I just wanted to go out into the world.
After finishing school in 2024, I really wanted to go out into the world. To travel, get to know new countries, and gain experiences that simply aren’t available at home. My choice quickly fell on South Africa because I love animals more than anything. I stumbled upon Helping Hands 4 Wildlife online.
I flew out at the beginning of the year, and since then, this place has simply captivated me. Traveling alone to South Africa at just 18 years old was a huge step for me. I was aware that this journey would shape me in many ways. But that I would fall head over heels in love with this place, with all its people and animals, was something I couldn’t have foreseen.
From the very first minute on the farm, you could feel how much love and passion went into this place. Monkey calls in the morning sun, dogs enthusiastically greeting you, the view of nature and the mountains. You arrive and are immediately immersed. And you quickly realize: people work here with incredible dedication and joy.
Monkeys, dogs, pigs, geese – what more could you want? Our daily tasks ranged from cleaning enclosures and feeding monkeys to caring for all other animal residents. Every animal’s need was, of course, attended to. Sure, it could be physically demanding at times, but that was never a problem. Because no matter what needed to be done, it was always fun. Working together with the other volunteers and staff, the laughter in between, the little inside jokes that develop after three days. That’s what makes Helping Hands what it is.
Anyone who is on the farm during baby season also gets to become a foster mom or dad. And even if some nights are short between milk bottles and baby sounds, these tiny bundles of fur are worth every hour of lost sleep.
Elli immediately makes every volunteer feel that she loves her animals and this place with all her heart. And that’s exactly how you feel treated as a volunteer: no matter what you need, an extra break, a tea, an answer to the thousandth question, a plaster, a conversation about homesickness, or simply someone to listen, Ellie and the whole team are always there. For the big things as well as the small ones. This natural care is something you don’t find everywhere.
Outside of work, there were so many beautiful moments too: barbecues where conversations stretched late into the night, trips to Ararat for pizza, long evenings under the South African starry sky. It’s precisely these small things that together make up the big picture and make you miss this place even more than you would have thought.
You could say I was instantly smitten. So much so that I came back after just one month… and then again after eight months. And the next trip is, of course, already being planned. 🙂
Helping Hands is more than just a farm in South Africa. It is a place full of beauty, collaboration, and love. So, if you’re considering becoming a monkey mom or dad: Do it. Who knows, maybe we’ll be in the enclosure together someday. 😉
Madleen, Volunteer from Germany
Helping Hands for Wildlife thrives on the support of people who share our vision. #teamvervet brings together people from all over the world who want to take responsibility and make a real difference.
Join us on our journey – together, we’ll give orphaned and injured animals a second chance.