VOLUNTEER

Short-Term Volunteering

Our volunteer programme provides a unique opportunity for individuals from all over the world to participate in the daily work of a sanctuary. Generally as a volunteer, you work hands-on with our staff. This means helping to care for rescued primates including gorillas, chimpanzees, drills, mandrills and baboons. Short-term vet volunteers generally work with the vet team after doing the daily cleaning. In short, volunteers assist our experienced caregivers with their daily activities including:

• Animal observation and monitoring
• Food preparation and feeding of animals
• Cleaning of cages
• Preparing and providing enrichment

Furthermore, during the school year volunteers have the opportunity to work alongside the education team and travel to local schools to educate children about wildlife conservation.

The LWC houses 15 primate species grouped into five different animal sections: chimpanzees, gorillas, papios (baboon, mandrills and drills), guenon and mangabeys, and quarantine. During the first two weeks of volunteering you will experience working on every section. Then, depending on how long you stay, normally volunteers focus on one particular section. However, depending on your field of expertise or interests you can, at the discretion of the management, become involved in other areas too. This could include our education programme, veterinary care, enclosure construction projects etc. It is important to know that the work is physically demanding and often dirty.

Important Information

While volunteering at the centre, it is important to remember that most of the animals are victims of illegal poaching. They were captured as innocent youngsters and their mothers often brutally killed before their eyes. Most were subjected to a harsh, cruel and lonely life before being rescued by the LWC. And now here at the LWC they can enjoy a rich nutritional diet, large enclosures and the company of their own species, resulting in good health, both physically and psychologically. In addition to this, we would like to highlight that all funds received from volunteers go directly back into the project.

The Limbe Wildlife Centre is a conservation and rehabilitation centre. Therefore our aim is to one day release the animals in our care back into the wild. IF YOU ARE EXPECTING TO INTERACT DIRECTLY WITH ANIMALS (TOUCHING, PETTING), THIS PROJECT IS NOT FOR YOU. We have very strict rules regarding animal interaction and you may be asked to leave the project if these rules are broken. 

If you are interested in volunteering at the LWC, please email us at info@limbewildlife.org for complete the volunteer enquiry form.

Requirements and Cost

Our volunteering programme is open to anyone who has an interest in wildlife conservation. Typically volunteers work 5-6 days per week for a period of 1-3 months. Volunteers are provided with housing a short 10-minute walk from the project. The cost of the program is €250 per week. These fees go towards the running costs of the project and living expenses. This includes basic accommodation and lunch on work days.

Truly, your time and financial support make a big difference to all of the rescued animals that have been given a second chance by Limbe Wildlife Centre.

Long-Term and Expert Volunteering

Long-term volunteers usually stay for 6+ months and are normally given a specific role or responsibility at the LWC. This could be in animal care, finance and administration, engineering, construction, research, education or to support another department depending on your skills and experience. Long-term volunteers undergo an interview and are selected based on the needs of the centre during that time.

All long-term volunteers will start by doing the same work as a short-term volunteer. This is to learn about the centre and the different animal sections. Then depending on your experience and preference, you will work either on a specific animal section, or on a project, or to support the work of a specific department.

We also welcome experts to come and volunteer on both a short-term and a long-term basis. If you have a particular skill or area of experience that you believe will help the mission of the LWC, we would be very keen to hear from you!

Please email info@limbewildlife.org for more information or complete this volunteer enquiry form. Long-term volunteering and expert volunteering fees vary based on skills and experience.

Vet Volunteering

We also run a volunteer veterinarian programme. We are looking for qualified veterinary surgeons, preferably with a post-graduate qualification or experience working with wildlife. Normally this is a rotating position for 6 months.

Our Cameroonian veterinary team consists of a veterinary surgeon, a vet technician and a vet nurse. We currently have a basic field laboratory to undertake parasitological, haematological, and microbiological testing. Volunteer veterinarians work in the clinic and become part of our veterinary team for the duration of their stay.

This is an excellent opportunity to work in conservation medicine whilst gaining invaluable practical experience working with endangered Central African wildlife species. Any costs associated with the project can be discussed with the management team during your interview. If you are interested in this position, please email info@limbewildlife.org with your CV, cover letter and availability.

About Limbe, Cameroon

The Limbe Wildlife Centre is located in the coastal town of Limbe in the South-West Province of Cameroon. The nearest airport is in the economic capital Douala which is about an hour and a half drive away. Limbe is a bustling fishing town with a population of more than 80,000 people. Limbe is a very friendly town, with beautiful botanic gardens, bars, restaurants and a good atmosphere. There are some nice beaches outside of town which are good for swimming. Limbe and the surrounding areas offer a number of fun activities for volunteers to do on their days off. This includes climbing Mount Cameroon, visiting Bimbia (a historical slave trade site), going to the mangroves or enjoying the famous fish market in Down Beach. The LWC team can help volunteers to arrange trips with local guides.

Hear From Our Volunteers