Company : Lilongwe Wildlife Trust
Duration: 2 weeks to 3 months
Approx Costs: 1000 to 3000+ £ Pound (UK)
Apply to join a veterinary externship at Malawi’s only wildlife sanctuary.
Our Head Vet, Dr Amanda Salb, is the only in-country veterinarian licensed for game capture and star of TV documentary Malawi Wildlife Rescue. She is supported by a knowledgeable and experienced team.
Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation
Externs will always be expected to prioritise the demands of the veterinary department at the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, which ranges from incoming exams and emergency operations through to health checks and routine diagnostics. Depending on the staff available, a number of other theoretical and practical trainings can be made available. Clinical sanctuary work is understandably variable in comparison to a domestic animal clinic and so the programme is perfect for those looking to gain a broad, real-world experience that spans other aspects of rehabilitation.
Clinical Projects in One Health
Splitting your time between the sanctuary and the field, you can learn new techniques and contribute to an important body of clinical research. The current project phase involves wildlife health surveillance and veterinary outreach in villages surrounding national parks.
Please note that participation in the CPOH programme is dependent on availability. Please state your interest in this programme at the time of booking so that we can do our best to guarantee you a CPOH place during your externship.
Most suited to vet students. Please submit any course requirements with your application so we can plan your placement appropriately. Qualified vets and vet nurses are also welcome.
We are Malawi’s first and only wildlife sanctuary and environmental education facility. Our remit has grown in response to the emerging conservation challenges of the past decade and we focus on where we can deliver the greatest impact. Our mission is to save wildlife, campaign for conservation justice and inspire people to value and protect nature in Malawi.
All of the money raised through our volunteering programme goes towards supporting our wildlife rescue and welfare work. It also supports our education and community projects which are essential for the future of conservation in Malawi and allows us to provide employment for local staff.
Your support enables us to provide food and essential medical care for the animals, as well as improving and implementing our rescue and rehabilitation projects to ensure their survival not only within the centre but also when they are released back into the wild.
• 2 Weeks: £1,370
• 4 Weeks: £2,235
• 6 Weeks: £2,885
• 8 Weeks: £3,450
• 10 Weeks: £3,930
• 12 Weeks: £4,350
Prices Include:
• Accommodation
• All meals and unlimited tea and coffee
• Airport transfers and all work-related transport
• Orientation and full support during your stay
• Local sim card and t-shirt
Prices Exclude:
• Flights
• Visas
• Vaccinations
• Excursions, souvenirs, nights out, personal expenses, snacks etc
I volunteered for 2 weeks in August 2017 and got the chance to help out on the veterinary programme, as I am a student vet nurse. I also helped out with the animal care team and activities to help the centre (eg. designing a display). There is a strict hands-off policy as their goal is to release as many animals as possible. However during orphan season you are able to feed them (it wasn't orphan season when I went). All the staff are very friendly and make you feel at home. The centre and the trust do some amazing things for wildlife and I am happy I was part of it.