Malawi: Start

Update from our Malawi expedition volunteering with elephants, hippo, cats, pangolins and African biodiversity

Sunday afternoon was peaceful at base camp in Vwaza. After a week of hard work and the usual endless practical challenges – water supply problems, missing kit, delayed delivery of new tents – we found that we were ready in good time. Even the unexpected news that our newly painted walls were not a sanctioned colour (sunny yellow: cheerful but apparently may be too bright for the wild animals) was resolved with minimum resentment or fuss by swiftly repainting in more wildlife-friendly British Racing Green.

The team arrived at base camp on Sunday evening, after a long drive from Lilongwe, on time, in good spirits and with everyone accounted for. This is always a moment of relief for the expedition leader. The team was also rewarded with the sight of a small family of elephants wandering across the riverside right in front of us under the warm evening sun.

The first two days of the expedition are focussed on training in the research tasks that we will be doing, but the team were keen to get immersed in their new neighbourhood so Monday started early with a dawn ‘orientation’ drive around the lake. As the sun rose, they spotted elephants, many antelope species, some hippo returning to the water from their nocturnal grazing and lots of birds.

The rest of Monday is now being taken up by a mixture of classroom lectures and practical training. So far, the expeditioners are lapping it up and are now experts in using a compass and a GPS device to locate themselves and avoid getting lost.

Update from our Malawi volunteer expedition including elephant volunteer Africa and lion volunteer Africa