MONKEY (South Africa)

This project has been involved in primate rehabilitation for 16 years, and can be considered the "Vervet Monkey Specialists". At one stage they dealt only with monkeys, but over time, have been receiving more species of animals and birds. Any orphaned and/or injured animals get treated at the center, and when healed or strong enough, released back to their natural habitat.

Goal of the project how volunteers can contribute

The aim of the research is to study and to document the behavioral activities of captive vervet monkeys, baboons and other wildlife species, correlate results with studies performed in the wild on wild free ranging vary monkeys and other species, and their ultimate releases into the wild. This project needs volunteers not only to help with the everyday running of the center, but also to assist with educating people on monkeys and help with the release process. Volunteers also play a very important role when the project is doing a release – there is a lot of data that needs to be recorded. Financial contributions go a long way to supporting the endless food and medical bills faced by the project.

Volunteer responsibilities

Volunteers will assist in the following tasks:

  • Taking care of injured sick / animals.
  • Helping around with medical procedures like dressing and stitching wounds, ministering medicines and parasite treatments.
  • Getting measurements and filling in report forms on admission, personal caring to traumatized monkeys and other animals admitted.
  • Meal preparation for animals.
  • Helping build new cages and enclosures and in general maintenance work at the center.
  • Talking to visitors and school groups, visit community projects.
  • Assessing the monkeys for their release and their release sites, making release enclosures, capture and processing monkeys for release, transporting monkeys/animals to release site, monitoring pre & post release.

Fees and Dates:

Global Crossroad provides volunteer programs at the lowest prices possible. Global Crossroad gives you the assurance that you will save a lot of money with our programs, because we do not promote the idea of volunteers spending thousands of dollars just to volunteer for a week. We also try our best in keeping our transactions transparent for volunteers to know and ensure that their fees are being used in the right way possible.

Except our registration fee of $299, our fees are as affordable as $690. The detailed fee structure of the Horse Project is as follows:

  • Weeks
  • 1 Week
  • 2 Week
  • 3 Week
  • 4 Week
  • 5 Week
  • 6 Week
  • 7 Week
  • 8 Week
  • Extra Per Week
  • Program Fee US$
  • N/A
  • $695
  • $1015
  • $1320
  • $1600
  • $1950
  • $2240
  • $2545
  • $350

Dates: Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the preferred arrival days. Thursdays and Fridays aren't such good days to arrive, as it is too close to the weekend (i.e. volunteers are hardly at the project, and they are then having time off).

room / food

The project has overnight facilities for small and large groups. The Loerie's Rest and Owl Barn dorms accommodate 15 people between them, Woodpecker Inn accommodates 4 – 6 people, and the Fish Eagle Cabin accommodates 3 – 4 people. Couples are accommodated separately in the Kingfisher Hut, or the Caravan. Sleeping outside can be arranged. Sheets, duvets and pillows are supplied, and in winter, sleeping bags help when it gets really cold (or if you want to sleep outside). Mosquito nets aren't necessary, but some volunteers feel safer with them. The camping site has toilets and shower facilities. A small kitchen / bar can be used by groups.

There are three set meals served per day.

Examples of Meals are:

Breakfast (at 09H00) – A continental breakfast.

Lunch (at 13H00) - Sandwiches, hamburgers, rolls and cold meat, pastas, salads.

Dinner (at 19H00) - Lasagna, roasts, vegetables, salads, pastas.

Free time/what volunteer can do in free time

When chores have been completed, and if there is time available, volunteers can go on excursions in the area.

Activities may include the Biggest Baobab in the World (listed as such), ethnic village, Kruger National Park; elephant back rides, Panorama scenic routes, and other activities (available on request).

Costs for these trips vary from R40 to R2500+, depending on the combinations of what you choose to do, entrance fees and distances travelled to get there. Please keep in mind that all additional activities are the sole responsibility of the volunteer, and that there is also an additional cost towards getting to / from these optional activities, and the cost will depend on how far you need to travel to get to these optional activities.

Major FAQ

  • Where do I need to fly?
  • How can I get to the project?
  • What vaccinations do I need?
  • How can I communicate with family?
  • How safe is the project?
  • Will there be someone to guide/supervise us?
  • Will there be other volunteers?
  • Any other important information to consider?