SOUTH AFRICA PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VERVET MONKEY REHABILITATION TWS546. Change History. Reasons for Change Checked document

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1 SOUTH AFRICA PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VERVET MONKEY REHABILITATION TWS546 Change History Issue Date of Issue Initials No. of Pages Changed and Pages Reasons for Change Checked document Changes to What s included and What s Not Included JM 10 Changes to What s included and What s Not Included (accommodation and Airport transfers now included

2 South Africa Project Description Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation Project Page 2 of 9 Table of Contents Welcome To Your Travellers Programme!... 2 Brief Summary Of What s Included On Your Project... 2 On Arrival... 3 Your Project: A Background... 3 Project Staff... 3 Dress Code On Your Project... 3 Your Work... 3 Daily Schedule... 4 A Typical Day... 4 Tips & Suggestions... 5 Your Accommodation And food... 5 Your Location... 5 Equipment Checklist... 5 Getting The Most Out Of Your Programme... 6 Language... 6 Donations... 6 Programme Requirements... 7 Qualifications... 7 Help & Guidance... 7 Project Rules & Regulations... 7 General Rules & Regulations... 7 Volunteer Feedback... 9 Feedback & Keeping In Touch... 9 Why Your Feedback Is Important To Us... 9 Photos & Videos... 9 WELCOME TO YOUR TRAVELLERS PROGRAMME! I hope you re looking forward to it you re embarking on a wonderful experience that you ll remember for the rest of your life. Your Travellers In-Country Representative is looking forward to welcoming you and so are the people on your project. We all wish you a comfortable and safe journey. BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT S INCLUDED ON YOUR PROJECT What s Included: Airport Pickup. Please speak to your Project Coordinator for more information on where and when to arrive. 2 nights' accommodation (before and after your project) in Ballito Bay Airport transfers from Durban Airport to Ballito Bay (and return) Accommodation: whilst staying at the project Food: whilst staying at the project Training: Orientation & induction. Additional informational material (as appropriate). Support: Pre-departure helpdesk, local in-country team and 24hr emergency support. What's Not Included: Flights Return Greyhound coach trip from Ballito Bay to Vryheid (but can be added to your invoice and arranged)

3 South Africa Project Description Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation Project Page 3 of 9 Travel Insurance Visas ON ARRIVAL When you arrive you will be welcomed at King Shaka International Airport, Durban. You will then be taken to the Monkey Bay Backpackers in Ballito Bay (about 35 minutes away from the airport). Early the following morning, you will be taken to the nearest Greyhound Bus pick-up point. The journey takes about 5 hours inland to a town called Vryheid, where the project is located nearby, and either Bruce and/or Sandi will meet you and take you to the house. During the first few days of your stay you will be given a general orientation, so that you can learn about the local area and useful information such as how to get around etc. You will also receive an induction at your project; this will generally take place within a day or two after your arrival. Your induction will give you a chance to meet the people at the project, get a feel for the project and see the type of work you may undertake. Please note that it s not uncommon for the general induction and the project induction to be combined into one and for the two inductions to be given at the same time. If after receiving your induction you are still a little bit unsure about certain aspects of your project, please don t hesitate to ask your Travellers In-Country Representative and/or your Project Supervisor. YOUR PROJECT: A BACKGROUND The centre takes in displaced and orphaned vervet monkeys that have been rescued from around the country. They are kept safely in enclosures until such time they are ready to be released into the wild, far from human habitation. This usually takes about two to three years but depending on the amount of human contact, the de-humanising could perhaps take a little longer. During this time the monkeys are gradually weaned from close human contact and the troops are built up. Vervets are very social animals and cannot be released individually. The releases start to take place from September (spring) and continue through the summer months. After they have been released, the vervets will need supplementary feeds for two to three weeks and will need two to three months post release monitoring. The centre has been recommended by Amanda Guy, a PhD candidate of the University of New South Wales, Australia as a primatology research centre after she carried out six weeks of fieldwork studies for her PhD on vervet monkey rehabilitation in September PROJECT STAFF Bruce and Sandi Cronk are a married couple who have devoted the past 10 years to the rehabilitation and release of vervet monkeys. DRESS CODE ON YOUR PROJECT As you will be doing manual work on the project, it is wise to be practical and work in hardwearing trousers, cotton T- shirts, good solid trainers and most certainly a good sun hat. It does get cold during the winter months so a fleece or a warm jacket for your outdoor work is essential. YOUR WORK Your role and the types of work/activities you are given may vary and may depend on certain factors such as what s required at the time etc. As these Vervets are being prepared for the outside world and by necessity have to be kept in cages until they have been cared for, rehabilitated and prepared for release, the contribution you can make to improving their daily prerelease lives is enormous. The range of work is quite diverse and varied, and wide-ranging, including: Feeding the Monkeys: This includes not only feeding, but also food preparation. You'll spend an hour or two chopping fruit and vegetables to feed to the Vervets in the outdoor enclosures. Growing the food to feed the Monkeys: Bruce and Sandi, who run the Centre, buy the fruit that the monkeys need, but the gardens grow a constant supply of vegetables which need to be looked after. If you have green fingers, they will come in handy (but not to worry if you don t, the monkeys won t notice!) You can help to sow seeds when necessary, keep the veggies well watered and

4 South Africa Project Description Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation Project Page 4 of 9 harvest them when they are ready to be eaten... and you'll then have the undying devotion of the Vervets, who are always hungry! Enclosure Enrichment: Some of the most satisfying work you can do will be to provide some enclosure enrichment and mental stimulation. This is an essential part of keeping the Vervet Monkeys happy and occupied. You can use your creativity to provide useful toys and games for them and offer them a different element to the usual daily routine. The monkeys take great interest and delight in new areas to explore and will really enjoy your contributions to this facet of their enforced enclosure until they can be released. (We provide our volunteers with an in-house guide to suggestions for enclosure enrichment and you may be able to use or adapt some of the suggestions for Vervet Monkeys.) Data Collection: Records of all the monkeys and the releases have to be kept, so if paper-work or collating data is your forte, your assistance will be hugely appreciated in that department. The Centre's Facebook and Social Networks: Bruce tries his level best to update the Centre s Facebook page on a daily basis, but he doesn't always get the time. You can use your computer skills to keep the Facebook page fresh and interesting as well as helping with the web site. Monkey Releases - freedom at last! The older Vervet Monkeys start to be released from September through to the early summer and you would be required to assist with these releases. You may stay on the release site for a few weeks to monitor the integration to normal Vervet monkey life and to ensure a successful rehabilitation and release. Post-Release Feeding: Is necessary whilst the Vervets get used to their new home and learn where the natural food sources are, and you'll help by taking food to the feeding stations if you are on site. The Vervets usually need to be given food for about 2 or 3 weeks after their release. Post-release Monitoring: The newly released troop must also be monitored to check for any injuries or members that have been excluded from the troop. Monkeys who are in such situations could possibly have a slim chance of survival due to their injury or isolation. In extreme cases, re-capture may be necessary in the best interest of the individual concerned. Each release poses its own set of circumstances and you'll have a very important role to play in the monitoring. DAILY SCHEDULE Your work schedule may vary. The number of vervets on site or being released would affect the volume of work you would be doing. A TYPICAL DAY The description given is of a typical day. This is purely an example you may be required to start work earlier than The animals don t keep to the same timetable as us humans. Time Description 07:00 Wake up, wash and get ready 07:30 Breakfast 08:00 Start work 12:00 Lunch 13:00 Back to work 16:00 Finish work 16:30 Shower, relax 18:30 Dinner 19:00 Relax, swim, read, contemplate on the meaning of life etc

5 South Africa Project Description Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation Project Page 5 of 9 TIPS & SUGGESTIONS Ask as many questions as you want the more you know, the more you will gain from your project. Bruce and Sandi are a lovely couple and will be more than happy to answer any questions. They have a great deal of knowledge on vervet monkeys and will be delighted to pass information on to you. YOUR ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD For the duration of your stay you will live in the house with Bruce and Sandi. There are two bedrooms and one room in the roof for volunteers. You will share a bathroom with other volunteers and the rest of the house is communal. For the hot African summer months they have a swimming pool right next to the house which you can cool off in at any time. Bruce and Sandi have two wonderful, friendly dogs that everyone loves! They are a part of the family, and allowed inside. You will be provided with everything you need for your stay and all you need to bring is your clothing, toiletries, a torch and specific medication, if any. Please bring old clothing as you will get dirty and your clothes might spoil, a good sunhat and high SPF sunscreen. A good pair of walking shoes and a light rain jacket for the summer months is also suggested, as you may go release sight hunting or tracking recently released troops with Bruce. You'll join Sandi and Bruce at meal times and you can let them know if you have any particular food preferences or allergies, e.g. if you are a vegetarian or vegan. You will be provided with three basic meals per day and be expected to prepare one main meal per week for everyone in the house. Meals are provided, but not 'extras' like biscuits, sweets, soda pop or alcohol, any specialty food or drinks, which you are welcome to purchase on trips to town, and there is space in the fridge and cupboards for personal food items. Supper is the main meal of the day and you'll prepare your own breakfast and lunch from the provisions provided. Sandi have two wonderful, friendly dogs that everyone loves! They are a part of the family, and allowed inside. IMPORTANT THERE IS NO LANDLINE PHONE AT THE PROJECT SO PLEASE ENSURE YOUR PHONE IS UNBLOCKED FOR SOUTH AFRICA BEFORE DEPARTURE. There is wireless internet which can be used for a small fee. YOUR LOCATION The property on which the rehabilitation centre is located is about 10 km from the quaint town of Vryheid. The town is of great historical interest so you will be able to visit the local museum and gain some insight into the battles of the area. On your days off you will be able to get the basics in Vryheid as well a few souvenirs. Vryheid is a small town which has a few supermarkets, clothing stores, all the major commercial banks and access to general practitioners and dentists. The project vehicle goes into town every day to collect provisions so you will never be stranded needing something from the shops. It is important to know that Vryheid has very little to offer in the line of night life, so be prepared. Should you wish to do some sightseeing or recreational activities whilst staying at the project, there are a few activities available. Vryheid is in close proximity to a number of private game lodges as well as relative proximity to two of Kwa-Zulu Natal s major game reserves one of which hosts the big five. Day trips or weekend visits to either of these options provide a fantastic getaway. Further afield trips to the beautiful Kwa-Zulu Natal coastline which is about four hours drive away can also be arranged. EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST The list of items given below is a general list of items and is provided as a guide only. If you are in anyway unsure what you should or shouldn t be taking with you please speak to your Project Coordinator. Remember - be sure to speak to them before going off and spending lots of money on potentially needless equipment. Please remember to also read the Packing List as detailed within your Travellers Country Fact File. Required / Highly Recommended Clothing & Footwear - Suitable for your programme Clothing & Footwear - For the evening

6 Jacket / Raincoat Daypack (Small Rucksack). Sun Hat Sun Cream (at least factor 30+) Mobile / Cell Phone Powerful Torch Camera Alarm Clock Adapter Plugs Batteries Toiletries Towels (bath/beach/hand) Optional Ipod / MP3 player Games, books, a pack of cards etc. South Africa Project Description Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation Project Page 6 of 9 Items Better Left At Home Any unnecessary high value items such as expensive Jewellery & watches. If you have a new & expensive smart phone then you should consider taking an older phone out with you instead. Remember to check that it works before you set off! GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR PROGRAMME The way of life is very different to that of the UK. It is important to be patient whilst on your programme. Having a positive can do attitude will go a long way. Positivity, perseverance and being pro-active are also key if you want your programme to be a success. Don t be afraid to ask if there is something specific that you d like to get involved in. If you have any doubts at all, please speak to your Project Coordinator, they will be more than happy to assist you in making sure that your project is right for you and that its one that you ll get the most out of! LANGUAGE Whilst most projects have already had experience with receiving foreign English speaking volunteers, you may find that many people have a limited knowledge of English. If you are lucky enough to have some knowledge of the local language you will find it very beneficial on your project - but don't be put off if languages aren't your thing! Try to learn at least a few basic phrases before starting your programme it s amazing how much a difference it can make even when it s only please, thank you etc. If you haven t had much success in learning phrases before you go you still shouldn t worry it s often much easier when you are there. You ll soon find that you ve picked up the odd word and phrase and once you know one or two the rest tends to follow. Try to supplement any knowledge you do have with using other forms of communicating - sometimes you may need to think on your feet from and utilise all your initiative to get your point across. You will soon start to find that you re able to muddle through very successfully. DONATIONS Where possible please avoid giving donations direct to individuals. This might seem a strange thing for us to say that but we have found that giving donations can sometimes have unintended consequences, such as creating dependency and/or even causing frictions and disputes etc. If you would like to give a donation it is generally better to give the donation to the project, a group or organisation, the community etc rather than direct to an individual. This will will also help to ensure that as many people as possible benefit from your gift. Please speak to your Project Coordinator for more information. Items that would be very much appreciated include: Old laptops, cameras, mobile phones, printers, scanners etc. Quite simply, if you have room left in your luggage fill it up with anything that might be useful. Some volunteers have contacted their airline, and after explaining the purpose of their trip, they ve been given additional baggage allowance by the airline to allow them to take over equipment. If you are thinking of taking over some items with you why not give your airline a call and see what they can do for you. Please don t give cash donations where ever possible. If you would like to give a donation to a good cause then it is much better if you can purchase something that they will find useful. If you are considering giving money to a good cause please speak to us first, and if you would like us to, we will be happy to oversee the donation for you to ensure that the money is used as it was intended. Please speak to your Project Coordinator for more information.

7 South Africa Project Description Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation Project Page 7 of 9 PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS On application for this programme we will ask you to provide us with a copy of your CV/Resume. Within your CV/Resume you should list and give details of any qualifications and/or experience relevant to your programme. In addition to your CV/Resume, we may also ask you to provide a Letter of Motivation giving explanation as to your reasons for wanting to take part in the programme and what you hope to get out of the experience. Finally, you will also be asked to provide 3 or 4 pieces of writing that best demonstrate your writing ability and/or areas of interest. Articles considered to be suitable would include published articles, reviews, essays, arguments, short stories etc. The information you will provide to us will go to form the basis on which the project will make their decision as whether or not to accept you. You will therefore need to provide these items to us in good time. You will only receive confirmation of being accepted on to your programme once we have received confirmation from the project that they are willing to take you. QUALIFICATIONS If you are one of the lucky ones and you already have a qualification, or if you have some prior experience, then it will help and you will certainly be able to put it to good use on your placement. If you have a qualification relevant to your programme please take a copy of your certification with you as proof. If you don t have any qualifications or previous experience then don t worry! If you don t have any qualifications or previous experience then don t worry! The whole idea of Travellers is to provide help and assistance wherever possible. HELP & GUIDANCE If you have any problems or, if you need any help or guidance, please don t hesitate to speak to your Supervisor and/or a member of staff at your project. We have had many many volunteers over the years and the vast majority have a wonderful experience on their programme we have no doubt that you will also thoroughly enjoy your time on your project and in the country. You can also contact your Travellers In-Country Representative. Contact details are provided in your Country Fact File. Emergency contact details are also provided on the back of your Volunteer ID card. Alternatively please don t hesitate to contact your Project Coordinator in the UK. PROJECT RULES & REGULATIONS Bruce and Sandi are happy to share their home with you for the duration of your project. but it is essential that you respect their privacy. You need also to respect their home and furnishings and to keep your room clean and tidy at all times. Do not leave the bath or shower unwashed. Do not leave plates, cups or glasses around the house, pool or garden, take them back to the kitchen, wash them up, dry them and put them back into their respective cupboards. GENERAL RULES & REGULATIONS The following rules and regulations should be read in conjunction with the terms and conditions of your programme. Code of Conduct It is very important that your behaviour and conduct is in keeping with that which is considered to be acceptable. The following list is not exhaustive but is given as a guideline to how you are expected to behave and conduct yourself whilst on your programme. You Should: Behave appropriately, with co-operation and with consideration for one another. Treat everyone equally and with respect regardless of differing culture, ability, race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability or social class. Remain mindful of cultural differences. Act in a manner which does not bring the project and / or Travellers into disrepute.

8 Abide by the rules and regulations of the project. South Africa Project Description Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation Project Page 8 of 9 Take responsibility for your own safety and to look after yourself and your belongings, and to never put yourself at risk. Act in accordance with the law of the land. You Must Not: Damage or deliberately misuse any equipment / resources provided to you. This includes using equipment / resources responsibly i.e. avoiding wastage (e.g. turning off lights and water). Be under the influence of drugs or banned substances whilst on your programme. You must not be under the influence of alcohol whilst participating at your project this includes being hung-over from the night before! Attendance & Punctuality These are serious programmes, it takes a lot of different people giving their time and energy to arrange each programme, so please don t think that you can treat them casually You will be expected to stick to the schedule that s been arranged for you. You should make every effort to turn up in good time and to attend as scheduled. Naturally this does not apply if you re ill. See the section below on Sickness for more details. Taking Time Off If you would like to take a day off from your project You must first speak to your project and make a request for time off. When requesting time off make your request as early as possible, giving the project plenty of advance notice. This is very important as the project will need to time to reorganize the work, rearrange your schedule, and they may also need to arrange for someone to stand in for you whilst you are off. If your request is turned down you should accept the decision gracefully. The project won t turn down your request without good reason. If your request is turned down you should not continue to pursue the matter. If your request for leave is accepted you should inform your Travellers In-Country Representative. Please Note: You can only take time off from your project when you have received confirmation that your request has been accepted. Taking unauthorized time off and / or failing to turn up when scheduled, may lead to your programme being terminated without appeal and without recompense. Sickness If you are sick and unable to attend your programme Please inform your project as soon as possible. This is very important as the project will need to time to reorganize the work / activity, and they may also need to arrange for someone to stand in for you whilst you are off. And if they can t make alternative arrangements they may be forced to cancel the work / activity in which case they may need to let people know in advance. Please also inform your Travellers In-Country Representative as soon as possible. This is important as they may need to liaise with your project. And of course, they will unable to help in anyway if they don t know that you are ill. As soon as you can, let your project know when you think you will be well-enough to come back this is important as it may take some time for all the necessary arrangements to be made ready for you to return to your project. Please note that if you persistently don t turn up due to illness, you may be asked to see and doctor and / or be required to produce a doctor s certificate confirming.

9 South Africa Project Description Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation Project Page 9 of 9 VOLUNTEER FEEDBACK We are yet to have any previous volunteers give their feedback on this project. So go on be the first and give us your thoughts and your feedback on your experience. Give future volunteers a head start by giving your experience and insights into the project, giving them the low-down on the highlights, what to look out for, and what to avoid etc. FEEDBACK & KEEPING IN TOUCH Please remember to keep in touch throughout your programme to let us know how you re getting on. Where we ve asked you for your feedback, please do take some time out to let us know your thoughts whether it s simply an asking how you are getting on or if it involves filling out one of our feedback forms. When providing your feedback please your feedback to your Project Coordinator. You can also your feedback to us at: info@travellersworldwide.com When you ve been on your programme for approximately 2-3 weeks, we would really like to hear from you describing for us what a typical day in the life is like for you whilst on your programme. These reports are invaluable to us in that they enable us to continually expand and improve our projects, as well as being a source of additional information which can be very helpful to future volunteers. WHY YOUR FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT TO US Feedback is extremely important to us as it is fundamental in helping us to develop our projects for both the short-term and long-term. Whether you have just arrived at your placement or are on your way to the airport to catch your flight home, if you have any piece of information no matter how small and insignificant it is please get in contact with us whether it s by phone, or post. It really does help! We really do appreciate hearing from you so thank you very much! PHOTOS & VIDEOS If you take any photos and/or videos, and if you are able to them to us, we d love to see them. We d also be delighted to enter one or two into one of our competitions. The competitions are run throughout the year with regular draws taking place so there s a good chance of winning! Copyright TRAVELQUEST LIMITED. All Rights Reserved. No part of this document may be used, translated into another language, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of TRAVELQUEST LIMITED. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this document, TRAVELQUEST LIMITED assumes no responsibility for omissions and errors. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of information contained herein. TRAVELQUEST LIMITED reserves the right to revise any information contained in this document without prior notice. Questions or comment regarding this document or the project to which it relates should be directed to: Travellers Worldwide 2A Caravelle House, 17/19 Goring Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN12 4AP, England Tel: +44 (0) Fax: +44 (0) info@travellersworldwide.com Web: