On Wednesday, July 26, I am off to South Africa to volunteer at a vervet monkey sanctuary. I will fly into Johannesburg and then embark on, what I am sure will be, an interesting 4 hour (ish?) journey on the local bus transportation system to the little villiage of Tzaneen. This area borders Kruger National Park (where Alyson has visited). For a better idea of where the heck it is, go to google maps and type in Tzaneen, South Africa.
I will be there for one month helping out with the resident vervet monkeys- those that were orphaned or injured. Vervets, as like baboons, are considered nuisances to the native population as they often raid farmer’s crops. As humans encroach upon their habitat, conflicts and clashes happen with these monkeys and many are killed as though they are “varmints.” Check out the Vervet Foundation’s goals and objectives:
http://www.enviro.co.za/vervet/goals.htm
I will be sleeping in their tent village in a “private” 4-person tent. Yes, it is in the great outdoors, however, the grounds are surrounded by an electric fence to keep the creatures of Africa out... (don’t worry, Mom)! Electricity is only provided in the main house where the volunteers eat, shower, and (hopefully) access the internet. I hope to be able to update my blog once or twice a week.. so stay tuned!
For an idea of what my days and duties will be like, check out this link:
http://www.enkosiniecoexperience.com/VervetMonkeySanctuary.htm
So this will be my first blog and I hope it will be interesting and at best a bit amusing as I experience life at an animal sanctuary out in the African “bush.” Please feel free to comment in the blog and/or email me directly at mogos11@yahoo.com.
Tot ziens! (Dutch/Afrikaans for “so long/see you later.” One of the main languages in South Africa is Afrikaans which was derived from Dutch).
