Volunteer

Monkey Helpline is run by a highly dedicated and experienced team. Our Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Centre is responsible for the care of over a thousand displaced, sick, orphaned or injured monkeys each year.

Unfortunately we see this number rising steadily so it is up to us (yes that includes you, future volunteer) to make sure that we do everything in our power to help them get healthy and back to freedom again. You will be able to help them escape a life of misery, torment or even death.

What to expect

As a volunteer at Monkey Helpline, you can expect to care for orphaned baby monkeys, rescue injured monkeys, release rehabilitated monkeys back into the wild, help with general maintenance of the sanctuary, assist with feeding of monkeys and cleaning of enclosures, participate in educational programs about monkeys, rescue a variety of other animals, visit the vet to attend to sick and injured animals, and explore Durban and the surrounding areas in your time off.

Everything you will need

Comfortable clothes to work in (shorts and long pants, t-shirts, socks); a raincoat, windbreaker/waterproof jacket and jersey; working and walking shoes; lounging-around-the-house wear; clothes and footwear for socialising during off time; usual personal hygiene items; a sleeping bag, sun hat, sunglasses, two towels and swimwear; two certified copies of your passport, visas if required, travel and medical insurance documents, flight tickets and any medication prescriptions; an international driver’s licence if you plan to hire a vehicle; a card for ATM withdrawals; a mobile phone; and any health supplements or medication you need.

Prior to travel

Please make sure you have two certified copies of your passport, visas if required, a driver’s licence if you have one, travel and medical insurance documents, flight tickets or booking confirmation (so we know when to collect you from the airport), medication prescriptions if required, and a vaccination certificate against tetanus, plus certification that you are free of Tuberculosis (TB test or chest X-ray). Consult your travel doctor regarding any vaccinations or medical certificates you might need to enter South Africa.

All volunteers must be vaccinated against tetanus in sufficient time prior to arriving at Monkey Helpline and must also be certified free of Tuberculosis before being allowed to work with monkeys. A volunteer who gets sick during their stay will need to be fully recovered before being allowed to work directly with monkeys or monkey food.

Visa requirements differ by nationality — please check with the South African Embassy or Consular office closest to you. For ‘purpose of visit’ on arrival, simply state “Tourist”. You must book your own air ticket, sort out passport and visa requirements, take out travel and medical insurance, and confirm all of this has been done in good time.

Joining instructions

Once the online application form is complete, we will email you with a joining pack including the Volunteer Agreement Form and Indemnity Form to sign and return, a checklist, a map of the meeting point at King Shaka International Airport, contact details for the team, a packing list, an information brochure, the social media policy for volunteers, and a letter from Steve Smit confirming your accommodation.

What will I eat? We are vegan

At MH we strive to be as animal and earth friendly as we can possibly be, and the part of this that will affect you, the volunteer, most, is what you eat when with us. All food and drinks provided by MH and consumed at the MH volunteer house or anywhere on MH property, including the MH vehicles, will be vegan — one of the few “cast in stone” rules you will have to comply with. Many volunteers arrive expecting vegan food to be boring, unpalatable or nutritionally deficient — we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. In your free time, off MH property, what you eat is your own choice.

We start every day with a smile, go through every day with enthusiasm, and end every day with optimism. Come have an adventure!