Free to be Wild was founded by Baye Pigors in January, 2014.

Growing up in Africa Baye always had a back yard full of orphaned wildlife. Animals of all descriptions have always been a big part of her life.

In 2013, Baye received her first orphaned baby baboon- who was promptly named “Umfazi”. At that stage the formation of the sanctuary was still a long way off, but Baye made Umfazi a promise – that promise was, that one day she would be returned to the wild and be given the chance to be a free baboon again.

That promise was the beginning of an incredible and heart warming journey.

Upon receiving Umfazi, Baye realised that there was no facility or organization in Zimbabwe that was geared towards the rehabilitation of primates with the ultimate goal of releasing them back into the wild.

For the next several months Baye spent her time travelling and visiting sanctuaries throughout Southern Africa where she learned and researched rehabilitation methods for primates and other wild animals.

Upon her return, Free to be Wild was founded and programs for the rehabilitation and release of both monkeys and baboons were established.