Chimp Eden - The Jane Goodall Institute

When is the best time to volunteer?

As this project is based at a sanctuary, the chimps are 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 rain in the afternoons.

March – October: 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, making it ideal for wildlife viewing and other excursions.

Booking Flights

You will need to fly into Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (airport code MQP) on your project start date, arriving between 9am - 5pm. You will be met and transferred to Chimp Eden in a private vehicle. This transfer will take approximately 40 minutes.

For your departure, you will need to book a flight that departs between 8am and 6pm, and you will be transferred back to the airport in time for your flight.

If you will already be in Mbombela before your start date, or staying afterwards, we can arrange a transfer from/to a hotel in the city for no additional fee.

Visa Requirements

Citizens of 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 granted 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 2 months before your trip.

Fitness & Skills

No specific skills or prior experience are required; however, the activities involve some construction and maintenance work, so a moderate level of fitness is recommended. The most important thing is to arrive with a positive attitude and a willingness to work as a team.

Vaccinations & Medical Requirements

To volunteer on this project, you must provide negative test results to show you do not have Hepatitis C. You must also either be vaccinated against Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis or provide a negative test result showing you do not have either prior to arrival. These are essential, as without them, you will be unable to join the project. Additionally, all test results must be dated within 12 months of your start date.

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 personnel changes with volunteers arriving every one 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.