MALAWI CONSERVATION EXPERIENCE
Discover the Warm Heart of Africa during this two-week trip exploring Malawi’s wildlife and wild places.
OVERVIEW
Duration and dates: Two weeks at various dates throughout the year, see below
Age: 18+ unless on our Family Conservation Experience, where 12s and over can be accompanied by a parent
Location: Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve, Lake Malawi
Price: £1,800 per person
During the trip you will spend:
- 6 days volunteering at the Wildlife Centre
- 5 days conducting elephant and primate research at our research camp in Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve
- 2 days relaxing on the shores of beautiful Lake Malawi
There is also the option to add a safari bolt-on to Liwonde National Park or the Luangwa Valley in neighbouring Zambia.
THE EXPERIENCE
The Malawi Conservation Experience is the perfect getaway for animal lovers and adventurous types who want more than the typical ‘safari’ experience.
Malawi is a beautiful country and regarded as one of the safest countries to travel in Africa. The friendliness of its people has earned it the nickname The Warm Heart of Africa.
The two-week trip combines hands-on work with rescued animals at Malawi’s only wildlife sanctuary and elephant and primate research in the African bush with time to relax on the shores of the famous Lake Malawi.
You can also extend your stay and add on a safari to Malawi’s Liwonde National Park or the South Luangwa Valley in neighbouring Zambia, which offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Southern Africa.
While the trip is ideal for single travellers and couples, we also offer our Family Conservation Experience on selected departure dates, where we accept children aged 12 or over as long as they are accompanied by a parent.
THE SANCTUARY
During your six days at Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, you will get an insight into how a successful wildlife sanctuary is run, learning about vet work and rehabilitation techniques and taking part in animal husbandry, orphan care, clinic support, observations and integrations. You will also spend a day with our education and outreach teams, visiting local schools and communities. Accommodation is in en-suite chalets.
THE BUSH
Our elephant and primate research programmes are based at the Malawi Research Institute, a beautiful bush camp on the edge of Lake Kazuni in the heart of Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve.
Currently nothing is known about the status of elephants in Malawi’s northern region, and our research is critical for both species management and illegal wildlife trade initiatives. Vwaza has also served as a site for the release of primates that have been rehabilitated at the Wildlife Centre, with research focusing on how to improve the success rate of re-introductions.
Joining Vwaza team for five days, you will learn about animal and plant ecology and research and data collection techniques, and be involved in individual elephant and primate identification, population censuses, transects, behavioural observations and habitat assessment.
THE LAKE
Here we stay at Kande Beach, a beautiful lodge and campsite on the shores of Lake Malawi. Accommodation is in single cabins or twin beach chalets, with the option to upgrade to en-suite chalets at a small extra cost. Optional activities over the two days include snorkelling, scuba diving, canoeing, boat trips, hiking, horse riding and paddle boarding.
COSTS
The Malawi Conservation Experience and Family Conservation Experience cost £1,800 per person for two weeks. A safari bolt-on is available at an additional cost.
What’s included?
- Accommodation
- Food
- Airport transfers and transport
- Local SIM card (please bring an unlocked phone) and wifi (at the sanctuary)
- Full support during your stay.
What’s not included?
- Flights
- Vaccinations, travel and medical insurance
- Visa ($75 single entry 30-day visa)
- Safari bolt-on, additional excursions, optional activities, souvenirs and personal expenses
DATES
MALAWI CONSERVATION EXPERIENCE (over 18s only)
- 13-27 November, 2018
- 19 February – 5 March, 2019
- 19 March – 2 April, 2019
- 21 May – 4 June, 2019
- 10-24 September, 2019
FAMILY CONSERVATION EXPERIENCE (12s and over accompanied by a parent)
- 9-23 April, 2019
- 9-23 July, 2019
SAFARI BOLT-ON
A safari to Liwonde National Park or South Luangwa in Zambia can be arranged through our partner Land and Lake Safaris. See here for more information: landlake.net
ITINERARY FLEXIBILITY
This information and the itinerary we’ve given you, are intended to serve as guidelines only. Each trip must be flexible to allow for all variables that are beyond our control – such as adverse road conditions and complications caused by the weather.
During rainy season, roads in Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve may become impassable. If this situation arises, we may replace your stay at Vwaza with time at our research camp at Kuti Wildlife Reserve.
Please email lilongwewildlife@gmail.com for more information or to book your place.