Dear Volunteer, Thank you for your enquiry. In this pack you will find information regarding the award winning Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, our volunteer programme and loads of other useful snippets regarding travelling and staying in Malawi. The volunteer programme is incredibly important to the centre, the animals it rehabilitates and the local communities that surround it. You can rest assured that your placement fee will be used to benefit the animals and communities and will not be tied up in administration costs. Your contribution also helps to eventually return those unfortunate animal orphans back to the wild. The centre has achieved a great deal to date with the donations made by the volunteers and the physical work that they have undertaken whilst in Malawi. I hope you too can join us and help make a real difference to the people and wildlife of Malawi! Please read the contents of this book carefully, if you have any questions or comments on the handbook please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us. We look forward to welcoming you to Malawi, the warm heart of Africa, as part of the team. Kindest regards, Jerrine Volunteer and Project Manager
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Transcript
Dear Volunteer,
Thank you for your enquiry.
In this pack you will find information regarding the award winning Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, our volunteer programme
and loads of other useful snippets regarding travelling and staying in Malawi.
The volunteer programme is incredibly important to the centre, the animals it rehabilitates and the local communities
that surround it. You can rest assured that your placement fee will be used to benefit the animals and communities and
will not be tied up in administration costs. Your contribution also helps to eventually return those unfortunate animal
orphans back to the wild.
The centre has achieved a great deal to date with the donations made by the volunteers and the physical work that they
have undertaken whilst in Malawi. I hope you too can join us and help make a real difference to the people and wildlife
of Malawi!
Please read the contents of this book carefully, if you have any questions or comments on the handbook please don’t
hesitate to get in contact with us.
We look forward to welcoming you to Malawi, the warm heart of Africa, as part of the team.
Kindest regards,
Jerrine
Volunteer and Project Manager
History and Mission
Malawi is known as ‘the warm heart of Africa’, both for its stunning beauty and for it 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 is more critical than ever.
Lilongwe Wildlife Centre was set up in 2007 as a People and Wildlife Centre, the first of its kind in the world, taking over
a 120 hectare wilderness area right in the heart of Malawi’s capital city. Not only is it the sole wildlife sanctuary for
orphaned and rescued wild animals in Malawi it is also a centre for the people, operating extensive community outreach
and education programmes. We believe we can make a real difference working with the local communities in terms of
raising awareness of the importance of respecting our environment and keeping wildlife in the wild, whilst also
providing alternatives to practices such as deforestation and the illegal bush meat trade.
There have been some fantastic achievements at the centre within the last few years – there’s the rescue and
rehabilitation of hundreds of animals from appalling conditions, such as Bella the lioness, rescued from a tiny cage in a
zoo. The sale of wild animals on the side of the roads in Lilongwe has now been eradicated thanks to local campaigning.
The PAW (People and Wildlife) clubs in the poorest communities are fully supported by the chiefs and officials, with
whom we have developed various income generation projects and we even have support from the United Nations
Development Programme and City Assembly for our city wide afforestation project.
As a ‘People and Wildlife’ project we hope that our success will be used as a model for others around the world. In years
to come we will be able to showcase the benefits of addressing conservation issues in partnership with the local
communities through education and outreach, and become a true centre for the people and wildlife of Malawi.
Our work was recently recognised when we were awarded the Virgin Holidays 2011 Responsible Tourism Award for
‘Best for Conservation of Wildlife and Habitats’, with the judges saying “Fending off developers, the centre has
reclaimed and revived 90 hectares of urban wilderness to provide sanctuary for rescued, orphaned and injured wild
animals, and promotes conservation to locals and tourists alike. It now takes over 20,000 visitors per year, showing its
value as a centre for both the people and wildlife of Malawi." Supported by the BBC and the Geographical Society the
awards are the only one of their kind in the world.
Wildlife Rescue Sanctuary
The wildlife centre offers sanctuary to, on average, 250 wild animals. This includes a number of carnivores, several
species of primates, reptiles, antelopes, birds and smaller mammals. Many of these were rescued as orphans being sold
on the road side as pets, from the bush-meat trade or from poacher’s snares.
Some of our residents were rescued from horrendous conditions from zoos as adults, such as Sheila the crocodile,
Kambuku the leopard, Henry the Python and Shadow the hyena and whilst due to injuries they can never be released
into the wild they will live out their days in huge enclosures at the centre.
We work closely with government and private reserves to ensure that our animals that can be released do so into the
most suitable habitats. Some rescued animals, if they are fit and healthy, are released straight away, either at our sister
site Kuti Wildlife Park or our own wilderness reserve. Others, such as the primates with their complicated social
structures, require lengthier rehabilitations that can take years. Since 2007 we have completed two large scale primate
release programmes and we are preparing for another big release at the end of 2012.
Wilderness Reserve
The centre is also home to a 90 hectare protected wilderness reserve, offering an urban haven for many rare and unusual
species. It offers fantastic biodiversity with animals such as hyena, porcupine, crocodile, vervet monkeys, bush pig, genet,
antelope and bush baby, numerous insect and over 250 bird species. Along with amazing examples of hardwood trees and
even rare orchids it is one of the last areas of acacia cambretum forest in Malawi. 6 km of trails have been cut offering a
variety of walks for visitors and there are several picnic spots perfect for enjoying the river or bird watching. Top visitor destination
As a ‘centre for the people’ the wildlife centre is also one the countries top visitor destinations, and as a not-for-profit
organisation all the revenue generated goes into helping to support the work we do. We welcome a range of visitors from
international tourists to local residents and schools. To ensure that our prices are affordable for everyone, we subsidize
payments for those from the poorest communities, with school children paying as little as 12p entry. We offer tours of our
sanctuary zone, where trained local tour guides have the opportunity to teach visitors more about our rescued animals
and also about conservation in the country in general. Guests can enjoy our huge adventure playground, a restaurant and
bar, our gift shop (stocked with products made sustainably by local communities), a dedicated learning centre with
educational displays and the countries first outdoor amphitheatre, an exciting new venue for hosting cultural events.
Education Programmes
We believe that educating the children of Malawi is key to the preservation of wildlife and habitats, therefore our
extensive education projects are crucial in our mission to offer a long term commitment to conservation. On average the
wildlife centre receives over 10,000 Malawian school children a year, most of whom would never get the opportunity to
visit their own national parks, so seeing our animals, such as Bella the lioness, has a lasting impact on them. Our
structured education modules have been developed in line with the local curriculum and we teach them on a range of
issues from deforestation, waste management to climate change. By encouraging participation, changing attitudes and
promoting a passion for wildlife and its conservation we believe we can make a real difference.
Community Outreach
Our community outreach programme goes a lot further than wildlife conservation. We work with our local communities
to help address the problems they face. In the last year, this has included planting 10,000 trees, cleaning up the river and
our adult literacy programmes. We also fund various income generating schemes that help to promote conservation in a
sustainable manner and develop the skills of local people. These include our Baobab Juice production enterprise and the
creation of bio briquettes, an eco-friendly alternative to charcoal, one of the main causes of deforestation. These enable
local communities to earn a living for themselves and their villages whilst doing so in a manner that is helping to
conserve the local environment.
The Team
We are proud to have a passionate team that works tirelessly under very challenging circumstances to make the project
a success. In line with our commitment to providing opportunities for the surrounding communities the centre employs
over 40 dedicated local staff, many of whom have been working with us since the beginning and are now very
experienced in their field. In addition to our local staff the centre also employs a management team that includes highly
qualified international wildlife and education professionals who have worked all over the world and have an impressive
repertoire of skills. International volunteers like you are also crucial to the smooth running of the project in terms of
hard work, new ideas and skills transfer.
So for anyone looking to explore a career in conservation this is a unique opportunity to share knowledge and work
alongside our experts to gain experience in a range of disciplines.
The Volunteer Programme By volunteering, we hope that you will be happy to muck in with all sorts of projects. However, this is certainly a place where acting on your own initiative is really valued, so let us know if you see something whilst you are here where you think you could have an impact and best use your experience. Work will be very much dependent on what projects are going on at the time. Here’s a flavour of some of the tasks you could take on:
• Assistant animal carer: Work alongside our local Malawian animal carers to offer our animals the best possible care
that they deserve...cleaning, feeding, hand rearing baby orphans and providing enrichment to those that need it. We
have split animal care into three departments: primates and antelopes; carnivores; quarantine and orphan care clinic.
• Rehabilitation and release assistant: Working alongside our animal care manager help to rehabilitate rescued animals
and settle them into new groups. If you are lucky you may be at the centre when we are performing a release into the
wild. If so there might be the chance to help, whether that is in the centre’s own wilderness reserve or at Kuti Wildlife
Park, our main release site just an hour from Lilongwe.
• Vet assistant: As a large wildlife centre our animals do on occasion require veterinary work. Therefore you may get the
opportunity to shadow our vet and help on tasks such as full health checks on all new arrivals, performing regular
vaccinations and check-ups on all the animals or help with emergency operations.
• Conservation and Ecology: If you’re interested in conservation management or ecological research, we have several
ecological surveys, mammal censuses and habitat management work to implement.
• Education: Develop modules or conservation based activities for children, then help us deliver these at the centre or in
schools. Or work on our Wild Kidz holiday camps, run by volunteers and always a lot of fun.
• Community outreach: The wildlife centre has a number of community projects happening at any one time. Such as
our Adult Literacy classes, our UNDP funded ‘Green and Clean’ scheme or the production of Baobab Juice. By
participating in our community programmes you will have the opportunity to visit the rural areas of Lilongwe and work
with some of the poorest communities.
• Eco-tourism: As a sanctuary not only for the people of Malawi but also for international visitors Eco-tourism plays a
key role at the centre. There are many things you can do to help improve the visitor experience such as helping us to
maintain or develop our wilderness reserve, improving tours or assisting as a tour guide, basic construction and
maintenance around the centre, helping us run the bar, creating information boards or working on improving our gift
shop which is stocked with products made by local communities.
• Marketing and Events: Anyone with experience in website design, pr, events, photography or documentary making
would be very welcome. With the build of our amphitheatre there have been school plays, film nights, cultural dance
performances and we hosted the opening ceremony of World Tourism Week, attended by the Minister of Tourism and
local press.
For placements of one month or less the amount of tasks you can get involved in will be limited. It takes time to learn
the ropes so we prefer that those on shorter placements concentrate their time in just a few departments. This can be
decided on arrival in relation to what is happening at the centre and the tasks you would like to do. For those working
in animal care you will rotate departments on a weekly basis, therefore we recommend a minimum 3 week stay if you
would like to experience each area.
For testimonials please refer to our Facebook page www.facebook.com/lilongwewildlifecentre/notes or website
www.lilongwewildlife.org/#Volunteerblog
Who can volunteer?
We welcome volunteers of all nationalities and ages, the minimum age to join us is 18 but there is no maximum, the
oldest was 72! Whilst skills and past experiences are very helpful really it is those with a genuine passion for
conservation and the right attitude that make the biggest mark. We expect volunteers to have a good work ethic and
be prepared to roll up their sleeves and muck in where they are needed, this is very much so a working placement as
opposed to a holiday. It those with enthusiasm and a can-do attitude that get the most out of their experience and
who get to go home with the greatest sense of achievement. As we are in one of the poorest countries in the world
we are working under very challenging circumstances, so you also need to be flexible - as a busy wildlife rescue centre
we tell our volunteers to expect the unexpected as you never know what surprises are going to be thrown our way!
The wildlife centre is still at the beginning of a very long journey and we have a long way to go in our mission. So join
us and make a real difference to the future of Malawi. In exchange you will have the opportunity to be part of
something very special, have the experience of a life time and take home memories and friendships that will stay with
you forever.
Animal welfare
The wildlife centre works with a number of animal rights organisations to ensure that our policies are in line with
international welfare standards. Therefore our enclosures have been built according to the standards of animal rights
organisations and in most cases exceed the recommended amount of space required. We are not a zoo: our priority is
to ensure that our animals are given as natural an environment as possible, that they are able to retreat from human
presence and that they are released where possible and not retained for the visitor experience.
Because we take animal welfare very seriously (and for your safety, it is worth remembering that they are wild and
very dangerous!) we have a strict no-contact policy with our animals. This is very important as if we hope to release
these animals into the wild then their natural behaviour must be kept as intact as possible. The only exception to this
is if you are bottle feeding an orphan or working alongside the vet.
Food and Accommodation
Ever fancied waking up to the sound of a lion roaring or be able to see monkeys play from your bedroom window? In
our volunteer accommodation you can! Volunteers stay together at our Volunteer House, which is within the heart of
the wildlife centre and surrounded by our animals. This allows you to be close to the action and, along with the
benefits of being within the centre of a capital city, a chance to experience the wild side of Africa. The programme is
limited to a maximum of 12 volunteers at any one time.
The House has basic dorm-style mixed accommodation with electricity, a kitchen, lounge area, bathroom and hot
showers. We also have a generous and attractive garden area for relaxing in the evenings and on your day off.
Wireless internet is available at the centre free of charge. All meals are served by our local cook, who does his best to
provide international meals along with some local Malawian dishes (that he is more than happy to show you how to
make!). We cater for vegans and those with allergies. If you prefer to eat out there are many good restaurants just a
short drive away and our wildlife centre restaurant serves fantastic lunches! Please remember that this is one of the
poorest countries in the world so facilities are basic and ingredients can be hard to get hold of.
From June 2012 there will be an en -suite twin chalet available on site for a supplement of £12 per night shared or £20
per night for solo occupancy. Minimum stay 1 week.
Working Hours
We work 6 days a week, from 8 a.m. till 4.30 p.m. There is one day off a week, but, at the discretion of the
management, it is possible to take off more or less time, dependent on emergencies and what projects you have going
on. Volunteers who work longer than a month will also be given a long weekend off every 4 weeks. We operate as an
emergency wild animal rescue facility and, as such, we need volunteers to be flexible with their working hours and to
expect a few long days and perhaps even some night shifts if an injured orphaned animal needs round the clock care.
When is a good time to come?
Any time! Lilongwe has a temperate climate for Africa. Wet season is from December to March, but it is actually quite
nice as the rains last only an hour or so plus it makes the country lush and green! It reaches around 32 degrees in the
hot months of October and November, and the coolest month is July, at around 25 degrees but still bright and sunny.
Health and Safety
We take health and safety very seriously at the centre and have several detailed policies and procedures in place to
help ensure that your stay with us is as injury/illness free as we could make it. If you decide to proceed with the
placement you will receive a detailed information pack that includes sections on how to identify hazards and manage
the associated risks, including information on health issues and working with animals. You need to start thinking about
vaccinations several weeks and sometimes months in advance, so we advise you visit your doctor and start planning
now. We require that all volunteers are covered for rabies, TB and that they also have a screen for TB (preferably a
chest x-ray). And do not panic, Malawi is not called the “warm heart of Africa” for nothing!
Free Time
By African standards, Lilongwe is a safe, clean and relatively quiet city with just the right amount of nightlife, which we
will be more than happy to introduce you to! The wildlife centre is a great place for socialising in the evenings and on
your day off. You can grab a drink at the bar, enjoy a picnic in the wilderness trails or as a volunteer you have access to
the wildlife sanctuary for the occasional night safari to see the nocturnal animals come to life. There are craft and food
markets within walking distance, where you can browse the stalls for souvenirs and practice your haggling.
If you have enough time we would also recommend a trip to the Lake or a safari, Malawi is a fantastic country and still
untouched by tourism. Perhaps you would consider a safari to South Luangwa in nearby Zambia , one of the best
wildlife reserves in the whole of Africa. Lilongwe Wildlife volunteers are entitled to a discount with an excellent local
safari operator, and we arrange regular departures for a 4 day experience, which many volunteers take on their long
weekend off or after their stay. Please click here for details.