Wildlife Rescue & Animal Caretaking at a Wildlife Centre
This Wildlife Centre is looking for dedicated and passionate volunteers for their busy wildlife rehab program. Join this exiting opportunity and gain professional skills in wildlife care and management.
Our story started in 2008 when our first project, the Wildlife Centre, opened as a sanctuary for animals rescued by the Government, primarily from illegal wildlife trades, and also as the country’s largest conservation education facility. Whilst the Wildlife Centre remains a flagship project, our NGO has evolved and we started to work nationally from 2013.
This Wildlife Centre is looking for dedicated and passionate volunteers for their busy wildlife rehab program.
This is Malawi’s only wildlife sanctuary and the first ‘people and wildlife’ centre in the world to work hand in hand with local communities to conserve wildlife, so it is a very unique opportunity for volunteers, and there are a number of projects that you can get involved in.
We have over 150 animals here at the centre, including over 100 primates including Malawian and East African Vervets, Yellow and Olive baboons and Blue monkeys. In addition to this we have lion, leopard, crocodiles, snakes, porcupine, tortoises, duiker antelopes, and as a rehabilitation and release centre there are a range of other animals at the centre at any one time.Activities
Volunteer projects range from animal care assistant, vet assistant, rehabilitation and release assistant, education and community support, centre support, marketing and those interested in conservation or ecology.
Volunteer projects range from animal care assistant, vet assistant, rehabilitation and release assistant, education and community support, centre support, marketing and those interested in conservation or ecology.Dependent on your passions, experience and needs of the Centre you could be involved in any of the following:
Assistant animal carer:
Work alongside our animal carers to offer our orphans the best possible care that they deserve…cleaning, feeding, handrearing baby orphans and providing enrichment to those that need it.
Vet assistant:
Work alongside our vet to help conduct full health checks on all new arrivals and perform regular vaccinations and check-ups on all the animals at the Centre.
Release assistant:
Track animals that are being released back to the wild, whether that be in the Centre´s 80 hectare wilderness area or out at one of the Centre´s release sites around the country
Centre support:
Helping with construction and maintenance, giving guided tours or getting involved with events at the Centre
Education:
Giving guided tours, helping create conservation based educational activities, working on new signage or helping out at the Wild Kidz Holiday Camps.
Community outreach:
Working with the community outreach manager. We have several ongoing community programmes including such projects as our ‘Green and Clean’ programme where we are working with our local communities to plant sustainable wood lots and vegetable gardens, and providing training to encourage sustainable living and the use of alternative fuels and discouraging negative practices such as sand mining and deforestation.
Environment:
If you´re interested in conservation management, we have several ecological surveys and mammal censuses and an important afforestation project we would love your support on.
Marketing:
Anyone with experience in website updates, pr, events, photography or documentary making would be more than welcome.
Local conditions
The Centre employs over 30 dedicated local staff with a management team that also includes highly qualified international wildlife and education experts. International volunteers are also crucial to the smooth running of the project in terms of hard work, new ideas and skills transfer.
Languages: English
Volunteers stay together in our Volunteer House, which is within the heart of the wildlife centre and surrounded by our animals. This allows you to be close to the action and, alongside having the benefits of being within the centre of a capital city, experience the wild side of Africa. The House has mixed dorm-style accommodation with a kitchen, living area, bathroom and an attractive garden area for al-fresco eating and relaxing in the evenings.
2 weeks US$ 1,698
3 weeks US$ 2.298
4 weeks US$ 2.769
5 weeks US$ 3.189
6 weeks US$ 3,569
7 weeks US$ 3,936
8 weeks US$ 4,268
9 weeks US$ 4,588
10 weeks US$ 4,867
11 weeks US$ 5,136
12 weeks US$ 5,387
Prices for longer stays are available on request.
WHAT NEXT?
- Please send us an enquiry.
- We will be in touch to let you know if we have availability and, if so, how to pay your deposit.
- Once you have confirmed with your holding deposit we will send you the full information pack with all the necessary forms and additional information to get ready for your stay with us.
- Of course, if you have any further questions please get in touch.
What’s Included
- Accommodation
- All meals and unlimited tea, coffee and drinking water
- Transfers to and from the airport and all work related transport
- Free wireless internet
- Free t-shirt and local phone sim card
- Orientation and training in all relevant departments and full support and assistance from the Volunteer Coordinator throughout your stay.
What’s not Included
- Flights
- Vaccinations, travel and medical insurance
- Visas ($75 single entry 30 day visa plus extensions every 30 days — $10)
- Additional excursions, nights out, souvenirs and personal expenses such as soft drinks, beers and snacks.
To fly to Lilongwe, check out Kenya Airways, Ethiopia Airways and South African Airways. We will arrange for your transfers from the airport to the Centre.
Which qualifications are needed?
Whilst relevant skills and past experience are very helpful, it is those with enthusiasm, flexibility and a good work ethic that leave the biggest mark and get to go home with the greatest sense of achievement.
