Madagascar

A: IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering successfully placing over 20,000 volunteers globally.  We accept volunteers from all over the world and place them in meaningful overseas missions.  

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A: Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island, known for its rich biodiversity and culture. This exotic country is home to some unique wildlife, including 101 different lemur species, 285 bird species (105 of which are unique to the country). You can also find 860 orchid species, that are native to the island, as well as 6 of the world’s 8 incredible baobab trees, found nowhere else in the world. Over 90% of Madagascar’s wildlife is native and cannot be seen in the wild anywhere else on earth. Human presence however, is constantly threatening these natural wonders.

Madagascar is a very culturally distinctive island, with 18 ethnic groups forming the Malagasy population, whose customs are based on the respect of their ancestors and the harmony of the living. The country also has many multi cultures, taking influence from Arabic, Chinese, Indian, French and English settlers.

Although being a large island, it is also a very poor country, with 75.3% of Malagasy living below the poverty line. The gap between the rich and poor is increasing more and more. Despite this poverty, Malagasy people are very much open-hearted to anyone and welcome visitors to explore their beautiful island and cultural heritage.

You will be greeted with smiles and friendly locals and can be sure that a trip to Madagascar will be the ultimate adventure! Not only will you discover an entirely new culture (think of it as a mix between African & Asian influences), you will also explore the incredible flora and fauna this island has to offer.

A: Madagascar has a hot, subtropical climate with cooler temperatures in the mountains.

There are two main climate seasons:

• the rainy season from November to March
• the dry season from April to October.

The length of each season does vary from one region to another. As Madagascar is a large country, terrain, weather patterns and climate can change quite dramatically between regions.

The best months to visit Madagascar are between April to mid-December.

PLEASE NOTE: January to March is cyclone season, so we would advise against travelling to Madagascar during this time.

A: Today, there’s 18 diverse ethnic groups living in Madagascar. These include Merina, Betsimisaraka, Betsileo, Tsimihety, Antaimoro and Sakalava. Despite the ethnic variety, Malagasy people share a common culture and language.

The Malagasy language has Asian origin, similar to the language spoken in Borneo. The dialect is very poetical, descriptive and rich in metaphors. For example, where we might say “dusk”, the Malagasy will say “maizim-bava vilany” which means “when the mouth of the cooking pot is dark”.

The Asian-African origin of the island’s inhabitants has led to a unique and distinguished culture, with a multitude of set beliefs and customs.

One of the main beliefs is in the power of dead ancestors, or “razana”. These spirits are believed to still look after their descendants even after they have passed.  The wishes of these ancestors are to be respected and obeyed. Because of this, families and communities have certain taboos known as “fady”, like avoiding certain actions to ensure the approval of the “razana”

A: Nosy Be (meaning ‘big island’) is an absolutely stunning island off the north-west coast and is Madagascar’s largest and busiest tourist destination. The population is estimated around 73,010 and the island has an area space of 320.02 square kilometres.

On Nosy Be island you will find volcanic lakes, lemurs, rum distilleries, Ylang Ylang plantations and beautiful coral reefs. There is just so much to explore on this amazing island! In May, you can experience the 4 day Donia Music Festival. Situated on the Indian Ocean, on Nosy-Be island you can relax on the best white sand beaches, take a boat trip through the jungle, go trekking to see lemurs or snorkel alongside turtles and manta rays in the clear waters.

A: Yes! You will stay at our volunteer house, where there is a dining room and lounge area to socialise with fellow volunteers. There is also a beautiful garden to relax in during time off. A balcony and large roof terrace are also available for you to chill out in. Rooms are shared between 4-6 people, there are fans, bed linen, lockable rooms, water, and laundry facilities for an extra cost.

There is a kitchen and refrigerator which you are welcome to use to store any food and drinks you require.

There is an ATM and a supermarket around 15-20 minutes away by bus or Tuk-Tuk, from the volunteer house.

A: Yes. We provide three meals per day during weekdays and two per day on weekends.

Your meals will be a mix of Western and Malagasy food, usually consisting of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. You can expect to have a chicken dish around twice a week. There are kitchen facilities for you to cook your own meals or you can eat out at any of the local restaurants nearby.

A: Yes.  During your first Monday, you’ll join our orientation day. This is to get familiarised with the local surroundings and to learn about local culture and customs. Your project will continue as usual from Tuesday and throughout the rest of the week.

Schedule

• Welcome meeting, introduction to Madagascar and local co-ordinators, general/ house rules, Dos and Don’ts, Code of Conduct, plus handling of documents
• Introduction to local areas, useful information on prices for taxis ,tuk-tuks, etc
• Visit Ambatoloaka to buy SIM cards and visit the market
• Lunch
• Malagasy Language Class

A: An arrival airport pickup is included in the cost of your placement. Accommodation on the Sunday is included in the program fees. Arrivals are on Saturdays and Sundays (please check the individual project for the pickup window times, as they can differ). 

If arriving outside the pickup times we can arrange a private transfer and extra night’s accommodation, depending on availability, or you can make your own way to the project.  

By Taxi-brousse

Taxi-brousses are cheap minibuses that go everywhere. Although they can get crowded, the system is actually relatively well organized. Drivers and vehicles belong to transport companies called “coopératives”. Each of these companies have a booth or agent at the taxi-brousse station. This is where tickets can be bought, covering national and regional routes. Some taxi-brousses offer VIP services, which operate with the national services like COTISSE, BESADY+ or MalagasyCar Première classe.

By Train

Travelling by train is a great way to see Madagascar’s stunning scenery. Antànanarivo to Toamasina is where Madagascar’s first and main port is located, which was built in the colonial period. The train from Antànanarivo to Andasibe is where you will find the most visited National Park (Andasibe-Mantadia). The journey from Fianarantsoa to Manakara, is also worthwhile, passing through many remote villages.

By Bus and minibus

Buses and minibus in the towns work on a flat-rate fare (from Ar 400 to Ar 1,000).

They can take you between suburbs and in and around the central part of town, with fixed stops.

By Tuk-tuk, rickshaw, cyclo-pousse

A pousse-pousse is a colourful wooden rickshaw on wheels, that is pulled by someone on foot. Some have a bicycle attached, which are named cyclo-pousses (these are a little more expensive).  Although some travellers may feel slightly uncomfortable being pulled around on a pousse-pousse, this is very normal for them and how they make their income, so they’ll be sure to welcome your business. Fares vary between Ar 500 and Ar 2,000.

A: Yes. Weekends are a perfect opportunity to explore.

The sun shines year-round here, with Nosy Be being a beach and sea lovers paradise, hosting incredible snorkelling and diving. Nosy Be is packed with activities to get up to during your free, the most popular is checking out the paradise beaches. Here are just a few of the stunning beaches you can visit:

• Palm Beach
• Andilana Beach
• Ambatoloaka Beach
• Andilana Beach

Wildlife lovers and adventure enthusiasts will certainly be at home in Nosy Be too. See if you can spot the diurnal and nocturnal native lemur species, count the unique bird species, see reptiles or indigenous plants, whilst trekking through the lush jungle. There are also scuba diving & snorkelling tours and inland boat trips.

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