Volunteer in Forest Conservation in Nosy Komba, Madagascar

Madagscar was incredible I had the best time, staff were so supportive both before and after departure! Highly recommend going with IVHQ for anyone who wants to travel abroad. They are fully supportive throughout the whole experience !

I had an amazing time on the project - Madagascar is indeed unique. Saw lots of wildlife, snorkeled with turtles and even got to handle two snakes! The staff were really supportive and knowledgeable. If you like to walk on the wild side this is a project you’ll enjoy!

It was interesting to see the daily routine of a research project and to help spotting a lot of herps. It was also nice to see the passion of the staff about the animals and their job. So it was a nice experience :)

I was looking for a reliable organisation to volunteer with, and came across IVHQ, who set me up with MRCI and it was the best time of my life! First off: the food was awesome (rice, veggies, sometimes pasta or noodles, zebu, chicken, fish), the local staff were superb, the huts were spacious and clean, camp was really nicely laid out (we even had fancy western toilets and showers!) - I was very comfortable living there. I did forest conservation on the island Nosy Komba: we did lemur studies (observing the diet & behaviour of wild lemurs and lemurs in the park), reptile transects (I LOVED these because it gives you the chance to walk through the forest and just look out for different species, I enjoyed being able to identify them too, it was way more interesting for me when I knew), line plots (frogs!)...I loved agroforestry, where we’d often go to local farmers’ plots to help clean/plant their land. Seedling collecting was great too, we got to plant it on MRCI’s plot of land, to encourage the growth of native species into the area, I was super interested in hearing different ways to farm to increase efficiency. We had the chance to go to mainland Madagascar, in Ampohana, to build a clinic for the one doctor in the area. Such hard wrk making concrete in that heat, but I’m soooo glad I did it! At the opening ceremony a few weeks later, there were so many people there, I was so surprised at how they all rely on this small clinic?! Rum, zebu, dancing and music, it was the best celebration! Free time at the weekends was well spent: we visited Nosy Iranjia and Tanikely, went on a whale shark trip, swam with turtles, saw sacred waterfalls, had party weekends in Ambataloaka and just hung out with everyone on the beach. Met so many incredible people from all walks of life that I think I really can learn from, it feels so much like a family when it’s that intense for such a short period of time - I cried leaving them! Would definitely go back

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!

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!

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.