Field Conditions

Volunteers stay in the ‘mountain lodge’ throughout their time at the project. The accommodation is a basic, double storey timber house with dorm rooms for a maximum of 4 people sharing. Bed linen, a duvet, pillow and mosquito nets are provided. Additional tents or a caravan may be used during busy periods. Bathroom facilities with hot and cold water and flushing toilets are shared.  There is a shared kitchen where meals are cooked by the volunteers on a rotational basis. The centre follows a mainly vegetarian diet and luxuries such as chocolate, sweets and alcohol are not included. There is however a tuck shop stocked with fizzy drinks, beer, chocolate and chips with all proceeds going towards new enclosures. Upstairs there is a lounge with dvd facilities for the evenings. The centre runs on 220V mains electricity and you will need to bring your own plug adapters for charging cameras etc. The accommodation and kitchen facilities are kept clean and maintained by the volunteers.

The Centre comprises numerous enclosures each holding a troop of 10 – 25 baboons. The main building houses the director’s accommodation where the small or sick animals sleep at night, and the animal milk prep kitchen. Situated in natural bush, we are visited by a variety of wild animals – from elephant, giraffe and antelope, to snakes, scorpions, spiders, and rats. With the exception of venomous snakes, which may pose a threat to the animals, these are simply ignored or relocated.

The ‘Long Tits’ are a wild troop of 60 – 70 baboons living in the area, and visiting the sanctuary daily to interact with the caged animals. They roam freely through the Centre and sleep in the trees alongside the river overnight. They are generally unthreatening, but must be treated with caution and respect.

There is some cell reception from the mountain lodge, so volunteers who want regular contact with home can bring a cell phone. It is easy to purchase a local pay as you go sim card to use in phones that are unlocked. The centre has a land-line telephone which is reserved for C.A.R.E. use only. Please be aware that the Centre is remote, and that there is no public transport from the Centre. Occasional visits to Phalaborwa (30 minutes) and Hoedspruit (45 minutes) are subject to whether a person is needed at the Centre, and will only be co-ordinated with a trip to collect food. Both towns are small, but have medical doctors, supermarkets and an Internet café.

The Phalaborwa area borders a malarial zone and it is incumbent upon each person to take medical opinion on whether or not to follow a prophylactic programme. A current tetanus vaccination is essential. Rabies vaccination is optional.