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Marine conservation holiday in Madagascar

COUNTRY:
Madagascar
DEPARTURES:
2012: 17 Feb, 1 Apr, 17 May, 29 Jun, 13 Aug, 26 Aug, 10 Nov
PRICE:
From £1400 (3 weeks) excluding flights
MORE INFO:
From £2100 (6 weeks) excluding flights and including dive training. Stays up to 30 weeks can be arranged
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Marine conservation holiday in Madagascar
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Marine conservation holiday in Madagascar

Volunteer travel - what's it all about?
Are you looking for an adventurous trip with a purpose, or on a gap year or career break? If you want to make a difference in some of the world’s most important conservation areas - and in community projects - then volunteer trips are for you! Volunteers tend to have a sense of adventure, and come from a range of different backgrounds and from all over the world.
Edward Abbey said 'sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul'.

How this holiday makes a difference

The expeditions are unique in terms of the remote site location, high staff to volunteer ratio and low costs. The data collected by volunteers is used to develop sustainable local environmental management plans for the unique reef systems. These plans focus on improving the quality of life of the local communities who depend on these marine resources, while maintaining the biological diversity and productivity of the reefs.

Through work conducted so far, we have already set-up one of Madagascar’s first experimental community-run Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). As a volunteer, you are able to dive in unique uncharted reef systems and collect data to further marine coastal conservation efforts significantly.

Every effort is made to minimise the environmental impact of our expeditions. Volunteers are requested to bring only bio-degradable products, and energy use is renewable whenever possible.

Our expedition teams are led by Malagasy divers and scientists and international researchers. Volunteers work with local communities on all of the expedition projects. This collaboration ensures that the work of our expedition team is sensitive to local traditions and volunteers have the opportunity to experience local culture and customs. The expedition camp has been built by local people and our expeditions create employment opportunities in the area.

This project and volunteer contributions raise funds to help train local people to scuba dive and learn scientific research methods that will give them opportunities to work within the new MPA.

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Marine conservation holiday in Madagascar
Marine conservation holiday in Madagascar
Marine conservation holiday in Madagascar

Marine conservation holiday in Madagascar

Reviewed 26 Sep 2007 by Danielle Peck4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


I spent two days on a fact-finding trip with the field scientist, visiting fishing villages in the neighborhood of the project site. It was a great opportunity to see the impact of the marine conservation project on the local communities and how the partnership worked. More than that it was beautiful journey in a dug-out canoe, including one leg at night in an extraordinarily dramatic electrical storm with that evening's supper - a soon-to-be-dead cockerel - hunkered down at our feet. In one village we taught the local kids to sing "Cecilia" by Art and Garfunkel. They, in turn, danced for us to music from a xylophone made out of a few pieces of wood placed on outstretched legs. It was a wonderful two days.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Be prepared for an intensive group experience - it was closest thing to Big Brother I can imagine! The site is isolated and you are living in each others pockets, sharing huts with the same people etc for several weeks. Be prepared for basic food and don't expect the best diving in the world. The whole point about this place is that the reef is being over-fished. If you want a diving holiday go somewhere else, if you want to volunteer on a marine conservation project, this is a place that really needs your help.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Absolutely

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


I wanted to stay in a community, get a sense of their way of life and help in some way. I felt it ticked all those boxes and was a lot of fun to boot - even though I was a lot older than most of the other volunteers.

Reviewed 04 Jan 2006 by Catherine Farrell5 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


The coral reefs and learning how the system works.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Be healthy and prepared for hard work.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Yes to both.

4. Any other comments?


Excellent holiday, highly recommended. I will definitely be travelling with responsibletravel and I have already told everyone I know about your website. Keep up the good work.
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Holiday Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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Marine conservation holiday in Madagascar
Marine conservation holiday in Madagascar
Marine conservation holiday in Madagascar
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