Where to Volunteer with Primates, Gorillas, and Chimps

If you’re a wildlife enthusiast, conservation advocate, or simply love exploring rugged corners of the earth, then volunteering with primates might just be at the top of your bucket list. As our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, primates offer insight into our own evolution and hold so many similarities to us as humans in the way they express and communicate with one another.

Yet in many parts of the world, primates are also threatened by the human population—through clearing of forests, development, hunting, and even trading as pets or being sold into zoo and circus life. As a volunteer with primates, you’ll have the opportunity to play a vital role in safeguarding many endangered species, while creating memories you’ll never forget.

Is it ethical to volunteer with primates?

Thinking about volunteering with primates? Let’s dive in.

When daydreaming about volunteering with primates, many people might envision spending their volunteer days with a chimp around their neck and endless monkey cuddles. Ethical volunteer placements rarely look this way, however, because they have the animals’ best interests at heart. While some injured primates may need more human care, the goal when you volunteer with primates is typically to help protect them and their natural habitats so they can remain wild animals.

Most ethical volunteer opportunities will have minimal human contact so the animals can survive best in their natural environment. After all, when they’re around humans, it can be difficult for them to re-learn how to be primates and survive on their own.

Volunteering ethically typically includes preparing food, cleaning enclosures, facility maintenance, fundraising, education, and even administration, while hands-on volunteering is typically reserved for long-term and permanent staff members who have the ability to be consistent carers for those primates who need it.

Although ethical volunteering might look different than what you imagined, it’s the best way to create a positive and lasting impact on our furry friends and to protect future generations of our closest animal relatives.

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10 best places to volunteer with gorillas, chimps, and other primates

From the dense rainforests of Central Africa to the lush habitats of Southeast Asia and South America, there are many different types of organizations and sanctuaries for volunteers to participate in primate welfare and conservation efforts. Whether you have a desire to assist in habitat restoration, behavioral research, or caring for orphaned primates, these placements are perfect if you want to play a vital role in protecting primates and their homes.

Here are some of the best places to volunteer with chimps, gorillas, and other primates across the world:

1. South Africa

A top volunteering destination, South Africa offers the perfect place for an experience with primates.

One of the most popular destinations for volunteering in the world is South Africa, nestled at the southern tip of the African continent. Often nicknamed the “Rainbow Nation” due to its cultural diversity since the end of Apartheid, South Africa also has a rainbow of animal life, with almost 300 mammal species.

The varied landscapes of rugged mountains, gorgeous beaches, lush forests, and savannah plains mean there’s a rich biodiversity—and yes, that includes the primate population. Volunteers here will be able to participate in well-established conservation efforts and explore an abundance of reputable sanctuaries and research facilities. Whether you want to participate in ethical primate care, educational outreach, or behavioral research, South Africa offers endless opportunities for those passionate about primate conservation.

• Best for: Baboons, vervet monkeys, lemurs, bush babies
• Recommended program: Volunteer with Monkeys in South Africa

2. Cameroon

Cameroon is often ranked as a top volunteer destination and offers diverse placements due to its rich biodiversity. Known as “Little Africa,” Cameroon is a country that boasts all the ecozones of the African continent, from coast to rainforest to mountains to deserts to savannah plains. With each terrain comes unique vegetation, climates, and primate populations.

Cameroon is your place to volunteer with gorillas or work with chimpanzees, some of the most popular primate species in the country. Here you can fulfill your dream of becoming a gorilla sanctuary volunteer, getting involved in Cross River gorillas monitoring, research initiatives, habitat restoration, and community education as you protect this unique species from poaching and encroachment. Pair this with the warmth and hospitality of the locals, and you’re in for a meaningful experience working with primates.

• Best for: Gorillas, chimpanzees, drills, mangabeys
• Recommended program: Saving Cross River Gorillas and Chimpanzees

3. Costa Rica

If you want to volunteer with monkeys, Costa Rica is the place for you. Nestled in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica is one of the planet’s most biodiverse places. It’s home to lush rainforests and thousands of species of plants and animals—about 5% of the world’s species.

The country is unique in that it’s one of the most developed countries in Central America, yet it remains one of the most biodiverse and sustainable countries despite human population. Costa Rica also has some of the most progressive social and environmental policies in the world. About a quarter of the country is protected land that houses endangered primate species, including native primates like the squirrel monkey, capuchin monkey, mantled howler, and spider monkey.

Volunteers can participate in primate observation, habitat restoration, behavioral research, and environmental programs. Animal rescue placements and rehab centers are also present, allowing you the opportunity to support the release of monkeys back into their natural environments.

• Best for: Howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys, spider monkeys
• Recommended program: Wildlife Husbandry Internship in Costa Rica

4. Indonesia

Hey, you! Yes, you! Head to Indonesia for an amazing volunteer experience.

With a national motto of “Unity in Diversity,” Indonesia has become a sanctuary for travelers and volunteers from all over the world. It’s also the biggest island country in the world, made up of five main islands, around 30 archipelagoes, and over 18,000 islands and islets.

With so much access to the sea, one would expect the bulk of volunteering to be centered around marine life, yet Indonesia’s lush rainforests are home to some of the most iconic primate species on earth. Volunteers in Indonesia can work with diverse monkey species, as well as with the critically endangered orangutan species in Sumatra and Borneo.

The homes of orangutans and other primates are in danger because of developmental overload across Indonesia, and volunteers will be able to contribute to protection and welfare activities. With its stunning natural landscapes and rich culture, Indonesia continues to be a hotspot for those passionate about primate welfare.

• Best for: Orangutans, gibbons, langurs, macaques, tarsiers
• Recommended program: Orangutan Sanctuary Volunteer at Samboja Lestari

5. Malaysia

Those who wish to volunteer with primates deep in the jungle of Borneo may find themselves opting for a placement in Malaysia. While there are plenty of wildlife volunteering opportunities on the mainland of Malaysia, the endangered Bornean orangutans are usually the first primates to come to mind when considering animal volunteer placements.

Combining conservation efforts with protected reserves and wildlife sanctuaries in Borneo, Malaysian volunteer initiatives provide vital habitats for these endangered creatures. Many volunteer placements include activities such as primate observation, rehabilitating rescued primates, habitat restoration, and community education initiatives aimed at promoting coexistence between humans and orangutans.

Outside of volunteering, Malaysia also tends to be a popular hub in Southeast Asia and an easy launching spot for traveling to nearby countries and islands.

• Best for: Orangutans, gibbons, macaques, proboscis monkeys
• Recommended program: Conservation Volunteering in Borneo

6. Brazil

Brazil isn’t just beaches—it’s also a great place to volunteer with primates!

If you want to volunteer with primates in South America, look no further than Brazil. Brazil is the largest country in Latin America, covering almost half of the South American continent, and boasting diverse landscapes from the Amazon Rainforest to gorgeous rugged coastlines and savannah plains in between.

Its biodiversity extends into its animal diversity, with one of the most diverse mammal populations in the world. Due to city development, many primates are endangered and have lost their natural habitats, including the native golden lion tamarin in southeastern Brazil. Volunteer with primates in Brazil and you’ll be committing to wildlife preservation and conservation efforts that expose you to the vibrant Brazilian culture while making an impact.

• Best for: Tamarins, howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, marmosets, spider monkeys
• Recommended program: Wildlife Rescue Center – Florianópolis

7. Thailand

Thailand isn’t all temples, tuk tuks, and full moon parties. It’s also one of the top travel destinations in Southeast Asia with its gorgeous untouched island paradises, ancient ruins, and proximity to neighboring countries making it easy to travel through this part of the world.

Many consider it one of the top places to volunteer in teaching, yet there are epic volunteer placements available with primates, too. Deep in the lush Thai jungles, you’ll find protected habitats for endangered gibbons, long-tailed macaques, and dusky leaf monkeys, and volunteers can travel here to participate in rehabilitation and research at wildlife sanctuaries. Known for its hospitable culture, volunteers in Thailand will feel right at home with locals, despite being far away in remote jungles.

• Best for: Gibbons, long-tailed macaques, dusky leaf monkeys
• Recommended program: Wildlife Sanctuary Volunteering in Thailand

8. Madagascar

Because of its isolation from the rest of the African continent, Madagascar is often left untouched by travelers, yet it’s one of the most unique places you could choose to volunteer with primates. In fact, it screams biodiversity with 211 native species of land mammals, 95% of which are endemic—meaning it’s found nowhere else in the entire world.

Rich biodiversity paired with a unique blended culture of African, Asian, and European heritage gives volunteers the opportunity to be immersed in French-inspired food, dance to Malagasy music, and volunteer with the iconic nocturnal lemurs. Due to poaching and deforestation, Madagascar is in need of volunteers who are passionate about wildlife conservation and protecting habitats of the local endangered species.

• Best for: Lemurs, sifakas, indris
• Recommended program: Habitat Restoration and Lemur Monitoring in Madagascar

9. Bolivia

Bolivia’s landscapes might just be your next destination.

This landlocked South American country is another featuring a massive biodiversity, with almost 400 species of mammals between the Andes Mountains and the Amazon Rainforest. While Bolivia is one of the most ecologically, linguistically, and culturally diverse countries in the world, it’s also one of the poorest in South America, with endless opportunities for volunteering.

Volunteers here will fall in love with the rugged mountains, indigenous traditions, and colorful festivals, while also having the chance to volunteer with primates—from the endangered spider monkeys to howlers and titi monkeys. Many volunteer placements in Bolivia will focus on conservation efforts to ensure primate habitats continue to thrive.

• Best for: Howler monkeys, black-capped squirrel monkeys, spider monkeys, titi monkeys
• Recommended program: Volunteer World: Best Volunteer Abroad Programs Worldwide

10. Tanzania

When most travelers think of Tanzania, they’re drawn to trekking to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro or spotting the Big Five on safari through Serengeti National Park. Yet volunteering in Tanzania can give you the opportunity to check off all the typical tourist attractions while also making a huge impact on the local community and wildlife. Tanzania is one of the top locations in the world to volunteer with chimps out in the country’s protected reserves, like Gombe Stream National Park and Mahale Mountains National Park.

While you may not work with chimpanzees directly, volunteers will be able to lend a hand at conservation efforts while immersing themselves in Tanzania’s vibrant culture that blends Arabic influence with Swahili heritage. If you want to volunteer with primates in a bucket list location in East Africa, Tanzania is the place for you.

• Best for: Chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, colobus monkeys, baboons
• Recommended program: Volunteer in Tanzania with World Endeavors

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Make a difference and change your life when you volunteer with primates

It’s time for an adventure you’ll never forget.

From South Africa to Bolivia, Costa Rica to Madagascar, there are many opportunities to volunteer with primates. Whether you’re drawn to monitoring gorillas in Cameroon, rehabilitating orangutans in Indonesia, or conducting research on chimpanzees in Tanzania, each destination and volunteer opportunity offers a unique blend of cultural immersion and hands-on conservation work.

You just can’t go wrong, so why wait? Get ready to embark on the most epic journey of volunteering with primates and you’ll not only make a difference in the lives of our closest animal relatives—you’ll change your life, too.

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