Munkey Business

The Big Swing - video evidence

2007-01-06T20:32:00.000Z

Back in Sunny Warm England

2006-11-27T12:07:00.000Z

Our adventure is now over, but here's some more pictures of our travels after the VMF (Vervet Monkey Foundation).

Cape Town

2006-11-20T15:21:00.000Z

Our trip is nearing its end, but that's not stopping us from enjoying our tourist status to the full.

On Saturday we braved the Atlantic to have an afternoon surfing and I have to say wet suits are one of the best inventions of ever. Professional surfers make it look so easy but really, it's not. There's far too much to think about, paddling to reach the same speed as the wave, waiting for the wave to catch you, attempting to stand up, then staying up - very complex opperation. But in 3 hours I managed to stand all the way up once and onto my feet but still clutching the board a fair few times. Really good fun, I'd definitely recommend it, even just to float about on a surfboard in a wet suit for the look!

We finally made it up table mountain yesterday, in the cable car. The cable car was made by a Swiss company and they did a great job, the car rotates 360 degrees so that wherever you stand you can see everything there is to see. The top of the mountain was ok, stunning views of cape town, but definitely table mountain is best viewed from afar to appreciate the whole thing.

A trip to Cape Town is not complete without a trip to the winelands and today was that day. We were taken to 4 wine estates and tried over 20 different wines and amazingly are still able to tell the tale. Our guide, Grant, taught us how to be proper wine snobs - so we are now qualified to swirl our glasses, smell the esters and savour the flavours. My favourites were the fortified wines and luckily we only tried 2 of them as they are stronger. One wine estate is just a hobby for a multi-millionaire and is capable of producing over 4 million litres of wine each year, but only produces about 1.3 million as he's not really interested in the profit side of things - oh to have that much money!

Tomorrow is our last full day in South Africa so we're planning to do shopping, pop into the Castle and have a whizz round Robben Island, no more adventure sports for us - as far as we know!

Last stop is Dubai for a few days to catch up with our uncle and some last minute tanning, then home we return to sunny, warm England.

Rx

Me and my skunkey E babies

2006-11-16T19:46:00.000Z

Even more photos

2006-11-15T16:30:00.000Z

Pictures at last

2006-11-15T16:08:00.000Z

Jasper trying to extract the seeds from a seed pod - this task is theraputic for vervets and volunteers alike!

This is us doing the Big Swing - during the 70m free fall part.

This is us at the 3 rondavels in Graskop rather pretty I think you'll agree.

We're staying in what is officially the best youth hostel in the world (judged by me). In our own private twin en-suite room, which is huge with a lovely modern shower room. This morning we left our room at the crack of eleven and treated ourselves to an oversized brunch, then consoled our stomaches by buying most of the contents of the Green Market Square in addition to a few items from the surrounding shops! Once the clouds had cleared we noticed Table Mountain which we can see from our room, we shall be going up in due course. Tomorrow we're off on a tour of Cape Point then there's the possibility of surfing lessons, the obigatory wine tasting and maybe even some time to do nothing on the beaches - it's a hard life being us at the moment!

Rx

Zimbabwe and the Zambezi

2006-11-13T17:55:00.000Z

At last a decent internet connection. We're currently in Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls have a rather smashing time of it all. We arrived yesterday lunchtime and after a stroll into town, went on an elephant back safari ride. All the elephants have been rescued and have got themselves a nice little life at the camp. They live in the National Park, no fences so they're free to leave if they really don't like it, take tourists on a hour trek once or twice a day, get fed treats at the end of the trek and then spend the rest of their waking hours wandering round the bush mainly eating and pooing.

Today though was our best day yet - we white water rafted down the Zambezi River. We did 21 rapids in all (not including the ungraded ones) and several of those were grade 5, there was one grade 6 but even the crew don't do that one at this time of year so we walked round that one! For the morning we were joined by two 60+ Spanish men who didn't speak very good English so their morning passed in a blissfully unaware soggy blur clutching onto the rope at the edge. We were doing exactly the same at the front of boat but we knew exactly how long the rapids would drag us under for if we let go of the boat so we didn't.

This afternoon we 'helped' paddle the raft through the remaining 11 rapids and only on the 18th rapid the raft almost flipped and kate and 2 crew fell off but somehow I and another guy stayed on. Luckily that's a 'nice' rapid to fall off at, so we all jumped off the raft and let the current drag us down the river. We saw 3 or 4 crocodiles throughout the day mainly sat sunning themselves on rocks and fortunately none fancied us for lunch so we're still here to tell the tale.

Tomorrow we're finally off the see the Falls so we'll next be reporting from Cape Town.....

Rx

Farewell my primates

2006-11-12T17:36:00.000Z

All good things must come to an end and sadly yesterday was the end of our stay with the Vervet Monkey Foundation. We spent our last day playing with our favourite monkeys and eventually had to say goodbye, but not before we'd had time to take many, many photos and videos which should be on here in the next few days.

Although we have left the foundation, we are still going to try and help carry on the work as much as we can soooo..... if any of you are stuck for ideas for Christmas pressies why not adopt your loved ones a Vervet Monkey they come in all shapes, sizes, ages, though colours are limited. It's now baby season and we have it on good authority that there are many freshly orphaned youngsters in need of love and care. If you don't fancy sponsoring a monkey you can always help in other ways. Your money can be used to buy corn, bananas, fruit, veg, bread, baby milk and other yummy foods the monkeys depend on or there are many construction projects taking place that could use some extra cash. Why not sponsor one of the new sick bay enclosures, help update the main feed area, supply tents and lanterns for the volunteers or even contribute to unstarted projects such as renovating existing enclosures or the purchase of the Vervet Forest for the upcomming release of the Skunkey and Goliath troop monkeys.

All of these will not only give you a warm glowy feeling inside but you will also receive a card/certificate specifying details of your monkey or sponsorship. Just contact us and we can match you up with a monkey of your choosing!

Rx

Skunkey E Babies

2006-11-03T16:27:00.000Z

I met some new monkeys yesterday. All the enclosures have introduction cages round the outside and some of the babies have moved to the E cage next to the Skunkey enclosure and so I was introduced to them. What an odd bunch of monkeys. There's the 4 babies and two older females and at last I have some rank status with a group. The females, Harmony and Yorsie, are very timid and quite scared of humans so they're easy to keep in line and the babies are such wusses, Tandy, Armstrong and Nelson all huddle on my lap in a squeaking bundle of fluff when anything scares them, which is a lot and Dusty, who's the alpha male, just sits around keeping above everything, but occasionally joining in the cuddling - but not because he's scared of course, just to make sure everyone else is ok!

They're all quite chilled and noone bit me at all, so they're now my new favourite monkeys!

Rx

Monkey News

2006-11-02T10:18:00.000Z

We're working mainly with the monkeys in the Baby Care Unit where there's currently 7 babies around 11 months old. They have a very strict ranking system so you have to make sure you pay attention to the right monkeys or they get upset and you get a bite to put you back in your place.

Amber is queen bee at the moment and has her little entourage of Felix and Lily to make sure she's ok. Almond is a bit bigger than the others but he's got a gammy leg and is a bit of a wuss so he's been moved back in with the others. Monks is evil and hates me and always tries to give me a little nip when i'm not looking, he normally apologises after but we have a mutual agreement to keep our distance. Jasper and Sammy are quite quiet and Sammy seems to get picked on most, but is a very happy soul so doesn't seem to mind.

As it's so hot at the moment (we hit 42 the other day and it's still spring) they all have a mad hour of running around, swimming in the water bowl and generally causing trouble, then they all settle down in a little heap of monkey and fall asleep which is absolutely the cutest thing ever. What's not so cute is when they pee and poo on you or fall asleep on your ankles so your legs go dead. And if you dare to wake a sleeping monkey god help you! Anyway off to see the little darlings now.

Rx

Pictures!!!!

2006-11-01T09:09:00.000Z

Anita and the bush baby

Having fun with the toilet paper

Me and Amber

The Big Swing!!!

2006-10-27T18:09:00.000Z

We've just come back from a super trip. We went to Graskop which has some amazingly beautiful scenery including the 3 rondavels, many waterfalls, huge potholes, Blyth River Canyon which is the 3rd largest in the world and it was here that the scariest event in our short lives happened - THE BIG SWING.

This is the world's largest free fall swing, which basically means you are in a full body harness attached to a rope then you throw yourself off a platform, free fall 70 metres then go into a swing the total height is 120 metres (19 storeys!). They let you have a free zip wire across the canyon first, seems nice, but you get to see exactly how far there is to fall and how rocky the bottom is.

We made our tour guide, Emille, go first and he had no fear (or no choice). Then our Icelandic friends Anita and Klemmi went tandem, Klemmi also has no fear and as Anita was attached to him she had no choice! Unfortunately it wasn't so simple for us and after around 5 mintues of us chickening out, the owner of the swing came down onto the platform and held my harness to 'reassure' me, but pushed us over backwards.

I can honestly say I have never been so scared, never screamed like that or heard Kate scream like that and I hope I never will. The feeling of falling is like nothing else and is so unnatural that your body goes into shock. The actual swing was great, but by then we were both in tears, mainly relief but part anger for being pushed over. I'm so glad I've done it but that's definitely a once in a lifetime experience for me! We got a certificate and a free beer which helped but nothing comes close to the feeling after you come to the realisation of what you've just done.

Back to reality now, up with the babies at 7 am huzzah!

Rx

Monkeys Galore

2006-10-25T08:57:00.000Z

So on Saturday we found ourselves at the Vervet Monkey Foundation and what a place it is! There are over 700 vervets here Arthur Hunt set up the foundation after a long legal battle to keep his first orphaned vervet Regis that came into his life about 20 years ago. He was told by all the authorities including WWF, RSPCA and the South African Nature Conservation Board to kill it as they were vermin and a pest to farmers and local people. Arthur has since then devoted his life to finding everything he can out about these tiny bundles of cute.

The foundation currently has 12 enclosures, 55 introductory cages and we're helping to build new cabins and cages for a much needed sick bay. A process has been developed which enables orphaned vervets to be nursed to health and placed with a foster mother and a new troop within 3 - 4 weeks. Unfortunately the monkeys are still at risk of being shot so all the enclosures are surrounded by electric fencing for their safety. There is one troop of 'bandit' monkeys who wander free around the farm very much enjoying their freedom.

Last year the law was changed and the vervets are no longer classed as vermin and farmers now need a permit to shoot the monkeys, but a lot of work still needs to be done. The vervets are in fact a great help to farmers as they only eat over ripe fruit that cannot be commercially sold, eat insects that would otherwise damage the crops and there are 30 species of trees that depend on the vervet to eat the seeds and germinate them and deposit them to continue their growth.

The ultimate aim of the foundation is to create several vervet forests and release the troops there so they are finally completely wild and as they should be. We're just helping get things on the way!

Rx

Greetings from Tzaneen

2006-10-24T18:56:00.000Z

Well we finally made it here, although the journey was not without it's hitches!! Flights were lovely (good old Emirates) we could watch any film starting at any time, pause it and it was super.

Mitsy met us at the airport and we spent a lovely night in a 4* hotel - in the morning we took the shuttle to the bus terminal at the airport only to find our bus didn't go from there it leaves from Park City Station in central Jo'burg and the next bus didn't leave until the following morning. After some hasty phone calls we spent a very relaxig day at Zelda's house followed by pizza, movies and a lovely cosy bed!

20 years ago central Jo'burg was the place to be seen, very smart, beautiful and expensive. Now you only go there if you have a death wish - or a bus to catch - so we drove there, doors locked, handbags out of sight and very much wary of everything. The station at Jo'burg must have been a beautiful place once, but the buildings now stand unloved and worse for wear, very sad.

The bus journey was interesting - driver didn't show so we had to wait for a replacement, then the windscreen wipers stopped working, then one drunken passenger was arrested so we had to wait for the police to come and sort him out. But we did get to watch Top Gun and Home Alone so it's not all bad and we were met by Vicky and Liz who brought us to the Vervet Monkey Foundation which is now our home for the next 3 weeks.

More about our monkey friends in the morrow - sun rises at 5 which means so do we - good old tent village!

Rx

4 days and counting

2006-10-13T14:06:00.000Z

It's all getting very real and close now - the first malaria tablets were taken just a few hours ago, so far so good....but don't want to speak too soon! The suitcases are out and slowly being filled with useful things like mosquito nets, sleeping bag liners, sterile needles and inflatable pillows. Despite having borrowed the hugest suitcase in the world, I think it will require some very dull brain numbing organisation to fit everything I'll need for 39 days into a space that's smaller than my smallest drawer in my bedroom. I might even develop some will power to help keep me from packing 'useful things' such as cuddly toys, 7 bikinis and at least 15 pairs of shoes - you never know when in-line roller boots will come in handy do you now??!

As you can tell dear reader, I am obviously incredibly busy packing at this very moment and have most definitely not got bored and distracted by any other tasks..... although saying that - I have made a delicious carrot and chive soup this week, bought a lovely new ball dress, been responisble for the loss of the lives of thousands and thousands of lemmings (why do they follow one another to the death with their crazy green hair?) to name but a few of the 'important' tasks that have occupied my precious time off work.

Eeeek! Now I read that back to myself I begining to panic, so might toddle off and actually start doing something useful before it's too late - then again I was so close to completing that last level on lemmings, just one more try can't hurt....can it?

Rxx

Long Awaited Video

2006-10-10T18:01:00.000Z

Enjoy!

Fun Run Results

2006-09-24T08:50:00.000Z

Yesterday we set off from St James Church at 3 pm and ran up, down and around Petts Wood High Street, much to the amusement of adults and children alike. We then headed into Jubilee Park - the native woodland of giant monkeys - and were greeted with much enthusiasm by many dogs, who seemed to love our fluffy feet (complete with pink toe nails).

Luckily we didn't actually scare any small children, but did confuse a considerable amount and cries of "but Mummy, who ARE they?" and "see - I TOLD you I saw a gorilla" followed us along the route.

At approximately 4.20 pm we ended our route in the Chequers Bickley (www.chequersbickley.com) hot, sweaty and covered in fur, but content that all of you who pledged us money now have to pay up so us monkeys can take the money out to the real monkeys who deserve it!

Here's some pictures to prove that we really did dress up and raise money for monkeys!

More pictures and video footage to follow shortly!!

Get your t-shirts here

2006-09-12T12:00:00.000Z

Our long awaited range of t-shirts is finally available and they can be purchased for the bargainous price of £10 (including p&p). Email us here with your order, including colour and size preferances - we will do our best to meet your criteria, but if we cannot we will suggest similar alternatives. We cater for all sizes and shapes, lady fit, mens and kiddies - so there's no excuse not to own one of these super shirts.

Artists impression of t-shirts (the real things are muchos better):

Our logo courtesy of ChimpArmy.com

2006-09-01T11:35:00.000Z

Monkey Fun Run - 23rd September 2006

2006-09-01T09:40:00.000Z

Bright and early at 3pm on Saturday 23rd August we will be beginning our 5 mile fun run dressed as giant monkeys to raise funds for the trip. We only need 160 people to sponsor us £2 a mile to reach our target, so if you would like to be one of those people, just let us know!!

We're currently at £497.77 so please give us your pledges and we'll run that little bit faster.

Details of the route, training and estimated times will be posted here so you can all check up on us.

Happy munkeying!
xx

The Sanctuary

2006-08-07T12:05:00.000Z

Founded in 1993 to provide protection to orphaned and injured primates, the Vervet Monkey Sanctuary operates the largest sanctuary for monkeys in South Africa. The Sanctuary receives approximately 40-60 babies and 30-60 juveniles/adults every year and currently looks after over 500 primates, the majority of which are vervet monkeys.

Man is the biggest threat to vervet monkeys in the wild. In addition to habitat encroachment and urbanization, thousands of vervet monkeys are trapped and sold every year to laboratories worldwide for medical research. Due to the misconception that they destroy fruit crops, vervet monkeys are also systematically eradicated by farmers. In fact, the farming community is responsible for a major portion (73%) of the many orphaned vervet monkey babies that are found in the wild. The vervet monkey is currently listed as a vulnerable species on Appendix Two of CITES (Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species).

Apart from caring for the monkeys, the Vervet Monkey Sanctuary also runs numerous outreach programmes, educating farmers, land owners and settlements and giving talks at schools, clubs, organizations, and conservancies. A national network called “Monkey Watch” was created in which concerned citizens monitor the monkeys in their area and report any indiscriminate killing. The Sanctuary also maintains a complete database on vervet monkeys and has done a twelve-year study into their ethnology and role within the eco-system. In the Limpopo Province, where the Sanctuary is based and most actively involved, the project has already seen a positive change in attitudes towards primates, particularly the vervet monkey.

The Sanctuary has had a lot of publicity and accolades in South Africa. It was the third nomination for the AUDI TERRA NOVA CONSERVATION AWARD in 2000 and received the CARE CENTRE award in 2002. A registered non-profit organization, the Vervet Monkey Sanctuary receives no government or major corporate support, and is reliant on the generosity of concerned individuals and animal welfare groups to continue their work.

Cute Monkey Pics!!

2006-08-07T10:25:00.000Z

monkey facts

2006-08-07T09:58:00.000Z

The monkeys of the world are divided into two groups: the Old World monkeys of Africa and Asia and the New World monkeys of Central and South America
A group of monkeys is called a troop
All monkeys like to be clean so they have a barber monkey clean out their fur, the barber monkeys reward is the bugs in his customer's hair.
In sexual and dominance displays vervet monkeys run the gamut from shaking branches and jumping around to making a hard 'kek-kek-kek' sound to mark their territories.
A monkey will chew gum for a few seconds, but then it will take it out and stick it in it's hair.
Young Spider Monkeys like skydiving! They'll climb into a tree about 20 meters off the ground and jump off.
A monkey was once tried and convicted for smoking a cigarette in South Bend, Indiana

Donations Welcome!!

2006-07-30T20:05:00.000Z

To donate money click on this link and send money to ruth_h3@hotmail.com, or alternatively email us and we can let you know other forms of donation.

Welcome to the home of Munkey Business

2006-07-27T13:22:00.000Z

A website huzzah! So now we can update everyone on our progress before, during and after monkeys.

Progress to date:
Funds raised: £697.77/1,600

Munkey Shop:
Tshirts - We are currently developing our own range of tshirts featuring unique artwork from some super fantastic artists. There will be a full range of colours and sizes and prices will be approximately £10 including P&P (bargain!!)
Pictures to follow soon.

Planned events:
23rd September - 5 mile fun run dressed as giant monkeys

Sponsors:
Vertex I.T. Solutions
The Mighty Chimp Army

Informative Links:
All about Vervet Monkeys
Vervet Monkey Foundation Tzaneen