How to volunteer with wild animals

A group of volunteers at Lilongwe Wildlife Trust in Malawi (c) Maxine Beech

As you might have noticed, from wildlife rescue to field conservation, whenever possible Born Free employs and engages local people to support our work. As you can imagine, their knowledge of the area is invaluable, and projects are more likely to be successful if they’re embedded in the community in this way. 

However, international volunteers can also play an invaluable role – providing hands-on help as well as helping generate much-needed funds. Are you interested? Volunteering to help wild animals can be an incredible and genuinely life-changing experience. You could make a positive difference, gain new skills and meet other people who share your passion for the wild.

From picking up litter to helping at your local wildlife centre, there are lots of ways you can help wild animals on your own doorstep. But, if you fancy something further afield, we’re here to help. From South Africa to Cameroon, Born Free recommends several genuine volunteer opportunities.

SEE OUR VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES

On our volunteering page, you’ll find vital information about how best you can avoid unethical volunteering schemes, that might even have a negative impact on wild animals.

You’ll also find projects we are delighted to endorse, including the fantastic volunteering opportunities offered by our wonderful long-term colleagues at Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT), in Malawi. To find out more, we spoke to recent volunteer Maxine Beech, who discovered their volunteering programme through Born Free.

Maxine’s story

“For someone whose only African experience had been a package holiday to the Gambia, I had no idea what to expect from a ‘biodiversity monitoring placement’ in the heart of a national park in Malawi.

Maxine Beech

“I had dreamed of working with wildlife as a child and, 25 years later, decided to take a career break to travel. The more I read about Malawi, the more I fell in love with the country, before even stepping off the plane.

“That’s not to say there wasn’t a culture shock. The heat, the dust, the bustle of town, the colourful clothes, the rhythmic foreign language. But the team at LWT were incredibly helpful at settling me in. After a few days orientation in Lilongwe (surprising easy to navigate for a capital city), and a fascinating tour of the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, I set out on the four-hour drive to Liwonde National Park.

“As soon as I remembered I wasn’t in the UK anymore, I realised I had everything I needed – electricity, lights, a shower, gas stove, fridge – and felt completely at home with the team there.

“The research focus at Liwonde is the re-introduced carnivore population, particularly cheetahs and lions. A typical day would be getting up around 5-5.30am, having a quick snack and coffee, and heading out by 6am (when still cool). For safety, Liwonde is a drive-only park. We’d drive for four-five hours with the telemetry set, trying to pick up the radio signals of any collared individuals and follow them until we (hopefully) got a visual.

(c) Maxine Beech

“Most mornings this started with tracking an unusually large group of cheetahs, before heading north to try and locate the lions. On the way you’re likely to see impala, waterbuck, sable, warthog, baboons and elephant – and a whole rainbow of birds. It’s like a daily safari.

“The middle (and hottest) part of the day is spent back at camp where you might be engaged with other research tasks such as checking camera trap footage or ID checking individual predators. Otherwise, this is the time to cook, read, play games, or take a siesta before the afternoon drive, which usually takes another three to four hours.

“You’ll share camp with geckos, ants, solifuges (sun spiders!) and a troop of baboons, although none of them cause issues (except the ants – wrap your food well!). I’d recommend lots of loose-fitting clothing and some safari trousers or shorts – beige or khaki colours are best. Sunglasses and a baseball cap are needed for the sun, as is suncream.

“Take a few water bottles to fill, and keep the ice cube tray in the freezer topped up! There is always the option to pick up a fridge-cold soda at the park gate for an end-of-the-day sundowner.

(c) Maxine Beech

“I wasn’t sure what to expect from my time in Malawi, but the LWT wildlife monitoring placement was more than I could have imagined. I felt part of the team, and once trained I felt like I was making a small but very real contribution to their conservation work. Plus, I learnt a huge amount about wildlife, and the threats throughout the country.

“This was more than an activity holiday. It was hot, sweaty, dusty, and not very glamorous. Certainly a far cry from the David Attenborough documentaries I grew up watching. But it was real and immersive and even more captivating. I loved every single day there and didn’t want to leave.

“The fiery sunsets, the morning bird calls, the glimpse of a spotted cat through the trees, the rest-day hours spent playing games and chatting with friends, the late-night braais (barbeques). Every small thing is a reward for your efforts, and the pay-off is immense. If you are unsure about whether this placement is for you, I would urge you to do it. It is an experience like nothing else and is sure to leave an impression on your soul.”

Find out more about volunteering with Lilongwe Wildlife Trust