1. 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

2. History and Mission
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 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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 website: www.lilongwewildlife.org/#Volunteerblog

6. 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 a private en-suite chalet on site available for a small supplement, more details on
request.

7. 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.

8. Getting Here
The wildlife centre is based in the heart of Lilongwe, the capital city of Malawi, a short 25 minute drive from the
Lilongwe International Airport, the main airport. Lilongwe is a great base for exploring the rest of the country with the
famous Lake Malawi less than a 2 hour drive away.
You can book your flight easily through online flight searches, with travel agents or directly with the airline. If you are
coming from the UK, or even through Heathrow airport from some other destination, then the following airlines fly to
Malawi. South African Airways (via Johannesburg), Kenyan Airways (via Nairobi ), Ethiopian Airways (via Addis Ababa)
We will arrange all your airport transfers in Lilongwe. If you are travelling overland or from elsewhere let us know and
we can let you know the best way to get here. If possible, it’s best if you can start and end your placement on a
Tuesday.
On arrival British, Australian, Canadian or American Nationals and visitors from most EU countries are issued a free 30
day tourist visa; subsequent monthly visas cost roughly £20. Please check your own requirements with your embassy.
Kuti Wildlife Park
We are pleased to announce that from May 2012 you are able to spend part of your placement at Kuti Community
Wildlife Park. Kuti is a stunning 2000 hectare reserve located an hour from the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre and near to
Lake Malawi. Home to a huge variety of free roaming wildlife with big mammals like giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, sable,
kudu, warthog and impala, along with many primates, it is also a unique project that showcases how conservation can
benefit the local people. Due to its protected habitat and it’s commitment to the people Kuti was chosen by the
Lilongwe Wildlife Centre as the perfect site to release many of its animals.
This is a fantastic opportunity to spend time working in true African bush, working alongside animals in their natural
environment and experiencing the wilderness of Malawi. You will help develop this exciting new park and take part in
tasks such as game counts, large mammal censuses, anti poaching patrols and community development. As there are
no predators it is safe for walking and cycling safaris, and volunteers can enjoy stunning sunsets overlooking Kuti’s
private lake, a haven for birds. This experience is available for anyone visiting us for 3 weeks or more. Please click here
for details.

9. Costs and Bookings
All of the money raised through our volunteering programme goes directly into the wildlife centre and is not tied up in
administrative costs. With this we are able 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. It also supports our education and community projects which are
essential for the future of conservation in Malawi. As well as all this your donation allows us to provide employment
for over 40 members of local staff.
What’s included:
• Accommodation
• All meals and unlimited tea, coffee and juice
• Your initial 30 day Visa is free on arrival
• Transfers to and from the airport and all work related transport
• Free wireless internet
• Free t-shirt and local phone sim-card
• Orientation and training in all relevant departments
• Full support and assistance from the Volunteer Manager throughout your stay
2012 rates
Weeks 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Cost (£) 850 1,100 1,385 1,595 1,785 1,970 2,135 2,295 2,440 2,570 2,695
Rates for longer placements available on request
(For those wanting to spend time at Kuti Wildlife Park please note that there is a £50 supplement per week for this)
We cannot guarantee your place until a £200 holding deposit is paid. A final deposit is due 2 months prior to arrival
and then the rest needs to be paid in cash when you arrive.
What’s not included?
• Flights
• Vaccinations
• Travel and medical insurance
• Visas for placements longer than 30 days (roughly £20 for each additional 30 day period)
• Additional excursions, nights out, souvenirs and personal expenses such as soft drinks, beers and snacks
We recommend bringing out a little extra to spend on drinks, meals out and souvenirs. £15 - £20 a week should more
than cover these, depending on your lifestyle. As an idea of costs for extra trips, you will need about £60-£150 if you
want to take a trip to Lake Malawi, dependent on accommodation and activities; while a 4 day safari to Zambia would
be around £320.

10. Project Highlights
• Work alongside our animal carers taking care of over 250 carnivores, primates, mammals, reptiles and many other
rescued animals and help with all aspects of animal care.
• Learn more about rehabilitation and conservation in the countries only wildlife rescue centre and work alongside
international wildlife experts.
• The opportunity to shadow our wildlife vet with health checks, operations, darting animals and treating injuries.
• Offering surrogacy care to rescued orphans, bottle feeding, cleaning, medicating and offering 24hr support until they
enter the next phase of rehabilitation and can join their own kind.
• Help us to release animals back into the wild where they belong. We have many smaller releases that are ongoing as
well as our large primate release programmes.
• Get creative with our ongoing Enrichment programme constructing items to keep our animals happy, healthy and
entertained, this ranges from scented trails to more elaborate ‘toys’ for Bella the lioness.
• Enjoy a night safari to see the nocturnal animals come to life. Search for elusive porcupines and bush babies and listen
out for the call of whooping hyenas.
• Take part in maintaining and improving our Wilderness Reserve. Enjoy riverside picnics by the waterfall or early
morning bird walks looking out for the Hammerkop bird and their impressive nests.
• Join us on our community outreach projects and find out why Malawi is called the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’
• Have fun with our extensive education programmes and enrich the lives of hundreds of school children whilst helping
to generate enthusiasm for conservation.
• Spend time at our sister project Kuti Wildlfe Park. Experience living in the African bush and take part in game counts,
bike safaris and anti-poaching patrols. Eat out under the stars and enjoy sharing stories around the camp fire.
• Lilongwe is a fantastic base for exploring Malawi and many top visitor destinations can be reached on a weekend
break, such as the stunning ‘Lake of Stars’ just an hour away or climbing Mount Mulanje, Malawi’s highest mountain.
• Volunteers have the added option of going on a big game safari at South Luangwa, Zambia, one of the world’s top
safari destinations. We have a very special deal with an excellent local operator.

11. What next?
Want to join us?
If you have any further questions then please contact us. If you decide that you want to volunteer over in the ‘Warm
Heart of Africa’, this is what you need to do:
1. Return the attached questionnaire to lilongwewildlife@gmail.com
2. We will be in touch to let you know if you have been accepted and if so how to pay your deposit.
3. Once you have received confirmation that your £200 holding deposit has been received we will send you the full
information pack with all the necessary forms and additional information to get ready for your stay with us!
Many thanks and we hope to welcome you to the team!
However if you can’t make it out to Malawi then there are plenty of other ways that you can show your support for
the work we do…
Make a donation
Any amount will be gratefully appreciated and not tied up in administration costs www.lilongwewildlife.org/#Donate
Adopt an Animal
Sponsor an animal and your donation will help cover their food, care and vet bills. We will send you an adoption pack,
certificate and regular updates on their progress, it makes a great gift! www.lilongwewildlife.org/#Adoptananimal
Follow us
For further details on what we are up to, and to show your support please click on the following links:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lilongwewildlifecentre don’t forget to ‘like’ the page!
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/lilongwewildlife
Twitter: www.twitter.com/wildlifecentre
Blog: www.bornfree.wildlifedirect.org/category/lilongwe-wildlife-centre
For those with a little more time on their hands you may want to consider our ‘virtual volunteering’ programme. More
details on request.