VOLUNTEERING IN Madagascar

From the epic Tsingy and ‘Avenue of Baobabs’ to the new species of frogs and chameleons being discovered each year, Madagascar is a place of unique experiences. Whilst the country is widely known for its incredible array of wildlife, it’s often overlooked that Madagascar is also one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 161 out of 187 countries globally. Volunteers are needed to work on conservation initiatives that compliment wider health, community education and sustainable livelihood goals. Pod Volunteer is an award-winning non-profit organisation helping people to volunteer in this country.

You can get involved in conservation volunteering, camping in one of the last examples of littoral forest in the world and integrating with the rural community. You will support research that is shared with the Malagasy government and collect data on lemurs, flying fox bats, reptiles and amphibians.

Volunteers are needed from early January through to late November in Madagascar. Climate wise, the region has two seasons. The hot, rainy season runs from November to April and the cooler dry season runs from May to October. The region remains humid throughout the year and tropical rains can occur at any time, so be sure to pack a waterproof! Temperatures range from the early 30s during the hot season down to a fresh 15°C at night during the cooler months.

At Pod Volunteer we love to travel and regularly visit the projects in Madagascar. Here is our insider’s view of our experiences travelling and volunteering in Madagascar…

Things we loved: Seeing the wildlife that Madagascar is famous for is an incredible experience – from watching the charismatic lemurs play and eat in the forest, to spotting a leaf-tailed gecko or a chameleon wandering past, there’s so much to take in! The food – little wooden local cabin restaurants serve unexpectedly delicious and cheap food. The beaches are also stunning – white sand, crystal blue water and activities such as whale watching or if you are feeling sporty you can hire a surf instructor and hit the waves too.

Things we weren’t so sure about! The roads throughout Madagascar are incredibly bad and bumpy, meaning that the only way to get between many cities in the South are the more expensive internal flights. The capital, Antananarivo, is not a safe city to explore alone and we not do recommend visiting.

Below you’ll find a summary of our volunteering projects abroad in Madagascar which you can click through to and find out about the volunteer role, location, accommodation and costs, see lots of pictures and read volunteer reviews!

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