Yomps, Adventure Travel Experiences

Lake Malawi Hippo Expedition
Full Itinerary

Volunteer in Malawi for four or eight weeks to help with wildlife research and hippo conservation projects that aim to prevent the extinction of the hippopotamus population along the southern shores of Lake Malawi; camping in friendly local villages, seeing spectacular landscapes and exploring the awesome national parks of Malawi, the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’.

Malawi

Weeks 1 to 4 - Learn about research techniques, hippo conservation and ecology; discover how to use the project equipment, spot hippos, and identify birds, mammals and reptiles; and become an active member of the wildlife research team.

Your plane will land at Lilongwe International Airport, where you will be met by the project staff and driven to Lake Malawi, located approximately three hours away. The journey will give you the chance to relax and get your first glimpse of some of the towering mountains, stretching plateaus and lush valleys that comprise Malawi’s diverse and spectacular scenery. Alternatively, anyone too tired from the flight can get some sleep! When you arrive at Lake Malawi, you will setup your tents, relax and prepare for the adventure ahead. Depending upon whether your trip lasts for four or eight weeks, you will then depart on your Lake Malawi Hippo Conservation Expedition adventure from one of two points. This is to achieve a continual assessment of the study area by monitoring from Palm Beach in the South to Senga Bay in the north and back again; each stretch lasting four weeks.

This Lake Malawi Conservation Expedition has the ultimate aim of preventing the extinction of the hippopotamus along the southern shores of Lake Malawi, through wildlife research and participating in hippo conservation projects. The research that volunteers’ collect is relayed to an environmental organisation in South Africa and into a Geographical Information System (GIS) for later analysis. Volunteers on this expedition have a unique opportunity to explore Africa’s third largest lake, whilst working on a worthwhile conservation orientated project. Having said this however, our role extends further into the following areas:

• To protect any larger permanent pods encountered on the census, if necessary and where possible. This will be done by establishing a community based eco-tourism campsite on the shoreline, observing and monitoring the hippos and putting protective mechanisms in place (such as establishing a sanctuary) while working with the local population.
• To conduct educational visits to local schools on the expedition route to educate them about the important ecological role hippos play in the Lake Malawi ecosystem.
• To experiment with the planting of jatropha trees as a barrier around crop fields. It has a toxicity that will hopefully deter hippo from entering the crop fields and disrupting human activity. Moreover, the secondary advantage is that the seeds of jatropha are one of the highest in producing oil that can be used in the manufacture of Bio Diesel. Thus, an economic value can be generated, derived indirectly due to the presence of hippo near villages.
• Help with other various conservation orientated activities from day-to-day.

You will join a team of five permanent staff: a highly qualified and seasoned expedition leader, an experienced boat skipper, an assistant skipper, a support vehicle driver and a cook. This team will support you with valued guidance and advice throughout your time volunteering in Malawi. A support vehicle carrying supplies and equipment will drive simultaneously overland and meet you as you anchor up each evening after conducting the wildlife research. Sometimes you will spend more than one night at a particular point, at the designated overnight points which are: Nkope Village, Nanchengwa Lodge, Nkopola Lodge, Palm Beach Lodge, Kasanka Village, Mulangeni Lodge, Masantche Village, Nkhudzi Lodge, Malemobo Village, Chipoke, Lake Malawi National Park, Cape Maclear and Venice Beach in Monkey Bay. The hippo conservation ground support team will transport all the camping equipment to each over night point. They are also equipped with a field kitchen and equipment to cater for our meals. Fresh food will be purchased by the ground crew in local markets where possible to ethically support the local community economies. Whilst volunteering in Malawi, we have the opportunity to upgrade our accommodation at any of the lodges we overnight at (at own expense) and also to eat restaurant meals where available (at own expense).

The first full day is based at the volunteering in Malawi base where you will have a full orientation. This will cover subjects including: an introduction to Malawian culture, values, local food and practices; basic local language; your health and safety whilst on expeditions on Lake Malawi and safety drills; an introduction to Malawi, covering about money and transportation; the hippo conservation project and the staff; and excursions available, places to visit and things to do when you have spare time.

You will spend the following day cruising along the southern shore of Lake Malawi, monitoring and recoding any hippo activity that you may encounter. You also get a chance to interact with the local communities as you conduct interviews about their possible recent hippo sightings. Taking it in turns to be on lookout throughout the afternoons, you will give each other the chance to take in the views and goings-on of the surrounding environment as you cruise along Lake Malawi onboard the locally manufactured, twenty-eight foot wooden boat. The boat can accommodate up to thirteen people, so there’s always plenty of company on board! The boat generally departs just after lunch time for the wildlife research, to benefit from the hippos being more active during the afternoons. This leaves time for morning land activities where designated.

The expedition also includes a four-day safari to Liwonde National Park at the south of the lake, on the Shire River. The stretch of river that runs through this protected area has the highest concentration of hippo in the country with approximately 800 hippos! A day safari drive and a river cruise is included in the expedition fee so you can experience the beautiful scenery and variety of terrestrial African animals that include elephants, antelope, baboons and a variety of birdlife. The expedition also incorporates six days at Lake Malawi National Park (Chembe Village) at Cape Maclear. This gives you the time to complete a dive course (Open Water or Advanced) at your own expense, or anyone not interested in scuba diving can hire sea kayaks and snorkelling gear and explore the local islands and beaches. There is also the opportunity to do community work in Chembe Village. Please find the prices for the extra activities available further down the page.

The final leg of the expedition takes you south to Kasankha Villagem to cross the Malembo Marsh before heading north again to Chipoka and onto the completion point of Senga Bay. Those of you leaving the expedition are then transferred back to Lilongwe but those on an eight- week expedition will stay for the return journey back to Palm Beach in the south.

- Expedition Skills Required

No previous experience or foreign language skills are required to join this expedition, but expedition members must be 18 years of age or older, speak English and be able to swim. Volunteers should also be enthusiastic and not suffer from motion sickness! Expedition members need to bring a minimum of clothing as space will be at a premium (one backpack per volunteer). A full kit list will be provided in the field manual.

- Extra Activities Available (at own cost)

• Open Water Diver - £169 - This is the course for beginners. Successful completion of this course will qualify you to dive anywhere in the world within the 16-metre depth limitation. The course runs over four days.
• Discover SCUBA (Introductory Dive) - £40 - The Discover SCUBA Introductory Dive is perfect for those seeking a taste of what SCUBA diving is all about. It includes a lecture, an introduction to the gear, and a dive accompanied by your instructor. Additional follow-up dives are also an option.
• Casual Dives - £20 - Many qualified divers have only experienced saltwater diving. The Lake Malawi National Park offers something different with hundreds of species of endemic tropical fish in an underwater boulder garden.
• Advanced Open Water Diver - £150 - Apply the knowledge gained on the Open Water Diver course to increase your diving horizons. Specialties studied include deep diving, night diving, wreck diving, naturalist, multilevel diving and underwater navigation. The course runs over two days.
• Guided Walks - £7
• Canoe Safari - £7
• Additional Day Drives - £8
• Day Drive / Walk Combinations - £8
• Night Drives - £8
• Additional Boat Trips - £11

- Price

4 Weeks
£950
$1,995 (US)
€1,330

8 Weeks
£1900
$3,990 (US)
€2,660

- Malaria Awareness

Travelling to long-haul destinations can be a wonderful and exciting experience. Before you go, make sure you take the right travel advice about visiting Malaria risk countries. At Yomps we are committed to stopping traveller deaths from malaria which is why we support the campaign being run by Malariahotspots.com. Click here to download our free guide about Malaria Awareness (opens in a new window).