Overview
In the breathtaking landscape of Liwonde, you will focus on monitoring endangered species. You will observe iconic animals such as lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and vultures and collect valuable data that will feed directly into local conservation strategies. The project includes monitoring and research work that will help fill critical knowledge gaps and support national and regional conservation efforts.
Experience unique moments as you learn more about the social dynamics of groups and individual wildlife. These include impressive events such as a take-over of a lion pride by a new male, the training of an adolescent cheetah in hunting, or the fascinating interaction between vultures and other scavengers at a carcass. Even if the project team does not track elephants or rhinos, you are likely to see them during your drives through the park. Immerse yourself in this unique opportunity to actively shape the future of Malawi’s wildlife and learn about the wilderness!
Details
As a volunteer of the monitoring project, you will spend the first night (probably) at the Lilongwe Biodiversity Centre close to the city, another location of the organisation. The next day you will continue your journey to Liwonde National Park, where your adventure in wildlife monitoring will begin. The project always starts on Tuesdays.
The work in the field is intensive and requires early rises, long days, and a lot of patience. Activities include radio-tracking target animals, checking camera traps, and recording incidental sightings.
Working in a small team, you will learn how to carry out VHF radio tracking, animal identification, camera trapping, and the detailed process of data entry.
All surveillance activities are carried out by vehicle. You will have two trips per day – about five hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon. To track the animals, you and your team will be constantly on the move, so the vehicle will rarely stop except to check one of the camera trap stations.
You will be travelling on unpaved gravel roads, which are usually very uneven and can become muddy in the rainy season – so be prepared for an exciting time.
Accommodation
The research camp is designed for communal living and offers “bush basic” accommodation in shared rooms for up to five volunteers. The camp has a large kitchen and an outdoor fire pit. The sanitary facilities include flush toilets and hot showers. There are fans almost everywhere and there is a mosquito net over your bed. The power supply is irregular and is often fed by an emergency power source.
About us
NATUCATE is a German agency, specialized in voluntary work, field guide training, nature-oriented educational courses and internships with a focus on nature and species conservation as well as animal protection. Moreover, we create and organize individual sabbaticals; commitment for nature conservation and personal development being in the centre. Sustainable and responsible traveling, so-called ecotourism, as well as nature and adventure travel are further areas of expertise.
Our projects, courses and tours, fulfilling high sustainability standards, enable people – from graduates to best agers – to make an active contribution to protecting and conserving endangered species and ecosystems and, at the same time, to broaden their personal horizon.
Dates, Services, Cost
Dates
Participants can join on any Tuesday of the week, but arrival dates do also have some flexibility.
Services
Placement in the programme
Assistance with travel arrangements
Assistance with selecting travel insurance
Assistance with booking flights
Risk coverage certificate
Pre-departure information pack
Airport pick up and drop off
Transfers
Accommodation during the programme
Full board during the programme
Drinking water, tea, coffee
Training during the programme
Programme-related equipment
English-speaking support by long-term experienced staff
24/7 support throughout the programme
T-shirt with logo
Locale SIM-Card
Fees (2024)
4 Weeks – 2 900.00 EUR
6 Weeks – 3 750.00 EUR
8 Weeks – 4 500.00 EUR
10 Weeks – 5 100.00 EUR
12 Weeks – 5 650.00 EUR
Learn more or reserve your place
About Natucate
Natucate — our name intentionally combines the English words ‘nature’ and (to) ‘educate’, because it is our aim to reconcile nature and education. We offer nature tourism and voluntary service abroad and concentrate on the domains nature conservation, environmental and animal protection. Natucate does not only target school-leavers, students and graduates, who may want to gather valuable experience, but it is also aimed at working people and over 50s, who are looking for a way to broaden their horizons in an unforgettable and at the same time meaningful way.
Our advice and travel service is specialised in the organisation of selected projects for voluntary service, but in addition we also work out longer individual tour proposals and if requested arrange them, if they fall within the context of nature/adventure tours.
Not only do the participants gain a lasting impression of nature but they can also immerse themselves in the culture of the host country. Our programme includes education and further education, combined with practical experience and outdoor activities.