Madagascar wildlife small group tour

Environment

Madagascar has much to offer the responsible traveller. However, the environments we travel through are fragile on this trip. Population growth and a slowing economy over the past decades means that Madagascar is among the poorest countries in the world. In some regions of the country the local people have resorted to drastic means to secure a better life, resulting in environmental degradation of some environments. Logging and slash and burn farming techniques mean that in some regions you will see environmental degradation. Tourism is playing a pivotal role in supporting and rebuilding the local economy of Madagascar. In Madagascar we focus on employing and training local guides and staff, and designing our itineraries to support local communities and businesses and to protect the natural environment and wildlife.

We use only guides/ leaders who are highly experienced, and born and bred in Madagascar, they have strong local knowledge and a love and understanding of their country which they are happy to share throughout the trip. Providing local guides increases local employment bringing valuable income into the local community. Our local staff receive regular training in workshops regarding environmental protection, they are encouraged to pass on this knowledge to you on the tour.

We were the proud recipients of the inaugural Australian National Travel Industry’s Environmental Achievement award for our Responsible Travel Guidebook. This detailed guide to responsible and sustainable travel is provided to all our clients before they travel.

We are aligned with “Leave No Trace”, an international organisation that has set the global standard for outdoor ethics. Through targeted education, research and outreach, its mission is to ensure the long-term health of our natural world while maintaining sustainable recreation in nature.

To minimise plastic bottle waste on the trip, participants are encouraged to bring their own refillable water bottles which is refilled by our team on the tour, significantly reducing the amount of plastic rubbish produced by each tour. Any plastic bottles left behind at the end of the tour will be collected by our team and given to the local community, these are re-purposed to sell honey or rum etc at the local markets, or collect fresh water from faraway wells.

Community

During the tour your guide will explain the local traditions and behaviour codes in Madagascar. So we can travel observing the local traditions, while respecting the local customs of the Malagasy people. The local taboos (fady) are specific to each region, place and ethnicity in the country. Respecting local traditions helps to contribute to the establishment of a genuine exchange between cultures. As visitors by respecting these local customs, it encourages pride in local traditions, and in a small but important way, helps preserve it.

We encourage our clients to be culturally sensitive during the tour, our staff will inform you on appropriate clothing choices (what to wear, what not to wear, and when to take those shoes off), when photography is allowed and when to be quiet, for religious or sacred sights or for just wandering the streets and lanes in towns and villages, which will help you to be accepted and welcomed as a visitor.

We visit local craftspeople in Antsirabe and Ambositra creating items from recycled materials or handmade products and you can purchase directly from the artisans or co-operatives. Eg. Wood carving (marquetry), Zebu horn carving, embroidery, silk weaving.

When selecting accommodation for the tour, we use locally owned and operated properties wherever possible. These accommodations source their staff from the local area, helping to develop a positive economic impact from your visit by the employment generated. In addition our criteria for accommodation selection includes management of the environment, as well as management of the water and waste, and energy. Including an ecolodge in Antsirabe which has earned the “Green Label” award for its work, and a hotel in Isalo which is working on solar energy.