Hello Everyone!! We've finally managed to get back on to write another chapter about our travels!! I've even managed to get some photos on, though as it took me an hour and a half just to put those on you may have to be patient with me! We've just finish our first week here at the Vervet Monkey Sanctuary and what a fun week we've had!! We hear the weather in the UK is a little nippy, however over here its been roasty toasty (except for yesterday when it was cold....... well like 25 degrees C but thats cold over here!!). Its been 30 degrees C plus most days and now we've got used to it its very pleasent!

And so to begin the tales of the week......to start - The Sanctuary, tis quite green here, lots of trees and the like though it is very dusty as all the roads and paths are very dry so by the end of the day you end up looking like you'v got a great tan but in fact its just dirt!! The Sanctuary was opened in 1993 by Arthur (who people like to call Arty!!) one of the worlds leading primatologists and Dave (no thats not this Dave!!). The first monkey who started this all off is called Regis and is now the grand old age of 18! Now the Sanctuary house some 700 monkeys and is financed purely by charity donations (hint hint!!lol). Most of the permenant staff here started off as volunteers here for a few weeks and just never left! Everyone works for free and most live on site in tents like ours! The only staff that take a small wage are the Afrikan workers - Maggie (who works in the kitchen), Freddy (our driver!!who is mental!) and Richard (the on site construction specialist!!). All the monkeys are initially housed in cages before being released into large, natural enclosures where troops are formed. There is also a sick bay to take care of sick monkeys, and lots of new enclosures are planned. Progress was set back a little bit recently when a fire swept through the sanctuary and destroyed a number of enclosures and cages (including someones tent!) and so some of the monkeys had to be released but a lot have now returned. However, due to a lack of funding these enclosures have yet to have been rebuilt, so expect funraising emails from us in the near future!!

Now on to our daily duties! - Everyday there is a new rota so no day is exactly the same! We have a morning job starting at either 7 or 8 depending on what job you have to do, then a lunch break of an hour or two and finally the afternoon shift which can vary, finishing at either 4 or 5. There are many different jobs to be done, including construction (self explanatory!), which Dave has been on quite a lot as there aren't many guys here. Some of the projects he has been involved in has incuded frence building and fixing, road rebuilding (which I was also involved with on like one of the hottest days!!) and painting. Sick bay monitoring (aka Security detail!) which involves monitoring several monkeys in the Saav enclosure which are to be integrated into one of the other troops. Due to a number of bandit monkeys roaming around part you have to be on alert at all times ready to chase them off with a large stick as they like to target this enclosure (this is comedy to watch as you run after them waving your arms around with the stick yelling - a bit like a mad bush man/woman!!). Bandit monkeys are monkeys that are mostly from the wild (though some are the ones which escaped after the fire) who roam around the sanctuary generally up to monkey buisness!! This can be quite dangerous if they get too close or if you have food!! Due to a very dry summer the dams are low and so there is no water. Therefore several trips are made each day to collect water from a local tap (this is just literally a tap on the side of the road about half an hour from the sanctuary). Some of the enclosures such as Skunkey need to have water and food changed daily which Dave had to do this week without entering the enclosure, i'm told this is done with a large broom!! Every morning there is a giant "roll call" for all the monkeys which involves identifying all monkeys in each enclosure and checking for general health, old and new injuries and any new babies (as it is baby season!). One of the most fun jobs is working down in sick bay. In the morning all of sick monkeys need feeding, watering and blankets changing (usually all covered in poo!!). A lot of the time is spent giving them attention i.e grooming them and being groomed yourself!! The new orphan babies are also in sick bay and need to be looked after 24/7, and when not alseep can be a handful!! Jack, Jonty and Sabi are about a month old and need regular bottle feeding, playing and cuddling! We have many photos and videos of them (very cute!). A hazard of this is you are regularly used as a toilet! Dave was peed on 4 times in 15 mins yesterday!!

The SOCIAL life!! The evenings are usual spent up at the house and are very relaxed! Dinner is made for us by Maggie and is all veggie (which we are slowly getting used to!). The house has a self service bar, a Tv room and a pool table but most people just sit around chatting or on the internet. Currently there are about 30 volunteers here from various countries so there is no end of conversation!! Ealrier in the week, Maggie treated us to a night of traditional African drumming called Shanghani, which was quite surreal and we really felt like we were actually in Africa! We also had a trip to Half Human, a bar, on friday for Bunny Chow (no this is not actually a bunny, but is a spicy beef curry served in a hollowed out half loaf of bread!) and after a few too many drinks Dave proceeded to air guitar to Bryan Adams Summer of '69! I however pretended not to know him! Two of the South African guys we work with on construction, Zeon and Heist, challenged all the blokes (and some girls!!) to an arm wrestling competion (bare in mind these two are built like tanks and often work in bare feet!!). Dave however declined to avoid humiliation!!

Right! Thats enough for today. Tune in next time for more from Debs and Dave - The South Africa chapter! More photos and videos to follow asap! (when Debs has time!!).