Studies of population genetics and genomics, morphometrics, endocrinology and immunology of primates often require effective methods of trapping and sedation. In this paper, we describe a progressively refined trap design used by the authors to trap more than 770 vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) in southern and eastern Africa between 1973 and 2009. The design offers ease of construction, portability, sensitivity of the trigger mechanism and the ability to restrain animals for sedation. In addition to a detailed description of the trap design, this paper presents notes on strategies for baiting, temporal trends during trapping and possible application to other taxa