Volunteer Support Info...

Three week to three month volunteer experiences available to those with a passion for wildlife.

1. Background to the Project
In July 2007, the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre was awarded the concession for an 80 hectare portion of land within the Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary, a pristine woodland setting set aside in the Centre of Lilongwe along the Lingadzi River. The Centre, in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife is creating a facility that will provide a haven for the countries orphaned and injured wild animals. Under the guidance and financial backing of the Born Free Foundation, Land and Lake Safaris and other local and International organisations, the Centre will become a modern-day rehabilitation and education facility, with a primary remit of returning Malawi’s wildlife back to the wild.  The Centre is extremely unique and offers an additional 60 hectare Wilderness Zone, in which animals unable to be returned to the wild can be released. And we need your help!!

2. What will volunteers be involved in?
Volunteers shall be given the opportunity of getting actively involved in a variety of activities at the new Centre, activities that include the rehabilitating of orphaned and injured animals, designing and constructing of animals enclosures, rescuing illegally kept animals, plant and animal inventories of the Wilderness Zone, producing educational material for the Centre and Wilderness Zone, fund-raising, fence monitoring and training. There will also be opportunities for volunteers to involve themselves with the Centre’s outreach community and domestic animal care work. Every new day offers volunteers a new and exciting challenge. Contact us on wildlife@llwc.org

Before you arrive, to help us to get to know a little better, please complete and return our volunteer questionnaire. Telling us a little more about what you are interested in will help us to find projects for you that are suited to your skills and enthusiasms.

3. Visas
No Visas are required to enter Malawi for British Nationals. On arrival please state that you are visiting Malawi as a TOURIST and that you will be staying at the Sanctuary Campsite. There is nothing illegal about this; it is just easier this way. They will give you a one month free tourist visa, which can be extended at a cost of MK 5000 [approx $35] per month for an extra 2 months allowing you a total stay for 3 months in Malawi. Occasionally you may be asked at the check in desk on your way here for a visa. In this event, please advise the check-in attendent that one month visas can be picked up on arrival in Lilongwe.

4. Flights
If you are coming from the UK, or even through Heathrow airport from some other destination, you may want to look at the following routes.

• South African Airways via Johannesburg
• Kenyan Airways via Nairobi
• Ethiopian via Addis Ababa

Note: Departure tax is now included in the price of your ticket.

5. What your contribution includes
Your financial contribution, of which 100% is used to help develop the new Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, includes all in-country transport and airport transfers. An additional US$107 / week should be budgeted for which should cover your accommodation at the Sanctuary Lodge Campsite, food and drinks. Accommodation will be in a purpose built tent at the Lodge campsite adjacent to the centre; hot water and electricity available. Tents and mattresses are provided however volunteers must provide their own sleeping bags and pillows. Please note upgrades are available to the lodge chalets but only at an additional cost and depending upon availability. Additional activities, such as trips to Lake Malawi or to South Luangwa National Park in Zambia can be organised at additional cost (see below).

6. Important Equipment
Basic equipment needed includes sleeping bag, good comfortable walking boots and mosquito net. You may need a waterproof jacket if you are coming in the rainy season, which is late November to early March and a warm fleece for May-August. Other than that, appropriate clothes for the time of year.

7. Money – what currency to bring
How you chose to bring money is completely up to you and there are “Pros” and “Cons” to each. Travelers cheques are sometimes harder to change, usually a charge is involved and you get a lower exchange rate, however, they are safe. Dollars and Pounds are both ok. If bringing dollars please make sure they are dated past 1999 otherwise we (as in banks) cannot accept them here.

Credit cards are an excellent option – make sure it is a Visa! This in my opinion is your best option, although you can only withdraw kwacha. Previous volunteers have had major problems withdrawing cash on Mastercards. There are many ATM machines in the city, it is therefore easy to withdraw money on a visa card.

So, I would say bring the volunteer payment in post-1999 dollar (large head) notes, and then US$ in cash and then a credit card for your upkeep. PLEASE NOTE: US$ 20, 10, 5 and 1’s get a lower exchange rate than 50’s and 100’s so keep that in mind.

8. Security within Malawi
Malawi, in particular Lilongwe, is friendly and inviting. There is very little violence and thefts are petty, i.e. pickpockets, so it is important that volunteers be careful when walking around town.

9. Malarial prophylaxis and additional vaccination requirements
Please seek medical advice from your local practitioner. Rabies and Tetanus are a must when working with animals. A yellow fever certificate is required for entry to neighbouring Zambia to do a South Luangwa Safari – a popular excursion for volunteers. Also check the following websites www.fitforttravel.scot.nhs.uk and www.masta.org/health-brief/brief

We ask that you complete a Proof of Health Clearance form for our records. Please click here to download one and ask your doctor to sign it.

10. Insurance
Full medical Insurance is advised and it is important that you mention that you are working with animals. One contact for you to look at on this is ace.traveluk@ace-ina.com. £39 for three weeks all inclusive and covers you for working with animals. Longer insurance periods can be arranged. Please ensure your cover includes medical evacuation.

11. Some useful e-mail addresses of previous volunteers and staff

12. Travel documents
You will need to provide a copy of your passport and insurance details on arrival at the Lilongwe Sanctuary, in case there are any problems during your stay with us.

13. Night-life
Lilongwe is a relatively quite African city; the Wildlife Centre however, is in the middle of town so it is relatively easy to move around the restaurants, bars and clubs.

14. Cell phones and internet
Cell phone sim cards can be bought on arrival and used in un-blocked phones only. Internet is available at the Lodge if you have your own laptop, cards can be bought on site.  Those without laptops can use the internet cafes in town.

15. Postal address
Lilongwe Wildlife Centre
P.O. Box 2140
Lilongwe

16. Further Reading on Malawi
Lonely Planet (Malawi) or Bradt’s guide to Malawi.

PLEASE NOTE: - Our project is based within the Nature Sanctuary following the signing of an agreement between the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust and National Parks. The existing zoo that the above guides talk about is now closed. The next versions of guides, due out in 2009, will tell the true story regarding the development of the new Centre - the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre.

If you have any further questions, please send us an email

17. Lilongwe Wildlife Centre - Volunteer contributions
Basic contributions are as follows:

Costs for additional activities are as follows:

So for example:

1) If you wish to visit for six weeks and learn to dive at the Lake to gain your PADI Certificate: Costs = 800 + (6 x 107) + 300 = US$ 1 542

2) If you wish to do all the additional activities and come for the full 12 weeks, with one week at the release site: Costs = 1200 + (12 x 107) + 250 + 300 + 320 = US$ 3 354

* On total stays of longer than 3 weeks, you can opt to spend 1, 2 or 3 of your weeks at our release site in one of Malawis National Parks for an additional US$ 250 per week, inclusive of food and basic tented accomodation.

** Cheaper dives can be arranged for those with PADI (or equivalent) certification.

*** Trips to South Luangwa are exclusive of Visas (currently US$ 50 for British nationals) and national park entry fees (currently US$ 25 per day). Please book early if you are wishing to go to South Luangwa.

Alternative accommodation available, other than at Sanctuary Lodge Campsite:

• Sanctuary Lodge Chalets:
  • US$80 (Discounted price)
• BB Korean Garden (Discounted price):
  • Executive room only, US$25 per person per night
  • Executive rooms B&B, US$36 per person per night
  • Gold Rooms [standard] only, US$20 per person per night
  • Gold Rooms [standard] B&B, US$31 per person per night
• LSPCA House (Living with our Vet and family)
  • US$10 per night (Bed only)