Overview
Embark on a unique and immersive veterinary internship at a wildlife centre in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe! This program offers a rare opportunity to gain hands-on experience in wildlife veterinary medicine within a sanctuary environment. The externship is designed for students currently pursuing a veterinary-related qualification, providing both practical clinical skills and a broader understanding of wildlife care and rehabilitation.
Participants will build on practical skills and knowledge in wildlife veterinary medicine while enhancing their expertise through real-world clinical and rehabilitation work. By contributing to the health and well-being of wildlife in a sanctuary setting, externs play a significant role in supporting broader conservation efforts.
Note: This externship is exclusively for veterinary medicine students. It is not open to qualified veterinarians, and although it is open to vet students of all levels, it is most targeted to first- and second-year students.
Details
Externship participants will fly into Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe. Upon arrival, the project team will greet you warmly just outside of the terminal and transport you to the wildlife centre, a short 30-minute drive from the airport. Once you have settled into your accommodation, the team on site will provide an orientation and tour of the surrounding area, including where you can find an ATM and different types of shops.
Mulanje Massif (mountain) in Malawi.
During the morning clinical sessions from Tuesday to Friday, participants assist with health checks, diagnostic procedures, and treatment plans under the supervision of a veterinarian. They also take part in preventative health care, which includes sedation procedures and parasite control. In the afternoons, the focus shifts to rehabilitation sessions where participants engage in animal husbandry tasks such as cleaning, feeding, and providing enrichment activities.
They work on integrating animals into new environments and observe their behaviour to ensure proper rehabilitation. Additionally, participants must be prepared to assist with any veterinary emergencies that may arise, gaining valuable experience in critical care situations.
It is important to note that since the centre does not operate solely as a vet clinic but primarily as a wildlife sanctuary, there may not be clinical work every day. On days with no procedures, externs will engage primarily in the work listed above as afternoon tasks.
Accommodation
The volunteer house can accommodate up to 17 people in six bedrooms. A supplement may be charged for single rooms. The house also has a lounge, a kitchen, indoor and outdoor dining areas, two bathrooms, a laundry room, a terrace, and a garden. WLAN and cleaning/laundry service are included. The building is located in the middle of the nature reserve, so you can experience the magic of bush life after a hard day’s work and enjoy the sounds of the forest by the fire in the evening.
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
Landscape in Nyika National Park – Malawi
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 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.
Monkey Bay, Malawi
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.
