Medical Elective Program
location
Livingstone, Zambia
Available
year Round
Duration
4 Weeks+
Minimum Age
18 years
Price From
$3,625
A Medical Elective in Zambia
Complete four weeks of your medical elective in Livingstone, working directly across home-based care, local clinic support, and community health projects, and see how they function together as a single system of care in a resource-limited setting.
It’s a chance to practice medicine outside the systems you’ve trained in, where resources are limited and the fundamentals of patient care matter more than ever. You’ll work alongside Zambian doctors, nurses, and midwives who navigate these realities daily, building the kind of clinical judgment that’s hard to teach in a classroom.
Project highlights
Connect study with practice
See how healthcare is delivered beyond a hospital setting.
Learn with local teams
Join community caregivers and healthcare staff in their daily work.
Understand health in context
Explore home visits, clinic support, and health education in Livingstone.
Plan for your elective
Discuss your goals with us and confirm approval with your university.
What you’ll do
View an Example Week
Monday
07:00 – 07:40
Breakfast
08:00 – 11:00
Preparation and project introduction
Get to know the home-based care and clinic work. The coordinator discusses a short-term research focus with participants over the course of the placement.
12:00 – 12:30
Lunch
13:00 – 16:00
Community project
Join the wider team at an afternoon community project in Livingstone.
16:30 – 18:00
Team meeting
Meet the group, hear the plan for the week, and settle into the program.
07:00 – 07:40
Breakfast
08:00 – 11:00
Home Based Care
Visit a Livingstone community with local caregivers and take part in appropriate, guided support.
12:00 – 12:30
Lunch and preparation
13:00 – 16:00
Community project
Take part in an afternoon activity alongside volunteers and staff.
07:00 – 07:40
Breakfast
08:00 – 11:00
Home Based Care
Continue learning from caregivers during community visits.
12:30 – 13:00
Research preparation and surveys
The example schedule makes time for preparation and community surveys connected to the short-term research focus
16:30 – 18:00
Local Market Visit
Explore the Maramba market with the group.
07:00 – 07:40
Breakfast
08:00 – 11:00
Home Based Care
Spend the morning on community visits with locally guided activities.
12:00 – 12:30
Lunch
13:00 – 16:00
Village tour
Join a tour organized by women from a local group to learn more about life in Livingstone.
07:00 – 07:40
Breakfast
08:00 – 11:00
Final Week Presentation
On the final Friday, participants share their research and findings with staff and volunteers, supported by the coordinator.
12:00 – 12:30
Friday check-in
Review the week and hear practical updates from the team.
13:30 – 16:00
Cultural afternoon
Spend the afternoon learning about Zambian culture with local staff.
Living on the banks of the Zambezi
Livingstone, Zambia
Staying at Our Base
Your home during your stay is a simple, comfortable volunteer house in Livingstone, designed to give you everything you need while staying immersed in local life. You’ll share rooms with other volunteers, each equipped with basic furnishings, fans, and secure storage. Bathrooms and showers are shared, and communal areas provide space to relax and connect.
There is also a pool for you to unwind during hot days. The house is within easy reach of the clinics, schools, and local amenities, so it’s easy to balance activities with downtime and explore the town at your own pace. Staying here also gives you the chance to experience daily life in Livingstone alongside other volunteers and local staff.
Fees cover accommodation, meals, project costs, transfers, support, and in-country orientation.
- Backpacker style accommodation with swimming pool
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner (Mon - Fri)
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- Transport for scheduled activities, equipment and resources
- Support from experienced local and international African Impact staff
- Full orientation for responsible participation
- Flights
- Visas
- Insurance
- Weekend tours
- Personal expenses
Rates
| Duration | Project Fee |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks | $3,625 ($907 per week) |
| Duration | Project Fee |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks | £2,755 (£689 per week) |
| Duration | Project Fee |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks | €3,230 (€808 per week) |
| Duration | Project Fee |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks | $5,260 ($1,315 per week) |
The minimum age to join this project is 18 years old
What our volunteers say
Is This Program For You?
A medical elective can help you see how health, access to care, and local knowledge intersect. In Livingstone, you will experience community-based work alongside local teams and have opportunities to reflect on it in relation to your studies. Ask your elective coordinator what evidence or approval your university needs; only your institution can decide whether this program meets its requirements.
- Experience of community-based healthcare in Zambia
- A clearer understanding of home-based care and clinic support
- Practice communicating across different settings and cultures
- Insight into locally guided public health initiatives
- Learning to discuss with your academic supervisor
Our Favorite Weekend Activities in Zambia
volunteer. There’s something for everyone – from the adrenaline junkie to culturally
intrigued traveller.
Safari Time
Enjoy easy safaris in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park with elephants and zebras along the Zambezi, or cross into Botswana for Chobe’s famous elephant-filled overnight adventure.
Victoria Falls
The Zambezi River invites adventure with scenic cruises, white‑water rafting, and peaceful canoe trips, plus bungee jumping and gorge swings for those seeking an unforgettable thrill.
Tours and Markets
Experience Livingstone’s rich culture with walking or cycling village tours, explore vibrant markets, and find handmade crafts or unique local foods to bring home.
Zambezi River
The Zambezi River promises adventure with scenic cruises, thrilling white‑water rafting, and peaceful canoe trips, letting you explore vast waters and hidden, tranquil channels.
Project FAQs
Can this count as my official medical elective?
Your university decides whether a placement meets its elective requirements. Share its criteria with your elective coordinator and ask us about this program before booking. We can explain the on-the-ground experience, but cannot approve academic credit on behalf of your institution.
How is this different from the Public Health Internship?
The activities, local team, four-week length, and fee are the same. This page is for students planning the experience as a university elective, so you can consider how the community health work relates to your academic goals. It is not a separate clinical rotation.
What should I check before I apply?
The focus is community health: home-based care, health education, local projects, and some clinic support. A hospital placement, specific procedures, or independent patient care are not part of a guaranteed itinerary. Your role is guided by local staff and appropriate to your experience.
Will I work in a hospital?
Ask your university about its elective approval process, required duration, supervision, documentation, and any limits on permitted activities. Then send us your dates and learning goals so we can discuss whether this four-week Livingstone program is a suitable fit.
Enquire Now