Lemur Conservation Project in Madagascar, Nosy Be

To book an activity with us we require you to participate for a minimum of two weeks. Therefore, you would need to book a quantity of two for this activity, unless you choose a separate activity to go with it. See the ‘Related trips…’ section for more options.

Lemur Conservation Project in Madagascar
In this exciting program, participants will be involved in important work to maintain and preserve Madagascar’s wildlife heritage, by working with a private lemur species rehabilitation center. As a conservation participant, you will first learn about Madagascar’s flagship species especially the ones which are endemic to this part of Madagascar, with other representatives of unique fauna like the Madagascar fish-eagle and Ploughshare tortoise. Preparing the lemurs’ morning and afternoon feed along with cleaning their cages comprise daily project activities.

CRB/DBS (Criminal Records Bureau) Check
It is required that participants complete a CRB/DBS (Criminal Records Bureau) check in order to take part in this project. We can provide this service for you at an additional cost because some people may already have one that is valid (please get in touch for more details).

Start dates are every week of the year with your activities starting on a Monday. We therefore request you arrive from 08:00 to 20:00 on the Sunday before to receive a free airport pick-up and transfer. Early or late arrivals will incur an additional charge for the transfer and extra night including food, so arriving on the Sunday will be your better option.

Your trip will finish on the Saturday morning when you will need to vacate the accommodation.

Aims & Objectives
To contribute to the rehabilitation of the lemur species which have been stolen of their natural habitats.

Schedule
Monday to Friday
On Monday, after breakfast, you will meet Lemuria Land’s team and visit Lemuria Land. Throughout the week your day will begin by cleaning the lemurs’ cages from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. After that, you will have a 15 minutes short break followed by collecting fruits and green leaves for the lemurs. You will also get to prepare their feed and feed them. Then you will enjoy your picnic lunch at 12:00 noon followed by a break till 2:00 p.m.

Daily activities
Cleaning the lemur’s cages, cutting grass or planting trees whose leaves are eaten by lemur in the wild and helping the staff take care of the cages is also part of your mission. The aim is to have the cages larger so that the lemurs can enjoy a better environment and one that is close to wildlife at this center. Your daily work ends by 4:45 p.m. after taking the lemurs back to their cages. Daily activities will be planned by our coordinator on-site as per the requirements and needs.

Location
Nosy is an island off the northwest coast of Madagascar. Nosy Be is Madagascar’s largest and busiest tourist destination. It has an area of 320.02 square kilometers and its population was estimated at 73,010. Nosy Be means “big island” in the Malagasy language. The island was called Assada during the early colonial era of the 17th century.

Here you’ll find volcanic lakes, lemurs, rum distilleries, Ylang Ylang plantations and breathtaking coral reefs that are practically begging to be explored. In May, come to experience the four-day Donia Music Festival. Perfectly located on the Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia, Nosy-Be evokes feelings of discovery and adventure, the rich and endemic biodiversity will have begging for more. There are many spots that are perfect for ones who seek a golden opportunity to swim among turtles, stingrays or manta rays.

Accommodation & Food
In our center, there is a dining room, a lounge area where you can hang out with fellow participants and a beautiful garden to relax. A balcony and large roof terrace is also available for you to spend some quality time. Furthermore, there is a refrigerator which you are welcome to use to store food and beverages.

Available Room Types

* Three meals per day during weekdays and two per day on weekends
** Water
*** At an additional fee

Food Arrangements
The meals are a mix of Western and Malagasy food, consisting mainly of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. You can expect to have a chicken dish about twice a week. You can also use the kitchen facilities to cook for yourself or eat out at any of the local restaurants at your own expense.

Facilities
ATM
The closest ATM to the Center is about 15-20 minutes away by bus or Tuk-Tuk from the accommodation.

Supermarket
The closest local supermarket is around 15-20 minutes away by bus or Tuk-Tuk from the accommodation.

Mandatory Orientation Day
On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to familiarize you with the surroundings as well as local culture. Your program will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.

Schedule

• Welcome, introduction to Madagascar and the team, House rules, Dos and Don’ts, Code of – – -Conduct and handling of documents
• Introduction about the neighbourhood and prices for taxi, tuk-tuk etc.
• Visit Ambatloka to get SIM Cards and visit the market area
• Lunch
• Malagasy Language lesson
• Activities & Events

No scheduled activities outside the program.

Sights & Surroundings

You can get sun-drenched all year-round, and Nosy Be is a paradise for aqua activities. Nosy Be offers you a variety of activities which you can engage in your free time. The golden beaches are the highlights of Nosy be where you can swim, snorkel or even if you want to just sit back and enjoy the sunshine. Some of the beaches are namely:

• Palm Beach
• Andilana Beach
• Ambatoloaka Beach

Andilana Beach
Nature enthusiasts and adventure lovers certainly find happiness around Nosy Be. Diurnal and nocturnal endemic lemur species, unique bird species, reptiles or indigenous plants and animals can be spotted among these breath-taking landscapes during your Nosy-Be weekend getaways.

Accommodation
Volunteer camp with shared rooms (4-6 people per room); Basic but comfortable; Shared toilet and shower facilities; Communal areas for socialising and a beautiful garden to relax. A balcony and large roof terrace is also available for you to spend some quality time.

Food
3 meals a day are provided.

Airport Transfer
Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you are arriving early/late. You be supported at the end of your trip in your onward travel.

Training
A full orientation and project induction takes place. You will also receive full training relevant to your volunteer role.

Support
Pre-departure help and advice; Local in-country team; 24 hour emergency support.

Donation
Part of your fee is used to buy decent equipment for the project and community you work with.

Flights; Travel Insurance; Visas; Vaccinations; Spending money; In country travel; Laundry service; Extra activities not on itinerary; Departure transfer.

Preferred Duration
There is no preferred duration but we believe that the longer you can stay the more you will experience and benefit.

Pre-requisites
Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for all participants arriving in Madagascar.
Participants below 18 should have parental consent and participants above 65 should have medical clearance to take part in this program. It is important that you can speak English. All participants require a CRB check to take part in the project activities.

Ideal for
Conservation and Wildlife Holidays, Work and Activity Breaks in Madagascar; Volunteer Gap Years and Career Breaks in Madagascar, Student Summer Holidays in Madagascar. Gap year conservation work, Zoology students, vet work experience, sustainable conservation work.