Yes! You can volunteer with one of the most lovable creatures on Earth — the monkey 🐒
The sanctuary’s mission is to ensure that every animal gets the chance to live freely in the wild. Over the past 10 years, more than 450 animals have been released back into nature. In June 2021, the first group of 17 orphaned monkeys was successfully reintroduced into the wild, in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Parks Authority.
In some cases, animals cannot be released — in those cases, they stay at the sanctuary in a safe and peaceful lifelong home.
🚨 Important Note: Every project involving direct interaction with wildlife carries some risk. Volunteers are fully responsible for their own safety once informed, and the organizing team holds no liability.
⭐ About the Program – Please Read
The sanctuary doesn’t only care for monkeys—it also houses rare animals such as pangolins, vultures, zebras, giraffes, kudus, hedgehogs, mongooses, owls, and more.
It is a non-profit organization, relying entirely on donations and volunteer programs to operate.
Animal Feeding:
✔ Prepare and serve meals daily
✔ Plan diets for different species
✔ Bottle-feed orphaned animals
Rescue & Release:
✔ Care for permanent residents
✔ Participate in rescue and release missions
✔ Monitor released animals
Behavioral Enrichment:
✔ Forest walks with monkeys
✔ Design toys, platforms, and play areas
✔ Bond with orphaned monkeys
Sanctuary Operations:
✔ Clean and maintain enclosures
✔ Patrol fences and count animals
✔ Build new enclosures
✔ Support daily operations
🚫 No prior experience required – all tasks are taught and supervised by sanctuary staff
✔ Age 18+
✔ Intermediate English skills
✔ Social and respectful
✔ Commitment to work schedules and rules
✔ Adaptability to living, cultural, and climate conditions
✔ Physically fit for outdoor work
✔ Passion for animals and eagerness to learn
✔ Represent Palestine and HomeAwe with pride
✔ Responsible for visa and valid passport
✔ Travel insurance is mandatory and must include emergency evacuation
🚫 Violating any condition will result in immediate dismissal without a refund
Arrival at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport
✔ Airport/bus station pickup available for $30 cash upon arrival
The volunteer house includes:
2 rooms with bunk beds (4 people per room)
1 room with a double bed
1 room with a double bed + 2 singles
2 gas-heated bathrooms
Shared kitchen + living room
Room assignments based on availability (males and females housed separately)
A baby monkey might sleep next to you sometimes 🐵
No Wi-Fi available
💡 We recommend buying a local SIM and topping it up with a “private Wi-Fi” data plan
✔ 3 home-cooked meals daily by our amazing cook 🍽️
✔ All dietary needs accommodated (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.)
✔ You’re welcome to cook traditional dishes from your country and share with the team
Make the most of your free time by visiting:
• The nearby town – $10 transport fee
• Matobo National Park – 40 minutes away
• Hwange National Park – 4 hours away
• Victoria Falls – 7–8 hours away (leave early in the morning)
For activities and transport, contact Lana or the sanctuary team
• Jan–Apr: Short rains with high temperatures
• May–Sep: Sunny days, cold nights
• Oct–Dec: Hot weather with heavy rain
✔ A pre-travel medical consultation is required
✔ The sanctuary is not in a malaria-heavy zone, but medication is recommended
✔ Rabies vaccine is recommended (not mandatory)
✔ US Dollars
Estimated weekly expenses: $75–100
• Bring small denominations in cash
• Some places may not accept credit cards
All year round
• Programs start and end on Mondays
• Days off: Saturday & Sunday
• Minimum stay: 2 weeks (priority for longer stays)
Click the booking button and enter your basic information. After registration, you will be redirected to the payment page
You will be redirected to the deposit payment page. A payment link will also be automatically sent to your email
After paying the deposit, the program leader will contact you to complete the remaining details such as flight booking and additional information related to the program
After paying the deposit, you will be contacted to complete the remaining details and pay the remaining amount before the trip
In this type of travel, you’ll head out alone from your home country without a group or a team leader — but it won’t be a lonely trip. Instead, it’s a rich and vibrant experience surrounded by volunteers from all over the world.
🔹 You’re not alone out there!
Although you’ll begin the journey on your own, you’ll join a group of volunteers from diverse cultures and backgrounds. You’ll live, work, and learn with people who share your passion for personal growth and positive impact.
🔹 The ideal duration? At least two weeks
Participation length varies by program, but it typically requires a minimum of two weeks. The longer you stay, the deeper and more transformative the experience becomes on a personal level.
🔹 An experience that will change your life
We believe this kind of journey is one of the most powerful ways to invest in yourself, face your fears, and break away from societal routine. That’s why we wholeheartedly encourage you to take the leap — your life before and after the experience will never be the same.
🔹 We’re more than just a travel platform
From the moment you sign up to the moment you return, we’re with you every step of the way: offering emotional and logistical support, preparing and guiding you throughout your entire journey.
💡 Important note:
If you’re feeling hesitant or afraid to take this step, you’re welcome to join a personal, motivational workshop led by project founder Yazan Badarna — specially designed to help you overcome fear and doubt and take that first step.
✨ Thousands have gone before you
Hundreds of people have already taken part in this journey with HomeAwe — and each one returned with a unique story, a stronger heart, and a renewed outlook on life.