Volunteering
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Born Free regularly receives requests for information about volunteering opportunities overseas.
Wherever possible, we encourage the employment of people native to the region in which we are working, because we believe conservation stands a far better chance of becoming fully supported by communities if local people are direct stakeholders. However, international volunteers are an invaluable asset to wildlife conservation, and we want to encourage people with the desire and motivation to make a difference.
Before considering volunteering, please read our Volunteering Guidance Notes.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer overseas volunteer opportunities in either Ethiopia, Kenya or Sri Lanka, but would be more than happy to help review any potential opportunities that you may be interested in.
Should you decide to volunteer, we would urge you to seek professional advice regarding health matters and travel recommendations relating to the country and area concerned well in advance of travelling. You should also make adequate insurance arrangements and take all sufficient precautions regarding your proposed stay.
UK FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TRAVEL ADVICE UK NATIONAL TRAVEL HEALTH NETWORK & CENTRE
Disclaimer: All arrangements for volunteers working with these projects will be between the individual volunteer and the project concerned and not with Born Free. For this reason, Born Free accepts no liability for any loss, harm or injury of any sort arising from, or in connection with, participation in the volunteer activity.
LILONGWE WILDLIFE CENTRE – MALAWI
Malawi is a great country for volunteers who are looking to help wildlife. Known as the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’ for its friendly people, stunning scenery and safe reputation, the country is also facing a wildlife crisis. Habitats are disappearing, wild animals are losing their homes and human-wildlife conflict is increasing. Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT) is one of Malawi’s leading wildlife welfare and conservation charity and there are volunteer opportunities available on a number of its projects.
Malawi’s only wildlife sanctuary, Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, has close to 200 residents. Volunteers can contribute a great deal through wildlife care and rehabilitation work.
Become a research volunteer with Lilongwe Wildlife Trust’s team in beautiful Liwonde National Park. You’ll work with iconic species such as lions, cheetahs, hyenas and vultures, collecting data that will directly inform conservation strategies.
Vet externships are open to vet students and vet nurses working at both Lilongwe Wildlife Centre.
EMAIL LILONGWE WILDLIFE CENTRE VISIT THE WEBSITE LILONGWE PLACEMENT PROGRAMME BROCHURE
LIMBE WILDLIFE CENTRE – CAMEROON
Born Free’s partner, the Limbe Wildlife Centre, is a wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation education centre in the vibrant tropical seaside town of Limbe, situated in English speaking Southwest Cameroon. They have a rescue population of nearly 200 primates, including western lowland gorillas, chimpanzees and highly endangered endemic drills, as well as a unique rehabilitation and release programme for the African grey parrot.
Cameroon is known as “Africa in Miniature” due to its diverse geography and cultural richness, encompassing a wide range of landscapes, ethnic groups, and languages within its borders.
It has an incredible range of habitats and wildlife species because of this diversity, from steamy tropical forests in the south to rolling savannas and deserts in the north. There are however many conservation challenges, from deforestation to the illegal wildlife trade, threatening this wealth of biodiversity, making the work of the Limbe Wildlife Centre essential and urgent.
Volunteers are an integral part of running the Limbe Wildlife Centre and they normally accommodate between 2 and 5 international volunteers at any one time in their volunteer house. In general, Limbe Wildlife Centre recommend a minimum stay of two weeks for volunteers to fully experience working in all the different animal species sections within the sanctuary and to enjoy what life has to offer in Limbe and along the adjacent coast. They also offer long-term volunteering with a specific research project or skillset in mind, and a 6 to 12 months volunteer vet programme.
SHAMWARI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE – SOUTH AFRICA
The Shamwari Conservation Experience offers the unique opportunity to take part in volunteer placements from two weeks to over three months and can include many different activities based on the needs of the reserve at the time. For example, this may include monitoring projects which assist in capturing vital information used in the research and management of all species on the reserve.
Volunteers are also able to visit and get involved in the work of Born Free’s big cat sanctuaries and Shamwari’s animal rehabilitation centre during their time with the team. Anyone interested in working at Shamwari Private Game Reserve can apply directly through the Shamwari website.