Update from our Malawi expedition volunteering with elephants, hippo, lion and African biodiversity
Welcome to the 2026 Malawi diary. My name is Simon and I will be your expedition leader on this African biodiversity expedition to Malawi studying elephants, lions, hippos and other species.
I arrived on Sunday and met with our in-country partners, the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT). On Tuesday we all head to our camp in Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve to get everything ready for the arrival of African biodiversity survey team 1 on Saturday. I hope your preparations are going well and you are excited about the expedition.
Lions
The early headlines are that lions have returned to Vwaza, permanently LWT believes. We have recorded them intermittently before (see picture), but now they seem to have established a permanent presence. Our scientist Lea will tell us more about this during the induction and training session – and also how research and other procedures will need to change now that this top predator is around again.
Our citizen scientists will be helping to set camera traps and, fingers crossed, we will capture some great images even if we don’t have a lion encounter.
Remember it’s science, not safari, and our expeditions are not transactional customer/business relationships, but a covenant of consenting adults on a joint mission. This meshes well with out brand-new Manifesto for a Troubled Planet. It is also meant to provide a safe space for ecological grief and mourning.
Logistics
We are finishing off the shopping today. We have dietary requirements covered and our chef Lucas has everything he needs to keep us happy, I hope. I can tell you he produces some of the most delicious and filling vegetarian meals I’ve ever eaten.
Don’t forget your sunscreen and insect repellents and safe travels to Malawi. Remember you will be met by LWT in Lilongwe (at 07:00 – remember the earlier time!). They will put you on a bus up to camp and we will stay in touch throughout your journey.
I’ll be in touch again from the expedition base.
Author: Simon Thomsett
Simon Thomsett MBE was born in the UK but now lives in the Austrian Alps. He served in the British Army for 36 years, working across the globe including two years in the jungles of Brunei, as well as Africa, North and South America and South Asia. He has run diving expeditions in the Indian Ocean, Caribbean and the Mediterranean Seas. A keen ski mountaineer, he now lives and works in Austria where he runs a ski business with his wife Claire. Simon is a qualified BSAC dive instructor, a ski instructor, international mountain leader and Emergency First Response first aider.
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