International Primate Rescue – Volunteer abroad with primates

Welcome to International Primate Rescue – where compassion meets action! Nestled near Pretoria, South Africa, we are more than just a sanctuary; we’re a passionate community dedicated to caring for a diverse range of rescued monkey species.
Are you an animal enthusiast with a soft spot for monkeys? If you’re ready to transform your passion into purpose, volunteering with us at International Primate Rescue is the adventure you’ve been seeking! Join our team, and together, we’ll not only give you an unforgettable experience but also the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of these incredible animals.
Come be a part of our mission! By volunteering at IPR, you’re not just helping us, you’re directly contributing to the well-being of these remarkable primates. Let’s make a positive impact together – volunteer with us and let the rewarding journey begin!
    
 
 
        
   Leanne W 
 31/03/2024
 
 
  Amazing experience
I came back from International Primate Rescue last week after spending 3 weeks there and I absolutely loved my experience! International Primate Rescue is such an amazing non profit charity, run by Sue Mousley, a warrior in her own right! This amazing human gives her all to ensure these primates have the very best love, care and attention they need to thrive and to live out the rest of their days happily. Also, Sophie Finch, a young and dedicated lady who works alongside Sue with the day to day running, the support for volunteering and media outputs. I was so fortunate to meet and work alongside IPRs long termers Tina Jenkinson and Lizzy Lorimer - These ladies have been coming and going for many years and leave a piece of their hearts everytime they have to go. Most many of these monkeys have been rescued by Sue / IPR and the hundreds of volunteers/carers thoughout the years from some horrendous situations that has ultimately meant that they are unable to be rehabilitated into the wild so now will live out the rest of their days at the rescue centre, being given the best possible love, care and attention 😍 Daily tasks - Our days were spent interacting with the monkeys, giving them clean, warm and enjoyable enclosures to live and sleep in (when I say enclosures, I mean, these guys have the run of the place...) The first meal of the day was always completed by members of Sue's staff in the early hours. The volunteer's day started at 9am with what was referred to as 'top ups' additional food and fresh water for everyone. Meals were always of a good variety providing balanced and healthy foods, suppliments and engaging choices. Once we had completed this, we would then take direction from Sue for our next task, usually to clean enclosures. Providing fresh blankets/straw/grass, Leaving new branches and enrichment activities. It was always a pleasure to watch them go into their enclosures, cameras at the ready! Twelve until two was our extensive lunch break, plenty of time to relax, eat and regroup, reflecting on our morning and a chance to discuss our afternoon tasts. 2pm would start with top ups once more, just as before. We would then go on to what ever was needed to be done. Grounds maintenance was also important, especially raking the main walk ways, around the enclosures and beneath tunnels when sometimes food would be dropped. THEN, 4pm was treat time! A most enjoyable time not just for the monkeys but for us also! Everyday, a different type of treat, from monkey nuts to the occasional cheese puffs. And they always knew it was 4pm! During the whole day there was always opportunity for observations, looking out for the general well being of the monkeys and enclosures. 5pm was the end to our day but we would take turns to help feed the nocturnal monkeys and have quality time too and also by 6:30, the bowl collection from each enclosure ready to wash and be used the next morning. Accommodation - Its not the kind of place you need to take a hair dryer and straightners like I did! No, the accommodation is very basic, providing electricity from 5pm until 10pm each day although Sue was always happy to put the generator on throughout the day if anyone needed to wash clothes. My advise to anyone would be to take solor powered lights, battery packs ect to be able to charge phones, tablets and laptops throughout the daytime. Shower was hot and had good pressure. There is a new 4 ring cooker with a good oven and also a microwave. There are several bedrooms that sleep between 2 and 4 people at a time with fresh linen and a towel. Time off - We worked out between ourselves what days off we wanted to ensure we always had 'hands on' at the sanctuary. We had opportunities to go and explore parts of Sound Africa. Lots to do and see within a short drive away. Not forgetting the Africa sunsets and rises, truly breath taking. Marnie and his wife who live next door and have been in full support of IPR for 28years were always happy to help, arrange and even take you on excursions. I was fortunate to visit Krugar National Park for 3 days with their support and I couldn't have felt safer. There is a supermarket, a liquor store and a take away just a short taxi drive away, even a KFC! Overall this has opened my eyes to a whole new world! If you're the hands on type of person, has a huge heart for the welfare of animals and enjoy getting to know like minded people, this place is for you... I absolutely cannot wait to return.
  
 
       
   Lizzy L 
 15/05/2023
 
 
  Best animal interaction ever
My heart is here with Sue! The definition of charity and real no frills living. Covid has made everything harder of course but the furry residents are put first as always. If interested in animal care you can't get more hand's on than this. See international_primate_rescue insta. Hard work required but the best experience ever. I've been going for nearly 10 years.... True animal lovers won't want to leave! As per previous review, most animal sanctuaries use porridge and supplements so please don't listen xx
  
 
       
   Cheyenne Collins 
 26/12/2020
 
 
  IPR Will Forever Hold A Special Place In My Heart
I cannot even begin to express my love for the primates at International Primate Rescue! Thanks to Sue Mousley, they live happy and fulfilling lives. I know that under her care, no matter what the world throws at the sanctuary, the primates will be fed and loved on. My experience there will never be topped! Not only was it a place where I could live out the dream of caring for primates, but it was so peaceful and structured that I was able to work on myself! I cooked every day, I read, I worked on personal projects and I strived to better myself as a human in general! What was great is that Sue and the other volunteers had open and honest conversations with me about ways in which to help me do it, too. They are genuinely some of the best people I have ever met. Living with strangers isn’t easy and relationships aren’t perfect, but everyone was willing to talk about their problems and concerns and work together. Keep in mind that this isn't totally a vacation! Be ready to work hard! There are so many animals who need you to clean up their poop and feed them all throughout the day! I promise it is worth it, though. I am telling you, if you have the chance to volunteer at IPR, DO IT!!! I cannot wait for the day I get to go back; I know, without a doubt, it will be soon! If for some reason you cannot make the trip, I urge you to consider donating something. A little goes a long way and with Sue in charge I can guarantee the money goes towards nothing but the livelihood of the animals there. This sanctuary is ethical, wonderful and impressive! I am so grateful for the opportunity to work there for 6 months and I would have stayed longer if I could at the time! IPR will always be considered another home to me and so many others who pass through. p.s. I cannot believe there are negative reviews of this place. It makes absolutely no sense to me. Sue is the kindest, most selfless woman on the planet and you get to work with primates! People that cannot appreciate an experience like this must have unreasonable expectations or a poor work ethic.
  
 
       
   Kieran 
 17/09/2019
 
 
  A truly enlightening experience
I spent 4 weeks at the sanctuary and had the most incredible time with the monkeys and loved getting to know all their unique personalities. I have nothing but praise for Sue, Paula and Craig, who run the sanctuary, whether it be how welcoming they are to all volunteers to make them feel at home or their relentless tenacity in ensuring the physical and mental health of every single animal under their care. As a short term volunteer you are paired with a long term volunteer for tasks like topping up food, weekly early feeds, cleaning enclosures regularly and general maintanence around the sanctuary. While the work can be hard the satisfaction and intrisic reward it brings is very gratifying. The passion of those who run and volunteer at the sanctuary is apparent as they wake up at the crack of dawn to give medicine and supplements to the primates who require them and regularly check up on their progress to make sure all the primates are happy and healthy. The primates' welfare is at the forefront of everything at the sanctuary whether it's expanding enclosures, introducing monkeys together or ensuring each primate is on a sustainable diet to keep them in good health. Even in my relatively short stay I witnessed Stanford, a Rhesus Macaque, be introduced into a much larger enclosure which changed his whole demeanour and quality of life. Many of the ex pet primates enjoy human interaction and I was shown how to do so in a safe and deferential way. On a side note, the one negative review was suggestive the primates are on poor diets and in unsanitary enclosures. This couldn't be further from the truth; the porridge is filled with numerous supplements tailored to the different primates and theyre given a variety of fruits and vegetables each day. I was quite taken aback at how regimented and precise the food preperation was. The primates are given appropiate treats once a day as a way of maintaining weight. Every enclosure is cleaned regularly and thoroloughly in additon if they become more dirty than usual they are cleaned ahead of schedule. I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience (apart from how cold it is in winter South African evenings) and the high level of care is reflected by many of the primates significantly outliving their expected life span. I cannot recommend going enough!
  
 
       
   DMVEAL 
 10/03/2018
 
 
  Monkeys first middle and last
I came to volunteer for just over 2 weeks. As far as the approx 100 monkeys and all the animals they care for ( rescue cats, dogs, parrot , dove, foxes, nocturnal animals etc) they are king. With a first feed at daybreak 04.30 and last check they are in bed at 7pm with multiple checks during the day these monkeys are pampered. With food cut to minute size for the bush babies then a little bigger for the marmosets and more chunky still for the capuchins all food is prepared daily and kept in fridge ready to distribute along with top ups during the day. All bowls bleached and washed and cages cleaned with new fresh blankets on a 1-2 weekly basis. The owners are passionate about animals and primates and so are the long term volunteers. As previously stated it is very basic living for volunteers so please be prepared for possible multiple bedrooms sharing in peak periods ,multiple Mossi bites ( bring citronella, bite cream etc) no going out at night as dangerous and isolated location. So you do relax as you go to bed early.... ie 8-9pm but you adjust and find yourself mooching about at 7 am which I wouldn’t at home. Neighbour runs tours but unless you can go with others ie a minimum of 3 it can be expensive see pictures for prices. He also runs a adhoc taxi service which includes pickup and drop off to airport for £60 each way and about £5 to the local shop a mile away. I rented a car for 16 days for £150. ( a Renault Clio) and found this really cost affective as shopping and the tours are all doable on your own. I went overnight to walk with lions and ride at Horseback Africa and this with 4 course meal, 2 lunches, breakfast as well was approx 2600 rand (£165). It cost me £65 for elephant and monkey sanctuary as well as a self drive safari. I spent approx £100 on petrol but drove a lot in my days off. I self drove Dinokeng and entry was 150 rand each (£10) for 2 with Car for the day. Internet is poor but if you drive off site it improves. Tips download lots of series and movies for evenings.you also really need a SIM card with data allowance of approx 1 GB per week. I got one with 2 GB and some texts and calls for approx £25. At a CellC store in Pretoria. I know your tired but if you can do this st Joburg airport I would. Especially if you don’t have a car as it’ll cost a taxi trip otherwise. You need to cook for yourself and part of a freezer and fridge are allocated to you. Sadly I had stomach bug and a chest infection so was off my food most of time I was there. Don’t expect to be in cages with the monkeys as you can only go in with a few of the marmosets and tamarins and squirrel monkeys due to the fact the rest can be unpredictable. You do this once a week for 1 hour only. You are in a rota but can request your days off. You generally do a 4.30am once a week and same for a 7pm check. Otherwise it’s 9am-12 and then 2-5pm each day. Don’t forget a head light. I enjoyed my time here and will pop in if I am in the area to say hi. It costs £175 per week to volunteer which is including your room. Minimum is 2 weeks. If you plan to volunteer for a year it’s free living and you get £10 approx pocket money per week.
  
 
       
   t1ns2000 
 07/12/2017
 
 
  Rewarding experience
Working with animals has always been a dream of mine. I booked a visit to IPR on impulse, having no idea what to expect. When arriving, I was shown around the 'human' living area. It's very very basic, but it said to me that this was a real charity, with the emphasis being on the animals. I was then shown around the sanctuary and they have a huge range of different primates, from marmosets, capuchins, tamarins, mona monkeys, squirrel monkeys and more. The pet trade in these wild animals in SA is big, needless to say the majority of these animals are ex pets, however there are also rescues from labs, zoos and other such places. The work is so rewarding, knowing you are making a difference to the life of an animal, that unfortunately cannot be returned to the wild (none of them are indegionous to SA) you build, you clean, you feed and make enrichment. You have other jobs around the sanctuary too. On down time, you can go on trips organised by their lovely next door neighbours. Be sure not to go to SA and miss a trip to Kruger, it is amazing. All in all, one of the best things I have ever done. Volunteering is a must for anyone seeking a new and rewarding experience.
  
 
       
   Georgina C 
 07/08/2017
 
 
  Life experience I will treasure !!
My three weeks at IPR were priceless I am so thankful for the experience that everyone at IPR gave me , they allowed me to get involved and taught me a lot about looking after animals, their care is dedicated to the monkeys at the sanctuary and other animals with the food they prepare and facilities provided for the monkeys and the enclosures. I could see that everything that goes into this charity is used for the monkeys and it's amazing to see how well they are for their animals with little funding! I really recommend volunteering here as everyone is so welcoming and kind you will guaranteed to feel at home within your first day!! Overall I couldn't fault my stay here because it provided me with a fantastic life experience amongst a bunch of lovely people who cared so much for the volunteers as well as the monkeys. But I can't praise enough how dedicated these people are to providing better lives for the monkeys and other animals ! Thank you so much for making my 3 weeks the best !! Georgina ⭐️
  
 
       
   tina j 
 03/08/2017
 
 
  Amazing experience
Volunteering is such an amazing experience. The people that give up their lives to care for these animals need a medal. IPR is a charity that is a little under the radar. They survive solely on the volunteer contribution, so if you want to make a rescued monkeys life better, get volunteering 😀 I have been there 10 times, but I have also volunteered in other places. These guys rescued some monkeys last year that were starving to death, within six months in their care the turn around was amazing (check out my pics of the before and after) Your duties include- cleaning, making enrichment, collecting food bowels, monitoring, building works, supplements and much more. No one day is the same. It is hard work though so don''t think it's all about cuddling monkeys! On your days off, you can go on trips, that their neighbours run. Kruger is a must, but there are other smaller and nearer game reserves if money is tight, or head to Joburg and check out the apartaid museum. Don't expect 5 star luxuary, this is a real charity, which means money is tight and human comfort is not a priority. The owner has around 30 years experience of working with primates and is extremely knowledgable in their care. I would defiantly recommend this place, especially if you are studying and want some real experience.
  
 
       
   Ellis C 
 03/08/2017
 
 
  Best experience of my life.
I have been coming back and forth to International Primate Rescue to volunteer for quite some time. The primates completely stole my heart from my very first visit, and I have found them to be a absolute joy to care for ever since. IPR is a great place to meet like minded people that are friendly and welcoming. it's a place where you can also make new friends along the way, and even bond and make a friend or two with the primates here which is a definite plus . The Primates get the upmost care and attention in all aspects. I can say they eat better than I do, in the sense that they get a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, monkey nut's, sunflower seeds and get a bowl of porridge included. It's good physical work, with cleaning of enclosures, chopping hay and using of wheelbarrows. Some days a good amount walking around the sanctuary doing numerous jobs will be involved too. I would very much recommend anyone to come IPR and volunteer to see for yourself what primate caring is all about, and also learn a thing or two. It's a amazing experience which i've enjoyed every moment.
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