Monkey Sanctuary - Volunteer Workers

International Primate Rescue, based in   Pretoria, South Africa, has enjoyed the      company of volunteer workers from the USA, Canada, UK, The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Norway, MexicoAustralia and New Zealand. Why not join us too...

Positions available

Volunteers, gap year students, adult career breakers, and more are welcome to apply for a placement at the sancturay with immediate effect.  We accept volunteers for short periods (a quick week away) or if you'd prefer to "get to know" the monkeys, feel free to stay for as long as you like.

We currently have the following Long-term Volunteer positions available:  Builder - help construct new monkey enclosures and greenhouse.  Plumber - perform plumbing maintenence in the sanctuary volunteer house.  Electrician - run electrical lines in the monkey enclosures and volunteer house. 

Location

The sanctuary is located in Pretoria, South Africa.  Pretoria is approximately 45 minutes north of Johannesburg.  Volunteers can request a pick-up from the Johannesburg Airport or choose to travel on their own, using the bus or an internal flight to Pretoria Airport.

Duties

Daily duties are listed below.  Duties are worked out on a rota basis to give volunteers time off to travel around the local and surrounding areas (for example, some volunteers have travelled out to Kruger National Park for a couple of days).

• Food preparation, feeding the primates, cleaning the enclosures
• Medication and supplements of sick and elderly primates
• Accompanying primates to the vet
• Assisting with surgical procedures (if experienced)
• General monitoring of unstable primates
• Hand rearing
• Record keeping
• Enclosure building and maintenance
• Introductions and monitoring of two unfamiliar primates
• Separating fighting primates (including by hand - if experienced)
• Relocating and monitoring of primates to new enclosures at the sanctuary
• Enrichment – adding new branches and other enrichments items to the enclosures
• Assist in rescue operations

Penga (Marmoset) enjoys a cuddle from a volunteer worker

Free time

Not all the time is spent looking after the monkeys; there's usually enough time for volunteers to relax in the sun or venture out to other activities.  Previous volunteers have experienced activities such as:

• Spend a few days at Kruger National Park
• Visit the Pretoria Zoo
• Day out safari tours
• Day out visits to Sun City
• Visit a local museum
• Have drinks or dinner at a pub or bar in Pretoria
• Take a shopping trip to the local mall
• Take in a film at the cinema
• Go ice skating or bowling (located in the mall)
• Read in the sun or in the braai veranda on an evening
• Chill out in the garden by a fire in the evenings

Costs GBP 175 for full board (3 meals a day) and a shared room in the sanctuary house.

Additional:  GBP 20 (each way) for airport transfers

Your accommodation will be a shared (dorm type) room in the sanctuary house with access to a shower or bath, washing machine and kitchen, shared with other volunteer workers.  Couples, please enquire about private accommodation.

Volunteer fees must be paid into our South African banking account at least one week prior to arrival through a bank transfer

               Volunteer dorm                               Shared kitchen                            Monkey kitchen                       The sanctuary house 

                              Volunteer bedroom                                                         Volunteer gardens - with hammock and sitting bench

Feel free to contact us for more information (s.a@iprescue.org).  We are always flexible and happy to accommodate you if you have any specific requirements or needs.

A couple of the lovely primates you could be looking after...

     Shapken - Mona Monkey        Bobby - Squirrel Monkey         Marvin - Common Marmoset