Involvement Volunteers International WHY we need you in Madagascar
- Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries, with around 74% living below the poverty line
- The country is 4th highest in the world for chronic malnutrition, with almost 1 in 2 children under five suffering from stunted growth
- Madagascar is prone to climate change issues and natural disasters, such as cyclones. This can badly damage infrastructure and peoples homes
- Around 46% of the population in Madagascar have access to clean drinking water & 85% lacking adequate sanitation facilities
- Deforestation and hunting have led to over 100 species of Madagascar's Lemur population becoming endangered
HOW can you help?
- Scientific data collection and analysis
- Help create a new research database in a relatively unstudied area
- Bring your haerd work, enthusiasm and open-mindedness!
- Assist with beach clean ups and turtle watches
WHAT can you do?
- Engage with the local people and provide education on protecting their environment
- Perform seagrass surveys during low spring tides
- Gain animal handling experience (nesting season only)
- Learn turtle identification techniques abd collect data
Why Involvement Volunteers International?
- Non Profit Organisation & Charity
- Over 35+ Years Expertise Globally
- Low Program Fees - From US$295
- Excellent Safety Record, In-Country 24/7 Support & Emergency Assistance
- 1 Application Fee - Multiple Countries
PROJECT NAME: TURTLE CONSERVATION
LOCATION: NOSY KOMBA ISLAND
START DATES: 1st & 3rd MONDAY OF EACH MONTH
ACCOMMODATION: BASIC HUT (SHARED ROOMS)
MIN DURATION: ONE WEEK
MIN AGE: 16+
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Criminal background check required
Overview
The turtle conservation program involves seasonal monitoring of sea turtles nesting on the northern beaches of Madagascar. From November to March, during the nesting season, you’ll help identify and monitor key nesting sites, behaviour, and population changes. From April to October, the off-nesting season, you’ll assist in identifying areas of turtle activity, population size, and re-establishing nesting beaches. When tides allow, you’ll conduct seagrass surveys, turtle watches, and beach cleans.
The research focuses on Green and Hawksbill turtles, with data also collected on Olive Ridley and Loggerhead turtles if encountered. This information helps protect and manage turtle populations. We also engage the local community through education programs promoting turtle conservation.
You will help create a new research database in a relatively unstudied area, searching for signs of turtle activity most days and nights. If turtles or eggs are found, you may handle them as part of data collection, ensuring minimal negative impact.
Program Activities
Beach Cleans: With no recycling or waste disposal facilities in the area, beach cleans are vital to prevent waste, especially plastics, from harming turtles. Turtles cannot regurgitate plastic due to their oesophagus structure, leading to fatal ingestion. Beach cleans are conducted frequently at Nosy Komba and Ampohana.
Turtle Watch: To identify areas of turtle activity, volunteers conduct turtle watches from land, documenting surfacing turtles and other relevant activities. Data on turtle behaviour, size, and environmental factors are collected during these 30-minute watches.
Extreme turtle Watch: Through the turtle nesting season, November to March, marine volunteers (and any other willing volunteers) participate in nightly walks and sleepovers at a nearby turtle nesting beach. The extreme turtle watch team takes turns doing hourly patrols through the night to check for any nesting or hatching activity and monitor existing nests. This activity helps identify which turtles are nesting, compared to our catalogue of recorded individuals from snorkel surveys, and ensures nests are protected to maximize the survival rates of endangered hatchling turtles.
Education: The future of Madagascar’s turtles ultimately depends on the people who live here. We are involved in educating the local community about environmental issues on both local and global scales. We strive to engage with the local people and provide education on protecting their environment, always seeking new ways to inspire conservation of the wildlife that shares the island.
Seagrass Snorkelling Surveys: Seagrass is crucial for marine ecosystems and a primary food source for green sea turtles. Volunteers perform seagrass surveys during low spring tides, assessing seagrass health, species abundance, and signs of turtle feeding.
Active Turtle Surveys (ATSs): To estimate feeding population sizes, volunteers snorkel to identify individual turtles, determining population size based on frequent observations. ATSs are frequent, with alternative activities or basic snorkelling lessons available for those uncomfortable with snorkelling.
Night Walks: During the nesting season (November to March), volunteers participate in nightly walks and sleepovers at nearby beaches, performing hourly patrols to check for nesting or hatching activity and monitor existing nests. This helps identify nesting turtles and ensures nest protection to maximize hatchling survival rates.
Eco-Bricks: Collected trash is converted into eco-bricks by cutting and compressing plastics into water bottles, creating construction materials. This activity combats ocean pollution and provides upcycled materials for various construction projects on and off camp.
Location
Nosy Komba, a charming island off the northwest coast of Madagascar, is known for its lush greenery, stunning beaches, and vibrant coral reefs. Often referred to as “Lemur Island,” it is home to a thriving population of lemurs that roam freely. The island’s picturesque villages are inhabited by friendly locals who practice traditional Malagasy crafts and fishing. Our location is fairly remote, being a 30 minute hike over rocky terrain or accessible by boat.
Project Tasks
- Visual encounter surveys
- Animal handling experience (nesting season only)
- Track surveys
- GPS use
- Turtle identification techniques
- Scientific data collection and analysis
Food & Accommodation
Accommodation
The primary camp, is located on Nosy Komba Island, about 6 miles from Nosy Be, where the international airport is situated. Our facilities include a main house, staff accommodation, and a dining area, along with cold water showers and flush toilet units. You will stay in single gender open air huts, with two to three double bunks in each. Private room upgrades are also available for an additional cost (subject to availability). Depending on the season and projects at the time, those on the turtle program may also be placed at a second accommodation location at Ampohana Beach.
Volunteers need to bring their own bedding (thin sheet), pillows, pillowcases, bath towels, mosquito nets, and a lightweight sleeping bag (this is suggested for the cooler months of June to August). Outside of these times you can get away with just a thin sheet as it is hot and humid in Madagascar.
Power for lights is supplied by solar panels, with a backup generator for the local team that runs 1-2 hours per week. The camp has limited power points available for charging devices and since there is no other electricity at camp, we recommend volunteers bring solar chargers for their devices and to minimise the use of electronic devices. The accommodation is accessible by boat or a 30-minute walk across rocky terrain from the village. WiFi can be found in the local village, and you can also purchase a local SIM card with data when you arrive in Madagascar. The main house accommodates senior staff and serves as a meeting place for volunteers during the day. Large decks line the front of the main house, complete with hammocks, bean bags, and benches. There is also a work area for volunteers, as well as lockable storage boxes available for each hut to store small valuables. Volunteers should bring a padlock to secure personal items in their luggage when not in use.
Please conserve power and water as much as possible during your stay. This includes not leaving lights on unnecessarily, limiting showers to one per day, and turning off the water when not in direct use (e.g., while brushing teeth or lathering up in the shower).
Food
Volunteers are served three meals per day, prepared in the traditional Madagascan style by an on-site Malagasy cook.
Meals are tasty but may be more basic than what you are used to, with rice served most meals. Breakfast ranges from pancakes to eggs or bread with condiments. Lunch is typically rice or pasta-based, while dinner is usually rice with beans and a sauce. Meals will generally include chicken, zebu (beef), or fish, along with vegetables. For programs where you will be away from camp during lunch can arrange for a packed lunch through the local team the night before. Please keep in kind supplies in Madagascar are limited, and meals will change seasonally depending on the ingredients available on Nosy Be.
Please note that the local team cannot cater to special dietary requirements or requests. Vegans can eat the vegetarian meals, but will may need to buy extra food off site. We ask volunteers to be flexible or prepared to supplement the provided food. If supplementing food, be aware that there is no refrigerator, and the kitchen is not available for volunteer use as it is a traditional kitchen. Volunteers can store non-perishable items at camp or eat out at local restaurants. A small canteen is available on Nosy Komba where volunteers can purchase snacks. Snacks should be stored in containers located in the dining area.
FEES
Standard
Nosy Komba
- English Teaching
- Construction & Development
- Forest Conservation
- Turtle Conservation
-
1 Week - $520
-
2 Weeks - $770
-
3 Weeks - $1020
-
4 Weeks - $1270
-
8 Weeks - $2360
-
12 Weeks - $3460
- Private double rooms cost additional $250 p/week, single rooms $210 p/week.
FAQ...
You will need a good level of fitness as this program may require walking over rocky terrain to get to the program/accommodation, as well as some more remote locations whilst on project.
- Accommodation
- 3 meals p/day
- Arrival airport transfer
- Daily transportation to project
- In country 24/7 support & emergency assistance
- Fundraising support
- University course credits (where applicable)
- Certificate of Completion
- Airfares
- Travel Insurance
- Tours, Souvenirs & spending money
On your first Monday, you will have a short orientation, with details of what to expect on your program, rules of the program, lesson on the local culture and customs and safety advice.
You must arrive to Fascene Airport (NOS) airport before 12 noon, on the Sunday before your program.
The last boat departs from Nosy Be to Nosy Komba at approximately 3pm daily, so you need to arrive before 12pm to be able to go directly to camp. If you cannot arrive before 12pm on Sunday, we suggest arriving on Saturday and staying the night in Hellville, Nosy Be at your own expense. You will be able to meet the team at a nearby cafe the next morning (Sunday) and they will escort you to the boat across to camp on Nosy Komba.
If you are arriving before 12pm on Saturday, you can still get picked up from Nosy Be airport and be taken to the island but will need to pay an additional charge for the Saturday night.
Each program generally includes morning and afternoon activities. After dinner, we hold a briefing to discuss the activities for the following day.
NOTE: The schedule may vary widely depending on the project, tides, and other factors for that day.
Sample Schedule:
- 06:00-08:00: Breakfast at the camp prepared by our in-house cooks
- 08:00-11:30: Morning activities on the project
- 12:00: Lunch at the camp prepared by our in-house cooks
- 13:30: Afternoon activities on the project
- 16:00-17:00: Volunteer activities for the day usually conclude
- 18:00: Dinner at the camp prepared by our in-house cooks
- 18:45: Board briefing to review activities for the following day
NOTE: There will be varying amounts of downtime during the listed morning and afternoon program activities depending on the day and project.
Volunteers have weekends off and can explore various areas of Nosy Komba and the nearby islands during their free time. While volunteers must organize these trips independently, contact information from past volunteers is available at the camp, providing guidance on how to arrange excursions and whom to book through.
Popular activities and destinations include:
- Lokobe Forest Reserve
- Discovery Scuba Dive (with MRCI)
- Tanikely Natural Reserve
- Visits to Nosy Iranja or Nosy Sakatia (for swimming and snorkeling)
- Whale Shark Watching (seasonal from September to November)
- Sacred Tree or Sacred Waterfall on Nosy Be
- Hiking up Mount Passot on Nosy Be
- Visiting Lemur Land Park on Nosy Be or the Lemur Park in Ampang Village on Nosy Komba
- Ankarana National Park
- Amber Mountain National Park
- Plantations on the mainland in the city of Ambanja
- The city of Diego Suarez
Level of Fitness
Volunteers need a reasonable level of fitness. Our main camp is on Nosy Komba, a volcanic island with no roads or cars. Volunteers navigate the island by walking along beaches, taking local boat transfers, or using forest paths, which may be rugged. Good physical fitness is required for the Forest Conservation Program, as survey sites involve climbing over rocks and up steep mountain trails.
Clothing
Casual, modern clothing is perfectly acceptable. While out in the villages, especially forproject work, it is advisable to wear conservative clothing that is not overly tight or revealing.Shorts and tank tops for around camp and at weekends are acceptable as long as theyprovide reasonable coverage.
Money
Only cash is accepted on Nosy Be and Nosy Komba. There are no ATMs located on Nosy Komba, therefore all cash needs to be drawn from ATMs located in neighbouring Nosy Be.
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.
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 and 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.
Central Highlands
Because of the altitude, the temperature in the Central Highlands sits around 25°C. From June to August this goes down to a chilly 5°C. The wet season starts in November until March or April but is also the warmest season in the Highlands, with an average of 28° / 30°C.
Northern Madagascar
There are several climatic zones in Northern Madagascar.
On the North-Western coast around Mahajanga, there are two distinct seasons, a dry and warm season from May to November and a hot and wet season from December to April, with temperatures reaching over 35°C. Around Ambanja and Nosy Be, there is a micro-climate with wet and dry seasons, although rainfall is more evenly dispersed throughout the year. Temperatures are warm all year round, with an average of 28°C.
Southern Madagascar
The rains start from January to March. The rest is almost completely dry, especially on the South-western coast from Toliara. Around Fort-Dauphin, there can be a little more rain, but still very dry. It gets really hot from February to May and between October and December. The most pleasant period is during the winter, from June to September, with temperatures around 25°C.
Eastern Madagascar
Eastern Madagascar is known for consistent rainfall, although this decreases when moving southwards. The driest season is from August to December, but still with downpours almost every day. February to March is cyclone season with heavy rain, so best to avoid. March, April and December are the warmest months with an average temperature of 30°C. Temperatures are cooler throughout the rest of the year, sitting between 20°C to 28°C, and nights being a little cooler.
Western Madagascar
From May to November is dry season with little rain and pleasant temperatures from 20°C to 25°C. Wet season is from December to April, and it rains heavily, depending on the area. The warmest months are March and April and November and December, with an average temperature of 30°C or more.
In general, the best months to visit Madagascar are between April to mid-December.
January to March is cyclone season, so we would advise against travelling to Madagascar during this time.
Heavy rains can still be expected in April, May and June, but between these showers there’s sunshine. However, the wet season does make the landscape lush and green, with wildlife such as lemurs and reptiles often visible.
July to August is a great time to spot humpback whales as they arrive in Ile St Marie. The weather is cool and dry, making this a pleasant time to explore. During September, Humpback whales can still be seen in Ile St Marie, whilst lemurs begin to give birth to their babies.
In October, temperatures begin to increase around the country, but you will see colourful purple jacarandas in bloom. From November to December, temperatures continue to increase, as well as an increase in rainfall. At this time lemurs, reptiles and tenrecs can often be spotted.
Some of Madagascar’s people, such as the Indonesian-looking Merina’s, are believed to be descendants of sailors from Indonesia and Malaya, who reached the island by travelling over the Indian Ocean. These Asian migrants introduced their beliefs to the country, as well as their rice-based diet.
There is also an African and Arab influence in the population. Arab merchants and African migrants travelled to Madagascar centuries ago and include the Arabic Antaimoro people in the east of the island and the Sakalava to the west. The Malagasy language includes several Bantu and Swahili words.
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”.
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