburg/Durban route: Accommodation and home cooked meals are provided along with a laundry service. The nearest town is Greytown, 12 kms away where Internet, shops, restaurants, banks, chemist, medical facilities etc are available. Twice weekly trips are arranged to pick up supplies.

These thoroughly rewarding projects will suit all volunteers with an interest in wildlife, zoology, veterinary sciences, natural history, environmental issues, study of the local Zulu traditions, and South African history.

Requirements for volunteers; no skills needed, apart from a great love of animals both wild and domestic, the environment and not afraid of getting their hands dirty!