Land & Lake 2011

Place: -             Lilongwe Wildlife Centre

Duration: -        from 1 Week to 6 Months

Introduction to the Centre 

Malawi is known as ‘the warm heart of Africa’, both for its stunning beauty and friendly people.  It’s also one of the most densely populated countries in Africa and one of the poorest countries in the world, which puts enormous pressures on its natural resources.  As a result, the illegal trade of wild animals and their slaughter for bush meat is still a big problem in Malawi, at a time when conservation of both the environment and wildlife is more critical than ever.   

Lilongwe Wildlife Centre was set up in 2007 as the first ever People and Wildlife Centre, a project developed by Land & Lake Safaris with assistance from the international wildlife charity - the Born Free Foundation.  The Centre provides sanctuary space for Malawi’s rescued, confiscated and orphaned wildlife with the goal of releasing them back into the wild when it is feasible to do so.   

What makes Lilongwe Wildlife Centre especially unique is its commitment to the people - recognising that wildlife conservation can’t be addressed without also looking at the pressures facing the communities. As such, the community outreach programme covers a huge range of projects such as working with the orphanages, planting trees, and setting up a wildlife football league and a youth cultural dance programme. The Centre itself is also open to all visitors from international tourists, residents to local schools who can come to learn about wildlife, conservation and to see the sanctuary at work whilst enjoying a relaxing day out.   

What kind of volunteers are needed?

There are all sorts of projects volunteers are involved in which make a real difference to the wildlife and the local communities.  Dependent on specific passions and experience, they 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, buying food from the market, hand rearing baby orphans and providing enrichment to those that need it.

-          Vet assistant: Work alongside our Vet / Animal care Manager and the team to 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, the LSPCA, helping to deliver care to domestic animals with surrounding communities that need it.

-          Release assistant: Prepare and then track animals that are being released back to the wild, whether that be in the Centre’s 60 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 various events at the Centre

-          Education: giving guided tours, working on new signage or helping out at the Wild Kidz Summer Camps

-          Community outreach:  Working with the community outreach manager, perhaps coaching some of the youth wildlife football teams, working with the dance troops or helping out at one of the local 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’re interested in conservation management, we have several ecological surveys and mammal censuses and an important aforestation projects which need support.

Marketing: anyone with experience in website design, pr, events, photography or documentary making would be more than welcome.

The Centre is looking for volunteers who are flexible, full of enthusiasm and like a good day’s work!  If anyone has experience in any of the above areas it will be a bonus, but a can-do attitude is even more useful and whether you want to learn new skills, enhance your CV or simply do something different. The centre will do it’s very best to allocate duties to volunteers that suit their interests.