About Helping Hands 4 Wildlife
Helping Hands 4 Wildlife is the longest registered wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre in Mpumalanga, South Africa. We are located at the foot of Mount Hlumu near Badplaas. Our focus is on vervet monkeys. Most of them come to us as tiny babies, after their mothers were hit by cars, attacked by dogs or killed as pests. We raise them, help them grow into a troop and release them back into the wild together.
We also take in other wildlife in need, for example bushbabies, mongooses, genets, jackals and servals, etc.
As a non-profit organisation without government funding, we rely on volunteers and donations. Your contribution directly helps cover the daily care of up to 100 animals.
What you will do
- Prepare food and feed the animals
- Clean enclosures and work areas
- Build enrichment that keeps the monkeys busy and their wild skills sharp
- Help with rescues and releases whenever they happen
- In baby season, help in the nursery with bottle feeding and care, until the babies are ready for a monkey surrogate mother
Some days are hard, physical work, others are quiet, and most of them end with dinner together and a lot of stories. For a few weeks, you’ll be part of our family on the farm.
What you will learn
- How rehabilitation works, from arrival to release
- How vervets live, communicate and learn from each other
- How to read monkey faces and body language
- How to plan and build enrichment
- How a rehabilitation centre runs day to day
Your first week
When you arrive, we show you around and introduce you to the animals, the rules and the team. In your first days, someone always works with you and shows you every task. Nobody is left alone.
Climate and what to bring
Summer (September to March) is hot, up to 40°C, with afternoon storms. Winter (April to August) brings sunny days around 20°C and cold nights close to 0°C.
Bring durable work clothes, closed work shoes, warm clothes for the evenings, a rain jacket in summer, sunscreen, a hat, a torch, insect repellent, a refillable water bottle, a universal plug adapter and surgical masks for working in our Rehab.
Good to know
- Badplaas is not in a malaria area. If you plan a trip to Kruger National Park, ask your doctor about malaria prevention.
- Trips to Kruger National Park and Blyde River Canyon can be organised at reduced rates.
- Extras on site can be paid by card or PayPal.
- Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Travel insurance is recommended.
