THERE will be no monkeying around for Ebony Chambers when she arrives in South Africa.

The 19-year-old will be taking up the rare chance to volunteer at a monkey sanctuary to help orphaned primates, former pets, victims of illegal smuggling, and even those retired or rescued from laboratories.

She is self-funding her way to the IPR International Primate Rescue in Pretoria where she will working for about a month from 5.30am to 5.30pm most days.

Se will be working with up to 100 primates including marmosets, tamarins, capuchins, macaques and squirrel monkeys.

"Some of them can never be released into the wild," Ebony, from Pepys Street, said.

"I'm really excited to go but I think I'm going to get attached to them while I'm there."