Introducing our BRAND-NEW project, Chimp Eden at The Jane Goodall Institute, offering you a chance to work with our closest living relatives, chimpanzees!

Tucked within the stunning 1,000-hectare Umhloti Nature Reserve, the Chimp Eden sanctuary, run by the Jane Goodall Institute South Africa, offers hope and healing to one of humanity's closest living and endangered relatives: the chimpanzee. Founded in 2006, Chimp Eden is South Africa's first and only chimpanzee sanctuary, providing a refuge for chimps rescued from the horrors of the bushmeat trade, illegal pet markets, human-wildlife conflict, and exploitative roles in circuses, beach resorts, and nightclubs.

The chimpanzees at Chimp Eden once endured unimaginable trauma. Now, they thrive in expansive, semi-wild enclosures, foraging freely, engaging in natural behaviours, and rediscovering the joy of social bonding within their newly found troops. Many arrive needing to relearn essential survival skills, including how to climb, forage, and simply, how to be chimpanzees again. Chimp Eden's mission is twofold: to rescue and rehabilitate abused and exploited chimpanzees and bring greater awareness of their plight through education and eco-tourism. By sharing the stories of these incredible apes, the sanctuary inspires action to reverse their endangered status.

As a volunteer at Chimp Eden, you'll bring the Jane Goodall Institute's work to life as you help enrich the lives of over 30 chimpanzees, assisting with food preparation and distribution, creating engaging enrichment items and transforming the sanctuary grounds through construction and maintenance. You'll be part of rewriting the chimp's story, connecting with their individual personalities and paving a better future for their species as a whole - all while immersing yourself in the natural beauty of South Africa.

Activities

Food Prep & Distribution at Chimp Eden - The Jane Goodall Institute

Food preparation and distribution Volunteers help prepare up to five meals a day for the chimps, ensuring they get fresh, quality food consisting of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and supplements. They also assist in the vegetable garden and sort through food donations, selecting the best produce for the chimps' meals. During the day, you'll also help scatter and hide food around the chimp enclosures, encouraging natural foraging and providing plenty of enrichment. It's a fun, hands-on way to keep the chimps engaged and well-fed!

Enrichment at Chimp Eden - The Jane Goodall Institute

Enrichment A key part of the itinerary focuses on creating enrichment for the chimps. This involves providing stimulating activities and environments promoting natural behaviours and cognitive skills that they were denied for many years. Enrichment hugely enhances the quality of life, and by hiding food, crafting puzzle feeders, wood blocks, or artificial termite mounds, you'll help prevent boredom and encourage behaviours the chimps would use in the wild.

Chimp Observations at Chimp Eden - The Jane Goodall Institute

Chimp Observations As a volunteer, you'll have the rewarding opportunity to observe the chimps multiple times a day during feeding or enrichment activities. You'll also play a key role in monitoring their behaviours, especially for those with behavioural challenges. Your careful observations will provide essential insights that enhance their care and rehabilitation plans, making a real difference in their lives!

Enclosure & Equipment Cleaning at Chimp Eden - The Jane Goodall Institute

Cleaning Enclosures & Equipment As a volunteer, you'll help maintain a clean and safe environment for the chimpanzees by removing old food and used enrichment items from their enclosures during food scattering activities. You'll also help clean the chimps' blankets and reusable enrichment items, ensuring their comfort and hygiene while supporting the sanctuary's overall upkeep.

Construction & Maintenance With the help of volunteers, the sanctuary will finally be able to transform and enhance parts of the property that have fallen into disrepair. A major project for volunteers involves construction and maintenance tasks to prepare a disused enclosure for reuse. Once this enclosure is back in action, other tasks will include making hammocks, installing other climbing apparatus, and performing general maintenance to improve all the enclosures and the chimps' forever homes.

Free Time at Chimp Eden - The Jane Goodall Institute

Free Time As a volunteer, you’ll have two days off to explore the local area. Perhaps you'll enjoy a day trip to Kruger National Park (where transport can be arranged) or head into town for a spot of shopping. You can also explore the Lowveld National Botanical Gardens and its waterfalls or visit Sudwala Caves or Montrose Falls. Each evening, catch a beautiful sunset on the hill behind the sanctuary and enjoy Braai nights around the fire pit!

Itinerary

Be part of the very first groups to volunteer at Chimp Eden! This is a brand-new project, and we're currently in the process of making it a fan favourite, meaning the itinerary may be subject to change and flexibility is appreciated. However, you can guarantee you'll make an immediate, positive impact on rescued chimps' lives and have the chance to trail-blaze a new project's itinerary!

Day 1 - The Adventure Begins: You will arrive at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, where you will be met by a team representative and transferred to the sanctuary (approximately a 40-minute drive). On the way, you will pass by a local town where you will have an opportunity to stop and pick up anything you may need. Once you arrive, you’ll settle in and meet your fellow volunteers before enjoying a welcome dinner and orientation.

Day 2 – Induction Day: In the morning, you'll meet the chimps while touring the sanctuary and learn about the 33 residents and their unique stories. Inspired by the tour, you'll roll up your sleeves in the afternoon and dive into your first activity, such as food preparation or enrichment creation!

Day 3-6 - Chimpanzee Care: Join the sanctuary staff's daily routine, spending mornings preparing food and enrichment for the chimps, cleaning enclosures, and distributing treats. The afternoons are spent on activities like making hammocks, cleaning blankets, or maintaining enclosures. Each day offers plenty of opportunities to observe the chimps, get to know their unique personalities and watch their excitement as they settle into their night dens!

Day 7 & 8 - Rest Days: Take a couple of rest days to recharge and explore. Relax in the morning while observing the chimps, then head to the local town in the afternoon to shop for supplies or snacks. There are also options to visit Kruger National Park for a safari or explore nearby nature reserves with scenic walks and waterfalls (at your own cost). The project staff will help you arrange your adventures!

Day 9-12 - Chimpanzee Care: You will continue to work alongside the chimp team; your mornings may be filled with chimp enrichment, cleaning enclosures and food preparation. In the afternoons, you may help renovate an old enclosure, tend to the vegetable garden, or sort food donations from local farms. By now, you'll really know each of the chimps' individual quirks and even have your favourites!

Day 13 - Final Day: Sadly, today is your final day! Take a moment to watch the chimps frolicking in their enclosures one last time before saying your goodbyes. You'll then be transferred to the airport for your return flight home or to commence your onward travel plans.

Durations & Prices

To secure a place on this project, a deposit of $245 is required at the time of booking. The remaining balance is due 60 days before your start date.

Flexible Payment Options: If you select a start date more than 3 months in advance, we offer convenient payment plans, allowing you to pay off your balance in instalments.

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Accommodation

Example Accommodation

The volunteer amenities are still under construction but will be fully completed by the first group's arrival. It promises to provide very comfortable accommodations! Volunteers will stay in cosy twin-share, same-sex rooms (unless volunteering as a couple). Each room will be equipped with bed linen, plug sockets, and a fan. All rooms will include en-suite bathrooms with a Western-style toilet, shower, sink, and mirror. Elsewhere, the 'volunteer village' will include a shared kitchen and communal area for relaxing and socialising, with free Wi-Fi available - though the signal may occasionally be intermittent.

Example Meals & Beverages

You'll be provided with three meals per day while on the project. We happily accommodate dietary requirements, so please let us know in advance. Lunch and dinner will be cooked for you, and breakfast items will be provided, including cereals, bread and spreads, eggs and fresh fruit. There'll be plenty of opportunities to enjoy a classic African Braai (BBQ) and a trip to local shops where you can buy additional drinks and snacks. With a kitchenette in the 'volunteer village', you can store snacks in the fridge and have access to a kettle and microwave, should you need it.

Project Details

When is the best time to volunteer?

As this project is based at a sanctuary, there are animals here year-round, so the only thing that may impact when you choose to volunteer is the weather:

November – February: This is the hottest time of year, with average temperatures reaching highs of around 33°C (91°F) and lows of roughly 19°C (66°F), but it is also the wettest time of year, although mostly with quick bursts of showers.

March – October: During these months, there is varying weather throughout this period, with March to May and September to October being perhaps the most comfortable times of year to volunteer, with daytime temperatures averaging around 29°C (84°F) before dropping to roughly 13°C (55°F) in the evening, and minimal rainfall during this period. June - August is considered Winter and sees daytime temperatures range between 26-28°C (78-82°F) with lows of around 11°C (52°F). This is the driest time of year and is great for wildlife viewing and other excursions.

Average Monthly Weather - Nelspruit

Getting There

You will need to book a flight arriving into Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) on your project start date. You will then be met in the arrivals hall and take a private transfer to the sanctuary, which takes approximately 40 minutes.

Visa Requirements

Most countries, including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and the majority of EU nations, do not require a visa to enter South Africa and are granted entry for up to 90 days upon arrival. To be allowed entry, you must have a passport with at least 2 blank pages for the immigration officials to use, and it must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into the country.

If you're unsure about your specific visa requirements, we recommend contacting the South African embassy in your home country at least two months before your trip. It's important to note that obtaining a visa, should one be required, is your own responsibility.

Fitness & Skills

Prior experience is not required, but the project activities involve some construction and maintenance work and a fair amount of walking. Therefore, it is recommended that volunteers have a moderate level of fitness. The most important thing is to arrive with a positive attitude and willingness to work as a team.

Vaccinations

To volunteer on this project, you will need to provide negative test results to show you do not have HIV, Hepatitis C and TB (proof of the BGC vaccination is accepted) prior to arrival. You will also need to be vaccinated against Hepatitis B. These are ESSENTIAL, as without them, you will be unable to join the project.

Other recommended vaccinations will depend on the individual medical history of each volunteer, and we advise speaking with your doctor/GP regarding your own vaccination needs. We also recommend that you take a look at the Fit for Travel website for more helpful information on how best to prepare for your experience.

No Contact Policy

We are often asked if volunteers will have the opportunity to touch or interact directly with the chimpanzees during this project. The answer is no, and there are important reasons behind this policy.

Chimpanzees share 98.8% of their DNA with humans, making them highly vulnerable to human-borne illnesses, many of which can be far more severe for chimps than for us. Protecting their health is a top priority. Additionally, frequent changes in personnel - due to volunteers rotating every two to four weeks - would create an unstable environment for the chimps, potentially causing stress and harming their well-being.

Finally, it’s important to remember that chimpanzees are incredibly strong, far surpassing the physical strength of an adult human. A no-contact policy ensures the chimps’ safety and your own. This approach prioritises their health, emotional stability, and the safety of everyone involved.