Madagascar: Conservation Volunteer Project 2022

You will be accompanied by a team of local support staff co-ordinating the project, and a Different Travel tour manager.

The maximum expected daytime temperature in October is 30°C, dropping down to 10°C at night. October is the dry season but the climate is very humid and intermittent downpours are possible, so you are advised to bring good waterproofs and warm layers for evenings.

Please note: the temperatures and conditions above are historically accurate for this time of year; climate change can impact the seasons so you may experience conditions during the trip which are uncharacteristic and out of our control. If unexpected climate conditions occur the guides will make decisions to ensure the best enjoyment and safety of the group.

You will be served freshly prepared meals from locally sourced ingredients. At the conservation project breakfast options usually include local ‘mofo’, (crisp fried donut balls), bananas, rice pudding, local honey and cake.
Lunch is a filing portion of rice and beans, varied daily.
Dinner is normally rice or spaghetti with a vegetable sauce or vegetable curry and meat; fish or eggs are usually on the menu once a week. A short walk from Sainte Luce camp is a small shop selling soft drinks, biscuits, snacks, locally brewed coffee, mofo, washing powder sachets etc.

Special dietary requirements can be accommodated if requested in advance.

During your time in Antananarivo, Fort Dauphin and Andasibe you will stay in a hotel. In Sainte Luce you will camp in tents (2 people per tent) at a permanent camp site on the edge of the forest and a short walk from the village of Sainte Luce. There is a typical Malagasy style open sided long house where you take meals, and a research centre which has solar panels where you can charge electronic items (weather dependant). A short walk from Sainte Luce camp is a small shop.

At the hotels you will find twin or triple-share rooms, with en-suite facilities. At Sainte Luce campsite things are a little more basic. You will find long drop pit latrines and a screened shower block where you can take a cold water bucket shower.

A limited amount of toilet paper is provided but you should bring your own supply, and you are recommended to bring a small pack of baby wipes (biodegradable). Used toilet paper should be placed in the bin provided.

Feminine hygiene products can be obtained in Antananarivo and Fort Dauphin but these are limited and may not be what you are familiar with at home. You are recommended to bring your usual products with you from home, even if you are not expecting your period as travel can disrupt your cycle.

Madagascar is a developing country and mobile reception and internet connections are patchy. We advise that you tell friends and family that ‘no news is good news’ then if you are able to contact them it will be a nice surprise.
Wi-Fi may be available at the hotels, and you can sometimes get mobile signal near the shop next to Sainte Luce camp (subject to your mobile handset, your contract roaming capabilities and other factors). You should check with your contract provider about roaming costs.
There is solar power at Sainte Luce so you will have the opportunity to charge items but you will need to bring your own plug adaptor. The sockets are two round pins (European style). It is advised that you take an adaptor which also has a USB charging port.

If guaranteed access to power is of great importance to you, you are recommended to bring a portable power pack (also known as a power bank or battery pack) which, when fully charged before departure, allows you multiple recharges of USB-powered devices such as phones. You should buy a power pack with a min. capacity of 12,000mAh (max. 20,000mAh) and these are widely available and inexpensive to purchase online on Amazon.

The programme will typically involve time conducting research in the forest, helping with ‘Conservation Club’, where local children learn the importance of conserving the environment, teaching basic English to the children, and also attending a series of evening talks from staff members. Research activities may include:

• Lemur transect which involves walking through a pre-determined fragment of forest and, once spotted, recording critical data such as the number and sex of the lemurs and observing their behaviour.
• Reptile transect
• Tree nursery work
• Botanical monitoring and habitat data
• Herpetology sweep

You will be fully briefed each day and all safety aspects will be covered by the local team. No previous experience is necessary and although a willingness to get involved is important, you should only take part in activities you are comfortable with.

You must be aged at least 18 to participate unaccompanied. It may be possible for you to participate if you are aged 16 or 17 years old if you are accompanied by a parent or guardian–please contact us for advice. There is no upper age limit.

The ideal candidate would be someone in good physical and mental health, who is open-minded, patient and adaptable with a positive attitude towards living in a rural setting and working in a team. You should be willing to embrace the challenges of the project and have an appropriate level of fitness, physical capability and mobility for the conservation work which can require long treks on forest trails over rough uneven ground, up to 10km a day in hot humid conditions.

We require a medical form to be completed by everyone upon registering, and any pre-existing conditions, medications used and other medical issues must be specified. All your medical details are treated in the strictest confidence.

The information will be securely screened by a qualified medical professional, and details provided to your tour manager and local guides so our staff are adequately informed and prepared to support you during the trip. By completing our booking form you are giving consent for us to contact you confidentially with any follow up questions regarding your health.

If you declare any medical conditions you may be asked to provide more information, or we may request to contact your GP.

In the event that your medical issues at the time of booking represent a concern for your safety and wellbeing, or the safety and wellbeing of others in the group, you may be recommended not to take part. If this happens your booking will not be confirmed and the deposit will be refunded.

We must be informed if any conditions or medication change, or if new conditions develop. If necessary confirmation of fitness to travel from your GP or specialist may be required.

Please note that we will never unreasonably deny participation on a trip nor contravene the Equality Act 2010.

Please note: This list is not exhaustive and does not account for your personal taste or preference. It should be used as a guideline only. If you have any questions or queries regarding this list which are not answered in the sections above please contact info@different-travel.com.

*Please ensure you pack your boots in your hand baggage in the unlikely event your luggage is delayed or goes missing.

*Please consider eco-friendly or biodegradable options. Consider shopping at Little Footprint Gifts.