We are big believers in giving back to what has brought us so much joy in life – animals.  Over the years we have had a few animal charities that we have donated to.  The charities that we support are the smaller rescue centers where the people on the ground are making a wonderful difference in the lives of animals.  Our website will have some of our rescue stories. https://exploringkruger.co.za

What we are big on is the importance of animals having the right to live wild and free.

You might wonder why we have chosen chimpanzees, given that they are not native to South Africa or the Kruger National Park. Our journey began when we rescued an orphaned chimpanzee in West Africa from the illegal pet trade, which opened our eyes to the devastating realities of the illegal bushmeat trade. During this rescue, we connected with Chimp Eden in Nelspruit, South Africa, where Phillip Cronje served as the sanctuary manager.  Phillip was our pillar of strength and provided us with his expert guidance every step of her rescue.  Tragically Phillip has since passed away.  This is a tribute to Phillip and Dr Jane Goodall and a thank you to all the wonderful team at Chimp Eden.

About Chimp Eden:

As a non-profit organization all funds received go directly back to JGI Chimp Eden for conservation and protection of chimpanzees or for funding the Roots and Shoots outreach programs.

Through education & eco-tourism, their aim is to raise awareness about the urgent need to protect chimpanzees and devote their care for the chimps at Chimp Eden.

Statistics of the decline of chimpanzees do not highlight the harsh realities for the victims of the illegal pet trade or deforestation.

Every rescued chimp has a heart breaking past. They are the lucky ones to have been rescued and get to live in a sanctuary with their own kind under the devotion and care of Chimp Eden.

We encourage you to visit Chimp Eden or to visit their website to make a donation or to sponsor a chimp.  It will stir your heart and encourage you to only support eco-tourism.

Chimp Eden is situated about 15 km from Nelspruit.

https://www.chimpeden.com

About Missy – the orphaned baby chimp Mark and Gail rescued.

Gail wrote a book about Missy’s rescue to be a voice for chimps.  Telling an individual orphaned or exploited chimp’s tragic story has a bigger emotional impact for humans to be made aware and to try to make the world a better place for all.

Missy is at an incredible sanctuary in Guinea, you can sponsor Missy or a chimp at Chimpanzee Conservation Centre.

https://www.projetprimates.com/chimpanzee-conservation-center/

Herewith is a link to purchase the book “Her name is Missy”

https://www.amazon.com/Her-Name-Missy-Gail-Gillespie-Fox/dp/1540699498

A cute baby chimpanzee—or any baby primate—often captures the attention of many. However, the reality is often far more cruel than cute. Many primates are orphaned for social entertainment purposes, stolen from their mothers in the wild. In many cases, adult primates are killed to capture the babies, who are then sold into the illegal pet trade. Tragically, many of these young primates die during the capture process or later from stress or starvation.

This baby chimpanzee was rescued and was with humans while awaiting her paperwork to be sent to a sanctuary. She was fortunate to arrive at the Chimpanzee Conservation Centre in Guinea while still young, allowing her to learn how to behave like a chimpanzee rather than developing a human imprint, which would make it more difficult for her to integrate with other chimps. you can sponsor Missy or a chimp at Chimpanzee Conservation Centre.

https://www.projetprimates.com/chimpanzee-conservation-center/

Orphaned baby chimps do require full-time human care until they are old enough to join their own kind.

Our mission is to encourage everyone to support only eco-tourism and to be mindful of the content they engage with on social media. By watching videos of exploited animals or visiting places that harm animals, you may inadvertently contribute to the illegal pet trade.

We hope that you get the opportunity to visit the iconic Kruger National Park and join us on a safari, where you can experience animals in their natural habitat and learn about their fascinating lives. We also encourage you to visit Chimp Eden to witness their dedication to chimpanzee care and to support ethical tourism.

Chimp Eden’s website –   https://www.chimpeden.com

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