Chimp Eden - The Jane Goodall Institute
Volunteer at Chimp Eden - The Jane Goodall Institute and help care for our closest living relatives, chimpanzees!
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Activities
Itinerary
Below is an example of a 12-night itinerary, though please note some activities may be subject to change depending on the needs of the sanctuary. For those looking for a shorter stay, we have a 7-night option available for select start dates: Chimp Eden - 7-Night Itinerary.
Day 1 - The Adventure Begins:
Upon arrival at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, a sanctuary team member will greet you and transfer you to the sanctuary, a scenic 40-minute drive. You'll pass through a nearby town, where if you'd like to stop for snacks or any necessities, you can ask the driver, who will be happy to accommodate you. Once at the sanctuary, you'll settle in, meet fellow volunteers, and enjoy a welcome dinner and orientation.
Day 2 - Sanctuary Tour & Enrichment:
This morning, you'll tour the sanctuary and meet the chimps, learning about the 33 residents and their unique stories. Afterwards, inspired by the tour, you'll roll up your sleeves and dive into your first hands-on activity, such as food preparation or creating enrichment. This may involve filling teddy bears or cardboard boxes with grass and hay and hiding nuts and seeds within.
Day 3 - Food Prep & Blanket Enrichment:
Today, you'll join the sanctuary staff with their daily tasks - you may help to sort food donations, harvest from the garden, and prepare meals of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and supplements for the chimps. In the afternoon, you'll distribute blankets for enrichment and enjoy watching the chimps wrap up, play hide-and-seek, and parade them around with excitement!
Day 4 - Enclosure Transformation:
You may start the day prepping food, feeding, and cleaning the night dens before diving into transforming a disused enclosure. This ongoing project will allow rescued chimps to move freely and, one day, may even welcome new arrivals. You'll help clear the area, build fun structures, and contribute ideas to shape their future home!
Day 5 - Water Enrichment & Observations:
Along with food prep, cleaning, and other tasks, you'll enjoy water enrichment today - a chimp favourite! Volunteers hold a hose into the enclosure, and the chimps eagerly splash, chase, and play with the water, sometimes spraying each other or using objects to interact with it. It's a fun, engaging experience and a great way to see their playful personalities up close.
Day 6 - Food Prep & Enclosure Construction:
This morning, you may help sort through food donations from a local farm or tend to the vegetable garden to help things grow before heading to the enclosures to scatter and hide food to encourage foraging. In the afternoon, you'll head to enclosure three, continuing the transformation of a new living space for the chimps!
Day 7 - Kruger National Park & Braai Night:
Rise and shine for an unbelievable game drive in Kruger National Park! Experience the magic of the African bush as the wildlife stirs to life and challenge yourself to spot the legendary 'Big 5.' You'll return to Chimp Eden just in time for lunch and a relaxing afternoon, followed by an exciting Braai night!
Day 8 - Relax & Optional Town Trip:
Today is a rest day, and the choice is yours. You may wish to book an exciting excursion, head into town with project staff, perhaps enjoy a leisurely lunch and a spot of shopping while they pick up supplies, or simply rest alongside the chimps!
Day 9 - Wellies & Ice Lollies Enrichment:
Back to the chimps! After preparing and scattering food, you'll fill wellies with grass, hay, seeds and nuts for the chimps to dig through to uncover hidden treats. After, you'll head back to the enrichment area to make refreshing ice lollies packed with fruits and treats. These will be left to freeze overnight and handed out the next day.
Day 10 - Food Prep & Hammock Making:
You may help prepare nutritious meals for the chimps today before getting hands-on with hammock and swing making. These hammocks will be installed in their enclosures, where the chimps can rest and play. You'll also hand out the ice lollies made the day before as a cooling treat!
Day 11 - Parcel Enrichment & Observations:
Help prepare exciting parcels or box enrichment filled with treats and surprises for the chimps to unwrap and explore. Watching their curiosity and problem-solving skills in action during observations will give you valuable insight into their unique personalities and behaviours.
Day 12 - Termite Mound Enrichment & Farewell Dinner:
Today, you'll smear an artificial termite mound with treats, encouraging the chimps to use tools and mimic natural foraging. After observing their antics, enjoy a farewell dinner with your group and project staff, celebrating your final evening together.
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. Then, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your return flight or onward travel plans.
Durations & Prices
Accommodation
Volunteer Accommodation
You will stay in the newly renovated volunteer village within the sanctuary. Rooms are offered on a twin-share same-sex basis (except for couples), or you can pay a single supplement of $203 per week to have your own room. Each room features a private ensuite bathroom with hot water and a Western-style toilet. The rooms are equipped with essential amenities, including plug sockets, a fan, fresh bed linen, and a towel, ensuring a comfortable stay. The volunteer village also has a cosy lounge area and a boma area with a fire pit for relaxing and socialising. Laundry facilities and Wi-Fi are also available free of charge.
Meals & Beverages
Three meals a day are included and eaten in a unique setting, as the dining area overlooks one of the chimpanzee enclosures! Dining with a view, you'll observe the chimps and watch them interact while you enjoy your meal. Lunch and dinner will be freshly prepared for you (dietary requirements can be catered for), while breakfast will include a selection of cereals, bread with spreads, yoghurt, and fresh fruit. You'll also have a chance to experience a traditional African Braai (BBQ) and visit local shops to pick up extra drinks and snacks, which you can store in the convenient kitchenette within the volunteer village.
Project Details
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 and is great for wildlife viewing and other excursions.
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
No specific skills or prior experience are required, but the activities involve some construction and maintenance work; therefore, 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 B, Hepatitis C or HIV. (There is an at-home test that provides the results for all three in one test.) You must also either be vaccinated against Tuberculosis or have a negative test result showing you do not have it prior to arrival. These are ESSENTIAL, as without them, you will be unable to join the project, and 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 changes in personnel - due to volunteers rotating 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.
Videos
The Chimp Eden Experience
Discover how you can make a difference in a sanctuary of second chances! From daily feeding and enrichment activities to a game drive in Kruger National Park, the Chimp Eden experience is a whirlwind of wildlife, culture, and memory-making moments.
Angie and Phil share their volunteer experience
Join Phil and Angie as they explore what it means to be a volunteer at Chimp Eden. From learning the ins and outs of chimp behaviour and rehabilitation to experiencing the South African classics, including braais and safaris, enjoy a window into life at Chimp Eden!
Gallery
News & Stories
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World Primate Day Antics
UPDATE | Sep 2025
Yesterday, our amazing volunteers at Chimp Eden celebrated World Primate Day by creating enriching activities and a fun banner for the chimps! These enrichments spark joy and encourage natural behaviours, keeping the chimps’ minds sharp and their bodies active. Meanwhile, we joined the celebration from the office too by putting Chimp Eden on offer with 15% off. Enquire today to learn more!
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World's Oldest Chimp Joao Still Climbing High!
UPDATE | Aug 2025
At 81 years old, earning him the title of the world's oldest chimpanzee, Joao shows no signs of slowing down. Here he is climbing the tallest tree in the camp! Staff and volunteers were amazed to see that he is still strong and confident in his abilities to outmanoeuvre his younger troop mates.
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A Big Thank You to Our Wonderful Volunteers
UPDATE | Jul 2025
Volunteers have been extra generous, not only giving their time and hard work but also bringing with them some extra treats for the chimps, along with PPE for staff. We can't wait to see the chimps given these great donation items as part of their enrichment!
Reviews
Best experience as of yet with The Great Projects. This is an amazing project, which I highly recommend. Exciting filled with educational opportunities with many activities to enhance the lives of the 33 beautiful Chimpanzees. Niamh, the volunteer coordinator was amazing. She was focused but also easy to take instruction from. I felt we accomplished so much, which warms my heart. It was nice to be able to do my own laundry and the accommodations were simple but clean, warm and perfect. I felt completely safe at all times. Promise the lady who took care of us, is an amazing cook. Meals were good and nutritious. It was cool that as part of the project they took us to Kruger National Park. We worked from 7am to 4pm with a midday break. We had weekends off which allowed us to take tours and see what South Africa had to offer. The staff at Chimp Eden is amazing. So welcoming and dedicated to the wellbeing of the Chimpanzees. I highly recommend this project.
This was my very first volunteering experience, and I can confidently say it set the bar incredibly high. I had the chance to fulfil a lifelong dream – spending two weeks alongside chimpanzees, observing them in their daily lives, contributing to their well-being, and learning so much more about these fascinating animals. Being able to see them thrive in an environment where their protection and rehabilitation are the top priorities was truly life-changing. The team at Chimp Eden is simply amazing. Every single member of the staff is exceptionally kind and carries out truly gargantuan work with passion and dedication. Their love and care for the chimpanzees are evident in everything they do. The food, lovingly prepared each day by Promesse, was absolutely delicious, always served with a big smile and lots of warmth – the perfect reward after full and fulfilling days. A huge thank you to Niamh, our coordinator, who was the real pillar of this adventure. She guided, supported, and encouraged us throughout the experience with professionalism and genuine care. Each day brought something new to discover, new tasks to complete, and new lessons to learn, making the whole experience incredibly enriching and stimulating. I leave with... This was my very first volunteering experience, and I can confidently say it set the bar incredibly high. I had the chance to fulfil a lifelong dream – spending two weeks alongside chimpanzees, observing them in their daily lives, contributing to their well-being, and learning so much more about these fascinating animals. Being able to see them thrive in an environment where their protection and rehabilitation are the top priorities was truly life-changing. The team at Chimp Eden is simply amazing. Every single member of the staff is exceptionally kind and carries out truly gargantuan work with passion and dedication. Their love and care for the chimpanzees are evident in everything they do. The food, lovingly prepared each day by Promesse, was absolutely delicious, always served with a big smile and lots of warmth – the perfect reward after full and fulfilling days. A huge thank you to Niamh, our coordinator, who was the real pillar of this adventure. She guided, supported, and encouraged us throughout the experience with professionalism and genuine care. Each day brought something new to discover, new tasks to complete, and new lessons to learn, making the whole experience incredibly enriching and stimulating. I leave with unforgettable memories, incredible moments of connection, and the deep satisfaction of having contributed – even in a small way – to such a meaningful cause. Thank you to the entire team for these extraordinary two weeks! (Show More)
I was doing 2 weeks volunteering in Chimp Eden in august 2025. My days was filled with preparing nutritious meals, creating enrichment activities that reignite natural instincts, assisting with enclosure improvements, or observing Chimp behaviour and much more. Evenings were free time.. I had great game drive in Kruger national park, see so much animals and had fun day. Chimps❤️, especially Cozy group 2 and Mowgli group 1 steal my attention and heart. But of course everyone had own personality and great to watch... Staff were so friendly, nice, helping and it was good to work with them volunteers all were so nice, friendly, great and we had so good time there Our guide Niamh was so great teaching, guiding and helping... I had so great 2 weeks. I had the most amazing time ever…Best volunteering place I have ever been. Missing that already… What amazing memories i got that i will remember the rest of my life❤️
Download Project Guide
What's Included
- Accommodation
- Airport transfers
- Three meals per day
- Kruger National Park game drive
- A conservation donation
- Tea, coffee and drinking water
What's Not Included
- All flights
- Vaccinations and medical tests (which are required)
- Visas
From
$1,670.00
$1,420.00
€954.00
€811.00
£795.00
£675.75
$1,074.00
$913.00
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Up to 8 Persons
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All Meals Included
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7- 26 Nights
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Set Dates Between March & November
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Minimum Age 18 (Or From 16 Years Old With An Adult)
