Malawi Wildlife Sanctuary Placement

Duties & Activities

Lilongwe Wildlife Centre (LWC) is Malawi’s only wildlife sanctuary - widely reputed as one of the best facilities in Africa for its high standards of animal welfare. LWC is accredited by the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance, the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) and the Born Free Foundation PAW scheme. In 2023 it was named GFAS ‘Outstanding International Sanctuary’. We care for around 200 animals on any given day, the majority of which are primates. Every animal that comes into our care - whether as a result of abuse, illegal activity or human-wildlife conflict - receives a carefully tailored programme of support from our team of experts. We aim to release as many animals as possible back into the wild. Those that cannot be released are cared for in the safety of the sanctuary. Volunteering at the Centre will give you a powerful insight into the life-changing and life-saving work of wildlife rehabilitation. Please note that our busiest period is during October to January each year, when we typically receive more orphaned animals. You will spend the majority of your time with our dedicated animal care team, where work covers the whole spectrum of work to rehabilitate injured, orphaned and abused wild animals. Expect to get your hands dirty, work hard and sleep well! Animal rehabilitation is not always glamorous – think chopping food, cleaning enclosures and waking up at 3am to feed orphaned monkeys – but it’s work that makes a real difference. Duties include animal husbandry (cleaning, sanitation, feeding and enrichment), orphan care, observations and integrations. You’ll also get the chance to learn more about specialist areas of work such as enrichment, observation and rehabilitation techniques.

Schedule

This is dependent on the animals we are looking after at the time. Volunteers generally work 8am - 5pm.

Species

• Wildlife (various)1 animal

Logistics

• Accommodation Provided
• Free — Our volunteer house can host up to 17 people at a time across six bedrooms (a single supplement may be charged to secure a private room). The house also includes a lounge, kitchen, inside and outside dining spaces, two bathrooms, laundry space, an outdoor deck and garden. WiFi and cleaning / laundry is provided. The building is located in the middle of the sanctuary, which means that you’ll experience the magic of bush life after a hard day of work – spending evenings by the fire listening to the sounds of the forest.
• Catering Provided
• Free — Meals are cooked by our on-site chef every day except on Sunday, when volunteers are asked to cook for themselves (or enjoy leftovers!). The menu is vegetarian / vegan with a mix of international and local dishes. Let us know if you have other special dietary requirements. Volunteers are also welcome to buy other luxuries or meat if they wish.

Application Details

Requirements

• Pre-vet Accepted
• Minimum Year

Nearest Medical Facility