from 941€

Excellent 4.8rating (7)
  • Life On Land

Assistant Animal Keeper

location
314€ per week  ·  3 - 20 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

  Verified by Volunteer World
  Good response rate

Highlights

  • Care for over 15 primates species!
  • Work in conservation and rehabilitation centre. Our aim is to one day release the animals in our care!
  • Since its start in 1993, the LWC has rescued more than 4,500 animals of various species!
  • Explore the local village with fellow volunteers!
  • Meet like-minded volunteers from all over the world!

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+

About the program

Assisting our keepers during their daily tasks including cleaning cages, preparing food, monitoring animals, preparing enrichment, repairing climbing structures.

The basic volunteer job is one of an assistant animal keeper. This will involve shadowing our keepers during their daily tasks (cleaning cages, preparing food, monitoring animals, preparing enrichment, repairing climbing structures, etc...). The LWC houses many species and each species has its own ...

About the program

The basic volunteer job is one of an assistant animal keeper. This will involve shadowing our keepers during their daily tasks (cleaning cages, preparing food, monitoring animals, preparing enrichment, repairing climbing structures, etc...). The LWC houses many species and each species has its own section. However, depending on your field of expertise or interests you can, at the discretion of the management, become involved in other areas too, such as our education program, the veterinary care of the animals, enclosure construction projects etc... The work is physically demanding and often dirty. There are numerous rules which volunteers must follow.

While volunteering at the centre, it is important to remember that most of the animals were a victim of illegal poaching, captured as innocent youngsters and their mothers often brutally killed before their eyes. Most were subjected to a harsh, cruel and lonely life before being rescued by the LWC where they can now enjoy a rich nutritional diet, large enclosures and the company of their own species, resulting in good health, both physically and psychologically. In addition to this we would like to highlight that all funds received from volunteers go directly to paying for animal care at LWC.

Since its start in 1993, the LWC has rescued more than 4,500 animals of various species. Although we focus on primate rescue and rehabilitation, we accept all species that arrive as a result of confiscation by authorities or surrender by individuals.

The Limbe Wildlife Centre is a conservation and rehabilitation centre, and our aim is to one day release the animals in our care. If you are expecting to interact directly with animals (touching, petting), this project is not for you. For the welfare of the animals in our care, we have very strict rules regarding animal interaction and you may be asked to leave the project if these rules are broken. 

Currently we care for 15 species of primates:
  • Central and Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee
  • Western Lowland Gorilla
  • Drill
  • Mandrill
  • Olive Baboon
  • Agile Mangabey
  • Red-Capped Mangabey
  • Mona Monkey
  • Moustached Guenon
  • Crowned Monkey
  • Preuss Monkey
  • Two subspecies of Putty-Nosed Monkey
  • Red-Eared Monkey
  • Tantalus Monkey
  • Patas Monkey

In addition, we care for a variety of non-primate species, including:
  • African Grey Parrot
  • Home’s Hinged Tortoise
  • Black Hinged Terrapin
  • Serrated Tortoise
  • Bay Duiker
  • Bushbuck
  • African Civet
  • Dwarf Crocodile
  • Nile Crocodile
  • And others....
Quarantine
All new volunteers are expected to do a 5 day quarantine period when they arrive in Limbe. You can still explore the bustling seaside town of Limbe and Cameroon, but whilst the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing we want to protect our animals and our staff.

Working Days 1 -3:
All new volunteers are required to work in the animal food preparation area / kitchen. This not only gives volunteers the chance to learn and
understand the importance of nutrition at the LWC, but also allows management to ensure that each new person is in good health before
coming into contact with the animals.

Working Days 4 - 13:
You will be allocated to a section in which to shadow a keeper. 

The five sections are as follows:
1. Guenons and Mangabeys
2. Drills, Mandrills and Baboons
3. Chimpanzees
4. Gorillas
5. Quarantine

Whilst working in each section, you must ensure that you carefully follow the guidelines given by the keeper you are working with. Do not approach animals unless you are given permission.

Days 14+:
After completing all five sections you will have the opportunity to discuss with the head keepers any areas you are particularly interested in. Depending on the needs of the centre at that time, the head keepers will try to offer you the opportunity to work in the area(s) of your choice.

There may also be the opportunity to participate in our education programme depending on what time of year you volunteer. Our programme runs from October - March. 

Typical day

Days start at 8am. After the morning meeting you will be assigned to a section to begin the daily work. During the morning volunteers work with the keepers to clean the enclosures, provide food and browse to the animals, and undertake any other necessary tasks. 

Break for lunch 12pm - 1pm. ..

Typical day

Days start at 8am. After the morning meeting you will be assigned to a section to begin the daily work. During the morning volunteers work with the keepers to clean the enclosures, provide food and browse to the animals, and undertake any other necessary tasks. 

Break for lunch 12pm - 1pm. Cameroonian lunch is provided but volunteers are welcome to bring their own lunch if preferable. 

Some hours in the afternoon are less busy, and sometimes the keepers will be involved in activities that you cannot be a part of. During the afternoons we ask volunteers to undertake activities including: making enrichment, working in the gift shop, helping to cut browse, assist with construction, and any other activities that may take place in the afternoons. The head keeper will tell you what time you will do each activity. They will need to assist you when handing out your enrichment items.

Afternoon feeding 4pm. 

Work day ends between 4:30pm - 5pm. 

Free-time activities

The Limbe Wildlife Centre is located in the town of Limbe in the South West Province of Cameroon, about an hour and a half drive away from Douala. The nearest airport is in the city of Douala. Limbe is a bustling fishing town, population approx. 50,000 people. Limbe is a very friendly town, with ...

Free-time activities

The Limbe Wildlife Centre is located in the town of Limbe in the South West Province of Cameroon, about an hour and a half drive away from Douala. The nearest airport is in the city of Douala. Limbe is a bustling fishing town, population approx. 50,000 people. Limbe is a very friendly town, with beautiful botanic gardens, bars, restaurants and a good atmosphere. The beaches outside of town are good for swimming.

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (intermediate level)

Required Documents

CV, Cover letter, TB test, HIV test and Health check

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

Some relevant experience is beneficial but not necessary.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 08:00 - 16:30

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Limbe Wildlife Centre

The cost of volunteering at the centre depends on the length of your stay. This fee covers accommodation costs and helps to provide adequate food, enrichment, infrastructures and care for the animals. Be aware that when you transfer money to the LWC,there may be transfer fees involved. The amount differs and depends on your bank.

Airport Pickup at Douala Airport

We will arrange airport pick up but at an additional cost. 

Accommodation

Usually, volunteers choose to stay in the volunteer house, located a short 10-minute walk from the project. Volunteers are provided with a clean basic room in a large house with a shared bathroom (cold shower) and self-contained kitchen. 

There are also local hotels for an additional cost. The volunteer house is the property of LWC and all fixtures and furniture must be respected and treated accordingly so that other volunteers can enjoy them in the future. If there are any issues with materials in the house, you must inform management. The volunteer house is quite spacious and you should be able to cohabit with everyone peacefully. All volunteers share use of the kitchen and other common areas. There are three common bathrooms: two inside the main house and one outside, reserved for outside rooms.

When staying in the volunteer house, it is important to remember that you are living with other volunteers. It is of the upmost importance to respect one another, clean up after yourself and keep the house and compound clean.

Keep all food tightly contained, as bugs can get very bad, especially if there are sugary foods unsealed. Consider buying plastic bags or Tupperware to further seal foods, and keep what produce you can in the fridge if there is room. Label your foods and try to keep track of what are yours and others’. Volunteers may be willing to share things but always ask first and make sure to repay them or trade as soon as you are able. Try to share the kitchen space equally. Always clean up your dishes after using them, as dirty dishes make the bugs much worse. There are often some cooking oils and spices for everyone’s use, and all dishware and cutlery is to share, unless otherwise labelled. Make sure you arrange whose space is whose in the fridge. There is also a small oven and two double gas stovetops.

Three times a week, a house cleaner will clean the house and wash the bed sheets. It is up to volunteers to do their own laundry unless you arrange it specifically with the cleaning woman prior. She generally charges 2,500CFA per load, depending on the size. Detergent can be bought at most

Food & Beverages

Cameroonian lunch provided on work days. 

Internet Access

Limited access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Douala Airport (DLA) in Douala. We assist you to find cheap flights to Cameroon. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Cameroon provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Cameroon you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Cameroon. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

The management or other volunteers will be able to help you in your first days. They will show you around at the centre and tell you where to buy things and exchange money. 

Volunteers can arrive any day. We arrange for a driver to collect volunteers from the airport and drop them off too. This is for an additional fee. 
Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

3 weeks (min. stay) 941€
4 weeks 1,254€
6 weeks 1,881€
8 weeks 2,508€
20 weeks (max. stay) 6,270€
Average fees 314€/week

Program fees

314€ per week 3 - 20 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Duration

3 - 20 weeks

Deposit (15%)

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.

Final Payment (85%)

Your final payment will be agreed with Limbe Wildlife Centre during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Meet your host

Limbe Wildlife Centre

Excellent 4.8 rating (7 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 1990

Verified by Volunteer World

  Good response rate

Coordinated by

Laura

Spoken languages: English

About the project

A rescue, rehabilitation and release centre for primates and other animals seized from the illegal wildlife trades.

Meet your host

The Limbe Wildlife Centre (LWC) is a conservation education centre based in Limbe, Cameroon. It is managed by the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) and the Pandrillus Foundation, an US non-profit NGO also registered in Nigeria and Cameroon. Our aims are to:

• Rescue, rehabilitate and release wildlife rescued from the illegal bush meat and pet trades, and ensure high quality animal husbandry standards and veterinary care for all animals.

• Help secure the long term survival of threatened and endangered species native to Cameroon through conservation education and alternative employment programmes to hunting for the local community.

• Work with law enforcement agencies to combat the illegal bush meat and wildlife trades.

Degradation of habitats, poaching and the live animal trade has led to the rapid decline of hundreds of species. In the Central African region alone, which harbours one of the most diverse populations of primates in the world, monkeys are hunted or poached at alarming rates, including all three African great apes (bonobo, chimpanzee and gorilla). The LWC is one of only three sanctuaries in Cameroon providing a second chance to orphaned, injured and abused wild animals.

We provide care to 250+ animals which have been victims of the illegal bush meat and wildlife trades. These animals include the Western Lowland Gorilla (critically endangered), Central and Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee (endangered), Drill (endangered), Preuss Monkey (endangered), and other threatened species including the African Grey Parrot (endangered).  Since 1993, we have rescued and provided acute care to more than 4,500 animals of various species.

Every year we receive approximately 50,000 visitors, of which 90% are Cameroonian. Through our trained eco-guides we aim to engage local and international visitors in conservation education to raise awareness of the bush meat and pet trades and prevent further decline of wild animal populations in Cameroon.   

7 reviews · rating4.8

Todd Soyck rating4.8

2020 at Assistant Animal Keeper

I spent three weeks as a volunteer at Limbe and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. The staff and other volunteers were a joy to work with. This is not a project for those expecting luxurious facilities such as hot running water (or even running water at times). The work, while hard at times, was very ...
Kate Hrabcova rating5

2020 at Assistant Animal Keeper

The first time I came to volunteer at LWC back in 2016, I knew I definitely will be coming back. I fell in love with the place, the staff, and of course, the animals. From working many other projects in Africa, LWC really stands out for me, as I have been part of many special moments and memories ...
Rowena Schaeffer rating5

2018 at Assistant Animal Keeper

I spent 1 month in Limbe Wildlife Centre in April 2018. Next to the daily care of the primates I was asked by the management to observe a group of Gorilla’s and implement an enrichment plan. It is not finished yet, so I will work on it from home. I was truly impressed by the professionality of the ...
Ana de Boon rating4.6

2018 at Assistant Animal Keeper

As excited as I was the first morning, I walked with the other volunteer - who arrived a few days before - to the centre. Everyone at the centre was very welcoming and even though I was there for only three weeks, I made some new friends. I went to ‘Limbe Got Talent’ and after we went dancing. ..
Rowena Facee Schaeffer rating4.2

2018 at Assistant Animal Keeper

You can skip the gym or any bootcamp when you work in LWC. With high temparatures and a humidity of 90% even breathing feels like an activity. And I loved it. I worked in the LWC as a volunteer wildlife caretaker. Every morning I worked with the local caretakers to feed the primates and clean the ...
Aurore Balaran rating5

2017 at Assistant Animal Keeper

I stayed at the Limbe Wildlife Centre (LWC) during more than 1 year (between March 2016 until July 2017) as a volunteer. I knew before the assistant Manager (I was her intern during my MSc) and she proposed me to come as a long term volunteer to help the LWC. I have experience in primate ...

Location

Africa > Middle Africa > Cameroon > Limbe

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Volunteer Abroad  >  Animals  >  Primate Conservation in Cameroon
Contact Laura
  Good response rate
English

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