The Vervet Forest

10/11/2026

Sarah, Salty & Super Mum Millie enjoying a Sunday morning full of grooms.

Grooming is such an important part of monkey life, helping to build social bonds, keep their fur clean and provide a little stress relief 🐒

Sarah is, of course, our golden girlie and one of the easiest to spot within the troop! Salty is coming up a year old now and is living a very privileged high ranked lifestyle after being adopted by Hocus, the alpha female✨

10/09/2026

Friday Favourites - Shanti Ray ⭐️

This week’s favourite has been chosen by former volunteer and Dreamland supporter, Simone Kunisch.

Her favourite is Shanti-Ray 🌞

Simone helped choose his name alongside Stephanie, with Shanti meaning peace and Ray representing a ray of hope - a name that suits him perfectly.

Shanti-Ray arrived at VMF as a juvenile after being shot multiple times with a pellet gun. One pellet lodged in his shoulder and was removed through surgery, but another was too deep within his skull to safely remove, leaving him blind.

Sadly, Shanti-Ray is not the only monkey we have cared for who has suffered life-changing injuries from pellet guns. Many of these special-care monkeys are cared for in Calypso’s Corner, where they receive the lifelong care they need.

Stories like Shanti-Ray’s remind us why lifelong sanctuary care is so important.

Become one of our monthly donors and help us provide a safe home, ongoing care and a second chance for monkeys like Shanti-Ray. Every contribution makes a difference ⭐️

Thank you, Simone, for choosing Shanti-Ray as this week’s Friday Favourite! 🐒

10/08/2026

https://cstu.io/cf9e1b

A turf war between the Bandits and the Skunkey troop took a scary t...

10/07/2026

Pantshula’s Big Move 🐒🌿

You may remember Pantshula, our 20-year-old male who arrived with us via the SPCA last year. He came to us with a very unclear history, and it’s believed that he may have spent much of his life being kept as a pet. We don’t know what conditions he lived in or what he experienced before coming to the foundation, but after 20 years of uncertainty, we’re hoping to provide some hope for him 💚

After completing his quarantine and getting the all-clear, Pantshula was finally ready for his next big step, moving up to Bachelor Block to meet Kesie. 🫶

Both boys have been humanised and castrated, and due to their age, joining a troop would be very difficult for them. Pantshula is also missing some of his teeth, making life in our bachelor block the best option for him.

Within the first 30 minutes of moving in together, the boys were already interacting. They were a little unsure of each other at first, but there were also some playful moments - a promising start to their new life alongside one another🐒💚

We still don’t know much about Pantshula’s past, but we’re so happy to see him beginning to settle into his new surroundings.

He’s already enjoying climbing the branches, happily munching on his lentil sprouts and spending plenty of time watching the troops in top section.

Here’s to a new chapter, Pantshula ❤️

10/06/2026

Tongue Out Tuesday 🐒😝

Isn’t this just the weirdest Tongue Out Tuesday we’ve ever had?! 😂

This bandit boy has one seriously long tongue and clearly wanted to show it off for the camera! 👅🐒

10/04/2026

Happy World Animal Day! 🌍🐒

Here at the Vervet Monkey Foundation, we care for over 700 rescued vervet monkeys and 6 samango monkeys but they’re not the only animals who call our sanctuary home! 🌿

Our location in Limpopo means we’re also surrounded by some incredible wild animals from wild vervets and brown-headed kingfishers to dwarf mongooses and so many other species. 🐒🐍🐦‍⬛🦆🦋🕷️🐢🦎🦂🐿️🦌

This World Animal Day, we’re celebrating all the animals who share life at the foundation with us.

Take a look at some of the incredible wildlife we’re lucky enough to see around the sanctuary! 📸

10/03/2026

Griffin & Cheyenne

Some of our orphans are becoming a lot more independent but Griffin has always loved his snuggles and cuddling close with foster mum Cheyenne. A bond formed not of blood but love ❤️