• It’s the first free-roaming multi-species primate sanctuary (located in Southern Cape – it offers tours (we call them monkey safaris) during which visitors can see more than 700 primates comprising of capuchin monkeys, ringtail, and black-and-white ruffed lemurs, saki monkeys, squirrel monkeys, vervet monkeys, two species of langur, howler monkeys, gibbons, etc in their forest home.

Visitors also experience our 128-meter suspended canopy walk whilst on tour. There’s also a restaurant, souvenir store, and viewing deck. Our safari guides are multi-lingual (English, Afrikaans, German, Dutch, French, and Spanish).
• The primate sanctuary is accredited with Fair Trade Tourism in South Africa

A Day at the Project
Volunteers are usually asked to work five days per week, they may be asked to work
additional hours over peak season. Please note that off days may not fall on a weekend.
Day-to-day activities vary depending on what is needed at any given time. However, the detail below gives a good idea of the type of work that our volunteers will help with.
8 am
Arrive at the project and begin feeding and cleaning the enclosures of primates that are, for different reasons, not released into the main 12-hectare forest (e.g. on pre-release rehabilitation).

Carry out a ‘rubbish run’ – walking through the forest picking up papers that the monkeys may have stolen and dropped on the forest floor as well as cleaning our car
park of any litter that was left behind by the visitors.
9 am – 5 pm
Most volunteers will spend the majority of their time, conducting guided tours, in their home language, English or both. This involves taking guests through the sanctuary on a one-hour tour through the forest enclosure, looking for the 500+ primates that roam freely there.
During the tours, our guests will be able to observe the primates up close and personal in a natural setting, whilst the guide provides information about the species and the threats these animals face.
All guests are escorted from the main entrance to the reception area. During this short walk, the guests are given a quick introduction to the project and our rules (no touching, feeding etc) are explained.

When not conducting guided tours, the staff and volunteers are positioned at the main entrance so that they may escort visitors to the reception area.
Additional tasks that the volunteers may get involved in include:
– feeding peanuts to the forest monkeys;
– maintenance of forest walkways and the suspension bridge;
– marketing in town and at shows and functions;
– assisting the curators in observations, vet visits, and treatment, etc.
There’s a long list of activities that the volunteers may be able to get involved in, depending on their aptitude and willingness to help out. Not all of these though are daily occurrences.
2.30 pm
Those volunteers not on a guided tour will help unload the food truck, storing the next day’s food into the cool room. They may also help out with the afternoon feed of the primates that are in enclosures.
4 pm
Those volunteers not on a guided tour can help top up the feed in the main forest.
5 pm
Close of the day and return to accommodation.
Coffee/Tea Breaks and Lunch

No set times for breaks as the timing will depend on how many staff and volunteers are out on guided tours. Generally, volunteers will be able to take a short break in the morning, after the cleaning and before the first tour commences.
The same goes for lunch, although volunteers will always be given preference when it comes to ensuring they have a lunch break.
NB At no time will humanisation of the primates be allowed; The project is very
particular in their “HANDS OFF” approach toward the animals in our care.

Gender: Male or female
Age group: 18 and older
Interests: Animal conservation is a plus.
Personality: Volunteers will be considered if they can understand and speak English, are hard-working, fast-learning, enthusiastic and prepared to cheerfully fulfil tasks such as welcoming tourists at our entrance gate, informing visitors about our animals as they assist them to the reception, explain the basic rules regarding the sanctuary (no touching, etc.), assisting with caring for the primates.

Always visit your nearest travel clinic for up to date information regarding which vaccines are required.

Tourist attractions: Kayaking, surfing, hiking, horse riding, bungee jumping, paragliding, parachuting. It is situated on the Garden Route of South Africa and there are several tourist attractions and places to visit.

 Minimum volunteering 6 weeks & maximum volunteering 12 weeks

1. Cape Town Direct Arrival Program
2. – The program starts on a Saturday
3. – Departure for the project on Sunday – if boarding at the backpackers
4. Departure for the project on Monday – If staying at the accommodation of the project

Backpacker Accommodation

– Book additional weeks of volunteering after 12 weeks for $57 per week

Project Volunteer House

– Book additional weeks of volunteering after 12 weeks for $57 per week.

What’s Included in the fee:

• Pickup & Drop-off at Cape Town International Airport
• Transport between Cape Town & the project
• One night dorm room accommodation in Cape Town (without breakfast)
• 24/7 Emergency contact number in South Africa & support by local partner
• Certificate upon completion of volunteering.
• Self-Catering Accommodation near the project
• Wi-Fi at the accommodation
• Transport accommodation-project-accommodation

2. Short Introduction Cape Town Program

– The program starts weekly on a Monday & project follows on a Wednesday

Backpacker accommodation

– Book additional weeks of volunteering after 12 weeks for $57 per week

Volunteer Accommodation

– Book additional weeks of volunteering after 12 weeks for $57 per week

What’s Included in the fee:

• Pickup & Drop-off at Cape Town International Airport
• Transport between Cape Town & the project
• Two nights dorm room accommodation in Cape Town (with breakfast)
• 24/7 Emergency contact number in South Africa & support by local partner
• Certificate upon completion of volunteering.
• Self-Catering Accommodation near the project
• Wi-Fi at the accommodation
• Transport accommodation-project-accommodation

3. Full Introduction Cape Town Program

– The program starts every Monday and the project starts the following Monday

Backpacker Accommodation

– Book additional weeks of volunteering after 12 weeks for $57 per week

Volunteer Accommodation

– Book additional weeks of volunteering after 12 weeks for $57 per week

What’s Included in the fee:

• Pickup & Drop-off at Cape Town International Airport
• Transport between Cape Town & the project
• Seven nights dorm room accommodation in Cape Town (with breakfast)
• Orientation with a bigger group of volunteers & Visit to the V&A Waterfront
• A Full Day Peninsula Tour
• Two Half Day Tours: Township + City
• Two Way Cable car tickets for Table Mountain
• Lunch at a traditional South African restaurant
• 24/7 Emergency contact number in South Africa & support by local partner
• Certificate upon completion of volunteering.
• Self-catering accommodation near the project
• Wi-Fi at the accommodation
• Transport accommodation-project-accommodation

What’s excluded in the fee:

• Return flights from the country of origin (we do supply flight advice if needed)
• Any Visa related costs (We provide needed documents for the obtainment of Visa)
• Any meals if not mentioned
• Any items of personal nature
• The last night in Cape Town prior to your departure from South Africa (bookable directly from our local partner’s website)
• The nights between the end of the program and start at the project + last night in Cape Town prior to your departure from South Africa (bookable directly from our local partner’s website) 2-day program