Care for rescued animals and support research projects about distribution and movement patterns of the local wildlife populations.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
The projectVolunteers will spend 2 – 10 weeks on the wildlife research project where they will assess the status, distribution and movements patterns of animals occupying the study conservation area. Awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO in 2000, the National Park covers approximately 3,200km2 to establish one of Malawi’s truly outstanding features. Situated on the border of Zambia, this thriving hub of activity hosts no less than 100 mammal species and 430 individual species of birds. Running in conjunction with the Wildlife Reserve, this research camp operates to house, protect and monitor a variety of wildlife including Cheetahs – a species that were thought to be extinct for the best part of two decades.
The conservation team at the National Park will provide volunteers with all of the necessary training to undertake their individual research activities on site. The initial orientation and training phase is designed to bring visitors up to speed on the codes of practice that must be adhered to. Any further feedback or questions can be directed to staff.
Volunteers may also choose to spend time at a wildlife centre caring for rescued animals.
Our volunteers
There are 4 key domains in which volunteers contribute:
- Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation
- Wildlife Research
- Education and Community Outreach
- Communications and Campaigns
In the field, the volunteers will obtain an up close and personal view of the elephants, buffalo, vultures, warthogs, zebras and other animals to gauge their health, wellbeing and overall integration back into their native habitat.
Please note
The wildlife centre operates a strict hands-off policy as our goal is to release as many animals as possible back into the wild. It is highly important not to humanise the animals as this puts them at greater risk of being poached after release. That said, some orphans need special attention and round the clock care to ensure that they have the best possible chance of survival and rehabilitation, so you may well be stepping in with surrogacy work and providing all aspects of care in those early days. It can be an incredibly rewarding experience to see animals progress and know that you have played a vital part in their journey back to the wild.
While the luxurious and exotic surrounds of Africa will provide an experience you will never forget, there are some obvious challenges that some volunteers will encounter. Removed from a comfortable first world environment, volunteers can be confronted by the state of some of the animals in the park given their circumstances. Those that arrive in the warmer months will also be exposed to a hot and unforgiving climate, making it imperative to come prepared.
At the wildlife centre, working hours are completely dependent on the animals we have in at the time, and on the level of care they need. Ideally, volunteers will work from 8am till 5pm, but this is not often the case as most elephant orphans need feeding at unsociable hours and some even need round the clock care. We try our best to split this up between volunteers but please be aware that there may be some long days or even some night shifts. However, a typical day could look like this:
8am-1pm: Orphan care activities and/or enrichment
1pm - 2pm: Lunch
2pm – 5pm: Community outreach/animal care/projects
Once in the field, volunteers will undertake research duties allocating much of their schedule for a 6-day working week.
Malawi is known as the Warm Heart of Africa for its friendly people and stunning landscapes, and it’s generally viewed as the ‘safest’ country to travel in Africa. Volunteers take one day off a week and a long weekend off every month. It is possible to take off more or less time, dependent on emergencies and what projects you are working on. We highly recommend that you spend weekends off at the lake or on safari. We can help you with your booking and show you the best deals. Here are a few ideas:
- Zambia: Safari to South Luangwa valley
- Senga Bay: Boat trip, snorkelling, swimming.
- Liwonde National park: Game drives and boat trips
- Cape Maclear: Boat trips, paddle-boarding, canoes, booze cruise, hiking
- Kande: Horse riding
- Dezda: Pottery, paper workshop, hiking, cave paintings
- Kuti Wildlife Reserve: Wildlife viewing, cycling
Please note
The first instalment of your project fees is due within 1 week after you paid the deposit on Volunteer World. This is a total of $495 AUD and comes off your balance. The balance is due 90 days prior to travel. For all further information about the fees, please scroll down to the section "Program Fees“.