Volunteer in Forest Conservation in Nosy Komba, Madagascar

The programme is an excellent place to visit, set in a beautiful location. The staff all have wonderful, cheerful characters and a great opportunity to meet a range of volunteers from all over the world with fabulous personalities too. Alongside the locals that are very caring and considerate- who love to interact and be educated. The forest programme offers a one in a life time opportunity to work with some of Madagascar's unique herpetology fauna as well as a chance to learn and observe the behaviour of the endangered Black Lemur species. However the programme is fairly new and is currently developing, learning and growing. But that provides you with a good insight in the workings of setting up a programme! The only issue would be is that I would like to know if so, and how much of the money towards volunteering at the programme goes towards conservation in Madagascar.

The best trip I have been on so far. The staff are amazing, the camp is way better than I could have expected and the people on camp are all there for the same reason, it makes for a great atmosphere. The communities we walk to are always friendly and welcoming. You have plenty of chances to learn the native language and it's a good one to know. I would go back and do it again for sure!

I knew this title would get your attention ;) and to be fair, I do not think it's exaggerated! I did the Forest Volunteering program in Madagascar at MRCI and it was even better than I could have imagined. A few weeks on an island near Madagascar without internet connection just working with nature seemed the perfect summer getaway from the busy & hectic student life. And it was! The base camp was situated between the sea and the forest only a 20-minute walk away from the nearest village on the island. So it was just us: the volunteers, the staff of MRCI, the turtles and the birds. In the morning the foresters do a survey or a trash walk as in before noon the sun is not too hot yet. After lunch we had study sessions, data entry and some free time to spend at the beach, reading in the hammocks or playing games in main house. Ohhh the days went by so fast! It was just so much fun to study the animals from flash cards and then see & hear them in real life! But be warned: the walks are hard at first. For everybody! But the good thing is that you get used to it and you will sleep really tight :) Honestly, you have to go there and see for yourself. I bet you will agree that it's paradise!