Volunteer Programs in Madagascar

If you’re one of those “life is a journey, not a destination” types, then buckle your seatbelt, because Madagascar volunteers have the ultimate journey. The country’s terrain makes half the fun getting to the location you choose to volunteer in. But when you ultimately want to find a place to lay your head, here are the top locations to aim for:

Nosy Be is Madagascar’s number-one beach destination. With year-round sun, it is paradise for any water-based activities you’ve been eager to cross off your bucket list. Diving is the island’s top draw, followed by swimming, snorkeling, and sailing. Once you’ve swallowed enough salt water for one day, head for the marvelous Réserve Naturelle Intégrale de Lokobe. Explore cocoa, ylang-ylang, and vanilla plantations, crater lakes and waterfalls, and miles of dirt tracks accessible only by an old-fashioned hike or quad bike.

Fort Dauphin is located along a peninsula, wedged between the sea and mountains. The expedition to Fort Dauphin is a gateway to a tropical paradise that will wind you through spiny forests and plop you down in a city of raw splendor. While traveling to Fort Dauphin, you’ll be able to truly experience and appreciate the animal and plant life as you dive deep into pristine jungles. Volunteers can spend free time looking for lemurs, relaxing on the beach, and exploring the dramatic hinterland.

Antananarivo, but you can call her Tana, is the capital city and home to the majority of Madagascar’s history and culture, as well as some unexpected wildlife. Beautiful colonial buildings and markets make it a great place to wander about and even pick up gifts for friends and family back home. Also, this is the place to treat yo’ self to a fine meal. Some establishments rival European Michelin-starred restaurants, but without the price tag.

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Latest Program Reviews

A fantastic and rewarding month!

December 05, 2025by: Tommaso Girotto - AustraliaProgram: Volunteer Conservation Research Program in Madagascar

10

Thank you so much to SEED for all that you do and for letting me play a small part during my time in Madagascar! The stay at the camp was amazing, with all that I could want and a great team welcoming me and taking the time to make sure all the volunteers were happy (even when they were knackered after a day of transects in torrential rain). A big highlight was the Varika lemurs leaping between the trees above the outdoor showers in the evenings. We were also lucky enough to meet Lisa (a member of the SCRP team) in her final week at camp and were there to witness a special ‘Veloma’ (goodbye party) with the national staff before she set off for her next adventure. It was at the party that we heard Hoby’s, a pillar of the SCRP team, song for the first time (later becoming a recurring motif in the trip, the most meaningful rendition of it being by a classroom full of children on our trip to the Manafiafy school in our final days). After a week of transects none of us could wait to see the beach everyone had been raving about and we certainly weren’t let down; crystal clear water, a beautiful sandy coast and a fresh coconut under the shade of a palm tree - paradise.

Volunteering with SEED's conservation research team

December 05, 2025by: Gillian Bartlett - AustraliaProgram: Volunteer Conservation Research Program in Madagascar

10

I joined SEED's conservation team for 1 month in the forests of Saint Luce, and had such a fantastic experience! I learnt so much from the conservation research team, going on daily surveys of local populations of lemurs, geckos, frogs, and insects. I also got to be a part of SEED's other projects with local communities, including attending a focus group with the Mahampy reed-weaving cooperative and helping facilitate a school session on coral reefs at a rural school. The volunteer program was such a fantastic way to learn about the humanitarian and conservation sectors, and also witness SEED's great work in Madagascar!

A fantastic and rewarding month!

December 05, 2025by: Tommaso Girotto - AustraliaProgram: Volunteer Conservation Research Program in Madagascar

10

Thank you so much to SEED for all that you do and for letting me play a small part during my time in Madagascar! The stay at the camp was amazing, with all that I could want and a great team welcoming me and taking the time to make sure all the volunteers were happy (even when they were knackered after a day of transects in torrential rain). A big highlight was the Varika lemurs leaping between the trees above the outdoor showers in the evenings. We were also lucky enough to meet Lisa (a member of the SCRP team) in her final week at camp and were there to witness a special ‘Veloma’ (goodbye party) with the national staff before she set off for her next adventure. It was at the party that we heard Hoby’s, a pillar of the SCRP team, song for the first time (later becoming a recurring motif in the trip, the most meaningful rendition of it being by a classroom full of children on our trip to the Manafiafy school in our final days). After a week of transects none of us could wait to see the beach everyone had been raving about and we certainly weren’t let down; crystal clear water, a beautiful sandy coast and a fresh coconut under the shade of a palm tree - paradise.

Volunteering with SEED's conservation research team

December 05, 2025by: Gillian Bartlett - AustraliaProgram: Volunteer Conservation Research Program in Madagascar

10

I joined SEED's conservation team for 1 month in the forests of Saint Luce, and had such a fantastic experience! I learnt so much from the conservation research team, going on daily surveys of local populations of lemurs, geckos, frogs, and insects. I also got to be a part of SEED's other projects with local communities, including attending a focus group with the Mahampy reed-weaving cooperative and helping facilitate a school session on coral reefs at a rural school. The volunteer program was such a fantastic way to learn about the humanitarian and conservation sectors, and also witness SEED's great work in Madagascar!