Be exposed to the day-to-day operations of a wildlife vet at a rehabilitation center in Malawi
If you’re looking for a hands-on animal medicine internship abroad, this Wildlife Veterinary Internship in Malawi offers a unique opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills. You’ll join a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center and, alongside an experienced veterinarian team, you’ll assist with a variety of treatments and evaluations.
You’ll be part of a wildlife conservation nonprofit based in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. This well-established organization is on a mission to protect local wildlife by rescuing injured animals, protecting habitats and biodiversity, running conservation education programs, and providing a sanctuary for a range of wildlife.
As part of this initiative, you’ll focus on veterinary treatments of animals such as baboons, small antelope, wild cats such as serval, porcupines, and any other animals that may be brought into the center. You’ll be learning how to care for wildlife, which is vital for wildlife vets to ensure you can identify baseline health parameters, identify behavioral change, and pick up on sick/injured animals quickly. You’ll learn this by assisting on the Veterinary side during the morning and the Rehabilitation side of the sanctuary each afternoon, offering an all-round experience in wildlife care and conservation.
You can apply for this Wildlife Veterinary Internship if you’re a veterinary / veterinary nursing student. Your daily tasks will be adapted according to your level and experience.
Learning Outcomes of this Wildlife Veterinary Internship in Africa:
You’ll join a wildlife conservation organization in Lilongwe, Malawi. This nonprofit is dedicated to protecting local wildlife, and they do this through a number of programs, including;
As a Veterinary intern in Malawi, you’ll work from Tuesday – Saturday and your tasks will include;
You’ll stay at a comfortable shared house with other interns and volunteers, right in the 180-acre the sanctuary is based in. The reserve is home to a range of wildlife, including antelopes, small carnivores, hyenas, and crocodiles, so you’ll find yourself staying in a wonderful natural environment. The house has shared bedrooms, several communal spaces, and an outdoor deck and garden. Meals are cooked by our local chef every day except on Sunday, when you can sample some local restaurants in nearby urban areas, or get takeaway meals. The menu is vegetarian with a mix of international and local dishes.
Make sure to visit your doctor and dentist for a check-up before your internship and to get all the recommended vaccines and/or medications necessary to stay healthy. A rabies vaccine is strongly recommended and we do not advise you to come for a placement without it; animal care tasks will be limited and you will be required to sign a waiver if you choose not to have the vaccination. Additionally, the organization requires you to take a TB test (and receive a negative test result) as even if you have been vaccinated against TB, you may still be a carrier of the disease and pass it onto the animals.
Wifi access is limited in Malawi, so interns are recommended to purchase a local SIM card to stay connected to loved ones. Your host organization will assist you with a local SIM card, so make sure your phone is unlocked before travelling.
Meals are cooked by the local chef every day except on Sunday, when you can sample some local restaurants in the nearby urban areas, or order takeaway meals. The menu is vegetarian with a mix of international and local dishes. It’s recommended to only drink water from bottles.
You’ll be based in the capital, Lilongwe, which is a bustling and vast city. Although you’ll spend most of your time on the project, you’ll have the weekends to explore the area and get a glimpse into Malawian city life. There are plenty of markets to visit, hikes to climb, and people to meet in this energetic location. You’ll also be less than 2 hours away from Lake Malawi, the third-largest lake in Africa.
The start/arrival date is every week on a Tuesday. Start and end dates will be discussed with you during the selection process.
What you’ll pay (2025 rates)
2 weeks GBP 1,500
4 weeks GBP 2,445
6 weeks GBP 3,155
8 weeks GBP 3,769
10 weeks GBP 4,287
12 weeks GBP 4,744
Some of our most commonly asked questions for programs in Malawi.
You can expect to foster a unique connection with the local community, as well as having many opportunities to explore various projects during your internship. If you wish to know more about what to expect, make sure to read our blog from a previous intern who traveled to Malawi!
The minimum length of our internships in Malawi is two months, but the ideal length is closer to four months, if possible. This ensures you have an adequate amount of time to make a tangible impact. Luckily, the length of our programs is customizable so you can apply for a summer, remote, hybrid, or gap-year internship!
Yes, but you must ensure with your supervisor that your university approves this. You can also purchase transfer credits to add onto your internship experience.
Personally, you can prepare by learning about the history and culture of Malawi and reflecting on your internship goals, and we’ll be here to help you with the rest! Ask us any questions you may have about placement logistics, matchmaking, check-ins, advice on visa/insurance, or anything else you may think of. If you wish to know more about preparing for your internship, you can check out our ultimate guide to NGO internships in Africa!
Unfortunately, it is not possible to receive any kind of stipend while interning for a nonprofit organization. Your internship will be unpaid so we’ve put together a few tips on how to fund your internship. There will be opportunities for professional and personal growth and you’ll leave with a wealth of knowledge that is invaluable!
If you’re ready to apply for this internship, here’s what to do:
Fill in the application form (it will show in a new screen) which includes sharing your CV to us.
We’ll set up a call with you to go through your application.
If we feel it’s a good match, we’ll set up a call between you and the supervisor for this internship.
If everyone’s happy, we’ll provisionally confirm your placement! We’ll then send you the invoice for the deposit, getting started with the booking process and all the info you need.
Only once we receive payment of the deposit your placement will be confirmed.
Or if you’d just like to ask us some questions about this internship first, just fill in the contact form below. We’ll be happy to assist!
"*" indicates required fields
Overcoming Reverse Culture Shock: What You Need to Know
Lessons Learned from a Gender Equality Internship
How to Budget for an Unpaid Internship
ABOUT US
At Roots, we create the perfect balance between meaningful work and valuable learning through internships with nonprofits & social enterprises in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.TEST
CONTACT
SOCIAL
ABOUT US
At Roots, we create the perfect balance between meaningful work and valuable learning through internships with nonprofits & social enterprises in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
CONTACT
UK: +44 139 269 0255
US: +1 617 500 6179
internship@rootsinterns.com
OFFICE: Cape Town, South Africa
SOCIAL
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
ABOUT US
At Roots, we create the perfect balance between meaningful work and valuable learning through internships with nonprofits & social enterprises in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
CONTACT
UK: +44 139 269 0255
US: +1 617 500 6179
internship@rootsinterns.com
OFFICE: Cape Town, South Africa
SOCIAL
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
