Malawi - Wildlife Rescue Center Veterinary Internship

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Join GoEco for a hands-on veterinary internship at a wildlife rescue center in Malawi! In 2017, this center rescued 89 different animals, performed 190 veterinary procedures and had 286 animals under rehabilitation! This center rehabilitated 278 injured and orphaned animals, and released 35 of them in 2018! More than 37,000 local school children were educated about conservation issues. The on-site veterinarians and rehabilitation experts delivered specialist training to 76 local and international students.

Internship Highlights:

Gain hands-on experience in the field of veterinary science and enhance your CV
Help to rehabilitate a wide array of wildlife at a renowned rescue center
Assist in hands-on husbandry of orphaned vervet monkeys (especially during the rainy season which is November-February)
Experience the beauty of Malawi with a visit to the famous, picturesque Lake Malawi
Extend your stay and enhance your wildlife experience with a research program add-on (Samango Monkey or African Elephant)
Ethical wildlife interactions

Your Schedule at a Glance:

Day 1, Tuesday: Arrive into Lilongwe International Airport (LLW). A team member will be waiting to pick you up. Get settled into your new home and meet and greet your fellow interns.

Days 2-7, Wednesday-Monday: Engage in rewarding internship tasks for six of these days. Interns will receive one day off per week to spend how they wish (See "Travel Highlights" below for recommendations!) Interns who are staying at least four weeks will receive one long weekend free (two days.)

Days 8- 14, Tuesday-Monday: Continue with your meaningful work for six of these days and enjoy one free day.

Day 15, Tuesday: Interns staying for only two weeks will depart on this day.

Location of the Project: Lilongwe, Malawi

Project length: Min 2 weeks - Max 12 weeks

Arrival Airport: Lilongwe International Airport (LLW)

Volunteer Work: Veterinary assistance, animal husbandry

Age: 18-65

Number of Volunteers: Up to 13 international volunteers and interns

What's Included

Accommodations: Interns will stay in shared rooms in an on-site house

Food: Three meals per day are provided

Airport Transfers: Airports transfers are included on both arrival and departure days

Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

What's not Included

Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, personal expenses.

Landlocked between the East African countries of Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique lies the home of Africa’s warmest people; Malawi. Malawi is a country filled with national parks and game reserves, lush highlands and tropical forests split by the Great Rift Valley and the clear waters of its main attraction – Lake Malawi.

Lilongwe is the largest and capital city of Malawi. Named after the Lilongwe River, the city is an essential economic and transport hub to the rest of the country. Despite its urban surroundings the project site is located on a reserve that feels a world away from the chaos of city life.

Veterinary interns will take part in various tasks, even those outside of veterinary care. Interns will take part in clinical support of course, but also in rescue and rehabilitation tasks, as well as orphan care. For clinical work, tasks depend on what is needed at the time. Interns may assist with incoming exams and routine diagnostics to emergency operations. No matter the task, interns will be gaining useful, hands-on experience, clocking clinical hours and discovering the magnificent wildlife of Malawi. The Wildlife Rescue Center aims to release as many animals as possible back into the wild, so veterinarian interns play an important role in accomplishing this goal by helping to speed and ensure the rehabilitation process that precedes release.

Some of your tasks may include:

Assisting with incoming veterinary examinations
Assisting with general health checks
Assisting with emergency operations
Orphan care
Animal husbandry
Clinical research

A typical day: Working hours vary depending on the needs of the animals at the time; however, if notice is given well in advance, the center will strive to accommodate a minimal number of clinical hours, if required by the intern’s academic institution.

Internet: Limited WiFi is available in the main office, option to purchase additional data is available.

Laundry: A laundry service is available, but all delicate items must be washed by hand. Laundry soap is provided.

Accommodations: Volunteers will stay in a volunteer house in the heart of the sanctuary surrounded by animals. The house has a mixed gender, 10-sleeper dorm. The house has electricity, a kitchen, lounge area, shared bathroom and hot showers. For an additional fee volunteers can upgrade to an en-suite chalet.

Food: Three vegetarian meals are included and are served by the local chef who provides international meals as well as some Malawian dishes. He takes a day off on Sundays so you can alternate with the other volunteers to cook up a feast that day. Drinking water is also provided. If you prefer to eat out, there are many good restaurants just a short taxi ride away and if you can’t live without luxuries like chocolate, the shops aren’t far either!

Volunteer in Malawi - Wildlife Rescue Center

Please take note of this internship's minimum requirements:

Must be a vet, vet nurse or veterinary student
Proof of relevant veterinary qualifications
Good command of English
Immunizations (please consult your local travel clinic): All of the standard vaccinations for Malawi plus rabies vaccination and proof that you are not a carrier of TB.

Research-Based Program Extensions: Volunteers staying for four or more weeks may elect to spend two or more weeks at one of the project extensions below. Both the regular volunteering program and the project extensions each have a minimum two-week duration.

Samango Monkey Research: Collect data on the population health of samango monkeys through GIS surveys, vegetation plots and related techniques.

African Elephant Research: Observe African elephants in a large conservation area and conduct research on the movements and behavior of this specific population.

The rescue center can arrange for volunteers to venture on a weekend safari in South Luangwa in Zambia, one of the best places to see game in all of Africa, for a special price. Other optional activities for your free time include game drives or boat trips in Liwonde National Park, snorkeling or diving in the famous Lake Malawi, horse riding in Kande and cycling in Kuti Wildlife Reserve.