Malawi Wildlife Rehabilitation

Malawi

The centre is the only wildlife rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary in Malawi, promoting wildlife conservation both internationally and within the local communities. They have an extensive community outreach and education program and the centre is open to the public 365 days a year, welcoming hundreds of families and school children every week.

The project is still in the development stages which means volunteers can have a very real influence on the direction they take and there is a great team currently in place. Volunteers often extend their stay because they enjoy it so much and can see the value of their contribution. The centre couldn’t do their work without the support of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers who really want to make a difference. It is a ground breaking project and the first People and Wildlife Centre in the world, a pilot project supported by a well-known international wildlife charity which is already being used as a model for other centres in Africa.

Longer placements are available upon request.

There are various projects volunteers can contribute to and make a real difference to the wildlife at the centre and the local communities.

You are responsible for feeding and watering the animals, cleaning enclosures, providing enrichments and assisting with tours for visitors and activities school groups.

You make a positive difference to the lives of the animals at the centre by caring for and enriching the lives of a variety of wildlife.

Dependent on your passions, experience and needs of the centre you could be involved in any of the following:

*Assisting the carers: Work alongside the animal carers to offer the orphans the best possible care that they deserve. This includes cleaning, feeding, buying food from the market, hand rearing the baby orphans and providing enrichment to those that need it.

*Vet assistance: Depending on your skills, work alongside our full time vet and their team and help conduct full health checks on all new arrivals and regular vaccinations and check-ups on all the animals at the centre. Or work with our sister organisation, helping to deliver care to domestic animals in surrounding communities that need it.

*General centre support: Helping with construction and maintenance, giving guided tours or getting involved with events at the centre.

*Education: working on new signage, developing education program or help out at the Wild Kidz Camps.

*Community outreach: Work with the Community Outreach Manager as they deliver extensive wildlife conservation education program within the local schools and orphanages. Other outreach work covers reforestation, farming diversification and health education on subjects like HIV/Aids and Malaria and developing markets for their crafts and produce.

*Environment: If you are interested in conservation management, we have several projects including ecological surveys, mammal censuses and a forestation project.

*Marketing: If you have experience in website design, public relations, events, photography or documentary making, we would be more than interested to hear from you.

If you find you take an interest in a particular area or project at the centre, the project staff are very encouraging and will help you to experience new and interesting jobs if you wish to.

Volunteers can apply their skills and acumen to any number of roles, ranging from harvesting / collecting, studying / research and monitoring wildlife in their natural habitat, fieldwork in the wider reserve involving checking / setting camera traps, photo-point monitoring, species observations, data input, feeding and watering animals in care, release of animals back into the wild, building pens and enclosures, cleaning of enclosures, providing enrichments, care and rehabilitation duties and vehicle and equipment maintenance.

A tour of the nature reserve in an open topped vehicle is one of the highlights enabling plenty of photo opportunities.

18 years of age or 17 with parental consent, 15-16 with a parent

Volunteers need to be flexible, full of enthusiasm and like a good day’s work!

It is important that volunteers are adaptable in terms of what work they are involved in and the centre will do their best to ensure you are involved in the projects you are most interested in. No two days could be the same!

You spend your days in hot conditions. The work caring for the animals can be physically challenging but extremely rewarding.

The centre operates on a strict hands off policy as most of the animals are expected to be released or to live as naturally as possible without human contact. It can be difficult but you should refrain from touching or engaging the animals in human-like communications or interactions unless you are given instructions to do so (such as for orphan surrogacy).

Black mambas are an extremely dangerous African snake and may be seen around the centre. Instructions are given to volunteers about all the wonderful but potentially treacherous wildlife in the area.

Monday – Sunday, all year.

2 weeks to 3 months.

9am – 5pm, 6 days a week.

The on-site accommodation offers very large, fully furnished safari-style canvas tents as accommodation. These tents are on a high-set wooden deck, have en-suite bathrooms, lighting, fans and full-size beds, a small fridge and table. Each has a solar power unit and hot water ensuing maximum comfort all year round suiting all climate conditions. In some cases, we may have two volunteers of the same sex sharing a tent, however we offer individual accommodation where possible.

All meals are served by the local cook who provides international meals along with some local Malawian dishes that he is more than happy to show you how to make. Vegans and people with allergies are catered for and every week on a Saturday night, the centre has a Brai for the weekly Saturday night BBQ. If you prefer to eat out there are many good restaurants just a short drive away and the wildlife centre public restaurant serves fantastic lunches!

Breakfast supplies are available to volunteers and all lunches and dinners with vegetarian and vegan options are prepared by the resident cook. You will experience some yummy African cuisine as well as a very tasty homemade pizza!

Fresh, filtered water and unlimited tea and coffee are provided.

 

From AUD $132 a day

DurationCost (AUD)
2 weeks$2845
3 weeks$3780
4 weeks$4715
5 weeks$5440
6 weeks$6105
7 weeks$6750
8 weeks$7345
More than 8 weeksPrice on application

What’s included:​

  • Pre-departure support
  • Project Information Pack
  • Malawi airport transfers
  • Arrival orientation
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • All necessary training by staff and/or volunteers
  • O2E T-Shirt (if travelling from Australia)
  • 24-hour in-country support
  • 24-hour O2E emergency phone
  • Certificate of Participation, if requested

*Please note some items are not included in the project fees listed above, such as flights, visas, vaccinations, travel insurance, snacks, spending money, local transport, in-country tours and return airport transfer (unless mentioned above). Please note that prices are subject to change without notice. Please ensure you have read the O2E Volunteers Terms and Conditions.

Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers_Ecuador_Volunteering

Lovissa T.

Sweden

"Big thanks for letting us know what a TRUE
sanctuary is and taking care of these incredible
animals with the respect they deserve! "

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