Just do it. I learnt more about the Malagasy culture, which I was able to take back with me and use in my everyday life. I learnt how to survey different species which has helped me gain experience in the field. If your ready to wake up early with beautiful weather and work, hike, swim or do anything then join. You'll have an amazing team on the Forest Conservation project that will help you with anything! They are all friendly which helps to make you feel at home by the end of the week. Sharing this experience with other volunteers makes it much easier to make friends because even if you're on different projects, you're all working together, you're all doing your part. Don't worry about not making friends because you will, I've seen shy people come out their shell because out of all the volunteers that are there you will find someone you vibe and befriend. Come in with an open mind, depending on where you come from it may be a major change to what you're used to, just remember to be respectful and grateful.
Forest Conservation Volunteer Project in Madagascar
Purpose
Start dates
Duration
Volunteer hours
Age
Accommodation
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
This program is ideal for:
Project details
Want to branch out and be a Forest Conservation volunteer in Madagascar? On International Volunteer HQ’s Forest Conservation project volunteers assist with research that contributes to the protection and preservation of flora and fauna in forests on the small island of Nosy Komba. Volunteers gain conservation experience by hiking through the forests monitoring wildlife, conducting surveys and collating data that will be used to develop conservation plans for the long-term sustainability of Nosy Komba.
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
The forest on Nosy Komba is home to much of the iconic wildlife that Madagascar is renowned for, and offers a unique environment for you to be based in as a volunteer. Unfortunately, many native species in Madagascar are threatened, often due to habitat destruction through deforestation and increasing human development.
As a Forest Conservation volunteer, you’ll help with various conservation efforts to protect the surrounding forest and its diverse wildlife on Nosy Komba. The research enables the identification of changes in forest dynamics, populations, habitat health, and potential localized threats, all of which is invaluable in contributing to the protection of the highly threatened Sambirano forests found in Northwest Madagascar.
Forest Conservation duties can vary but often include:
- Monitoring and assessing the forest and wildlife
- Spending time in the forest working with specialized equipment
- Species identification
- Data collection
- Night walks
- Working with local farmers to help improve farming techniques and minimise further destruction of the forest
- Planting and caring for mangrove seedlings
- Designing and building permaculture gardens
- Routine forest cleans
- Identifying and removing invasive plants
- Collaborate with local community members, teaching them essential gardening skills and sustainable care techniques.
You’ll also need to have a head torch, light sleeping bag, binoculars and work gloves. These aren’t available for purchase on Nosy Komba, so you do need to bring them from home.
Why do Forest Conservation volunteering in Nosy Komba with IVHQ?
As a Forest Conservation volunteer you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Contributing to local conservation research
- Helping to preserve and protect endemic wildlife
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining conservation experience
- Immersing yourself in Malagasa culture
- Exploring the forests of Nosy Komba and neighboring islands
Volunteer requirements
- A good level of physical fitness and agility is required to join the Madagascar program
- Volunteers aged 16-17 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or friend over the age of 18 to participate in this program
- All volunteers are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 16-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
- All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
- All volunteers must speak fluent English
- While fluency in French or Malagasy is not a prerequisite, we recommend volunteers learn some basic words and phrases as this will help immensely with day-to-day volunteer work and communicating with local people.
Are you eligible to volunteer?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
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Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
Madagascar photo gallery
What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience
I was so nervous going into this experience. It was my first time travelling alone and so far from home. I was scared that once I arrived to the accommodation, it would be awkward with the other volunteers. However; everyone was so incredibly welcoming and the volunteers that were there before us, took us in, showed us around and made us all feel included. Even if my stay on Nosy Komba was short, I made new connections with people from my program and still get to watch and follow their journey online.
I feel I have gained confidence in my ability to be alone and experience new and challenging opportunities. It was an amazing experience, and I met so many people I will remember forever. I would tell anyone to consider getting out of your comfort zone and book a trip!
I had an amazing time and made great friends! Staff were so helpful and really allowed us get the most from the experience by teaching names of the species as well as Malagasy lessons to feel closer to the local community. The program was well planned and organised and I enjoyed the hikes. I especially enjoyed night hikes more than I could've expected and saw so many incredible species! I also had experiences outside of my program too such as weekend trips to other islands and did activities I'd only dreamt of by going on every opportunity given to us!
All the information IVHQ provided was laid out in a way that made the whole process very easy to follow. My IVHQ Program Manager was extremely helpful & easy to reach whenever I needed her for anything! Life’s not a dress rehearsal, get out there & get amongst it!! Meet fantastic people in a fantastic location for a fantastic cause!
Words can not describe how amazing and unforgettable this trip was, I met so many amazing people, learnt the Malagasy language, enjoyed their fast and joyful music taste, tried out lots of different new foods in restaurants and fell in love with the beautiful scenery. My favourite moments involved the incredible wildlife that we got the privilege to see, including lemurs, frogs, chameleons, many species of birds, snakes, turtles, and other sea life. These trips make me feel so fortunate and grateful for what I have and continue to motivate me to want to help and care for the world we live in.
I saw my confidence and independence grow as a person and love the person that I am becoming. I think that volunteering with organisations like IVHQ is an amazing opportunity to travel in a safe environment where you are never truly alone. You will not regret taking that first step and when you do you will wonder why you didn’t do it sooner!
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
Academic course credit
Academic course credit
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course creditLocation
Location
There’s far more to Madagascar than its famous lemurs. As well as its impressively vast diversity of wildlife, the island nation off the south-eastern coast of Africa has an interesting marriage of French, African and Southeast Asian cultures; breathtaking scenery and dreamy beaches.
It’s also a place where the majority of people don’t have good access to food, healthcare, education or other basic necessities. While there are steps being taken to improve this situation, Madagascar remains one of the most impoverished countries in the world. Volunteers can be part of the solution by choosing projects that have a meaningful impact on the lives of local people and support communities to help themselves.
The IVHQ Madagascar volunteer abroad program is based on the slopes of Nosy Komba, a small island off the northwest coast of Madagascar and only a few kilometers from the larger island of Nosy Be. Project work can take place on Nosy Komba, Nosy Be, Ampohana and the surrounding islands. Nosy Komba has a string of small villages but few modern conveniences.
Please note this program requires volunteers to be physically fit as the location of the accommodation and placements require volunteers to hike up difficult terrain including; boulders, hills and stairs.
Arrival and orientation
The program orientation begins on the first and third Monday of every month. Volunteers need to arrive in Nosy Be before 12 noon on the Sunday before orientation.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive in Madagascar. There are two options for flying to the Madagascar program - Fascene Airport (NOS) in Nosy Be is the most convenient for an airport pick-up, however you can fly to Ivato Airport (TNR) in Antananarivo. Some volunteers choose to fly to Antananarivo and take a connecting flight or two-three day bus (and boat taxi) to Nosy Be. If you are interested in taking the bus, please reach out to your Program Manager for more information once you have registered. If you want an easy arrival, we recommend flying to Nosy Be.
If flying into Fascene Airport (NOS) in Nosy Be and arriving before 12 noon, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation on Nosy Komba. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation. If your flight arrives after 12 noon, you will still be met at the airport but will need to stay in Nosy Be for the night to then travel by boat to Nosy Komba the following morning. This night of accommodation will be at your own expense and you will need to book this in advance of your arrival. Your IVHQ Program Manager will be happy to send you recommendations of affordable hotels in Hellville that are within walking distance of many shops and restaurants.
If you are traveling in Madagascar prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Nosy Be before 12 noon on the day before your program orientation. You will be taken to Nosy Komba by boat.
Orientation is hosted by our Madagascar team at the volunteer accommodation on Nosy Komba. Orientation begins on the morning of your chosen start date and covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Madagascar – an introduction to Madagascar, culture and customs, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities and an introduction to project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers.
Volunteer schedule example
First day
You will be taken to your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff you will be working with. Volunteers work for approximately 5 to 8 hours per day.
Weekdays
Volunteers work for approximately 5 to 8 hours per day, but start times and daily workloads depend on the project. A typical schedule is as follows:
| 6:00 - 8:00 AM | Breakfast at camp prepared by our in-house cooks. |
| 8:00 - 11:30 AM | Volunteers travel to and begin projects. |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch at camp prepared by our in-house cooks. |
| 1:30 PM | Volunteer afternoon activities begin. |
| 4:00 - 5:00 PM | Volunteer activities for the day typically conclude. |
| 6:00 PM | Dinner at camp prepared by our in-house cooks. |
| 6:45 PM | Board briefing to go over activities for the following day. |
Weekends
There is no shortage of things to do on Nosy Komba, Nosy Be or Ampohana so volunteers can fill their free time with adventurous activities, or simply take in the ‘mora mora’ or ‘slowly, slowly’ Malagasy way of life.
Nosy Komba itself is a popular tourist spot for buying local crafts from the winding markets and beachfront stalls. There are also opportunities to join local village guides to encounter friendly lemurs and see other Malagasy wildlife and plants.
The neighboring island of Nosy Be can be reached in 30 to 45 minutes by boat taxi and is a popular destination for volunteers during the weekend. Taxis are available on the island and can be taken to most areas including the sacred lakes, beaches and waterfalls of Nosy Be.
Volunteers staying for longer durations, or who wish to travel before or after their program, can visit areas further afield on the mainland of Madagascar. The most popular destination is Diego Suarez in the North. En route from Nosy Be to Diego Suarez, volunteers can visit the Ankarana and Mont d’Ambre National Parks. In Diego Suarez, there are plenty of adventure-sports activities on offer, such as kite boarding or quad biking on dunes, or snorkeling in the Emerald Sea. Horse riding and deep sea fishing trips can also be arranged from Nosy Be. Volunteers can also visit the Avenue of the Baobabs, in the Menabe region of western Madagascar, where beautiful ancient trees line both sides of the road between Morondava and Belon’i Tsiribihina.
Accommodation and WiFi
Volunteers are accommodated in locally built open-air huts on Nosy Komba and can expect to share a hut with up to five other volunteers of the same gender.
Bedrooms have bunk beds and there are basic cold shower and flush toilet facilities on-site. Volunteers are expected to contribute to ensuring the bathrooms and huts are kept clean and tidy.
Lockable storage boxes for volunteers are available in the main house, however volunteers should also bring a padlock to secure personal items in their luggage when not in use. Volunteers are required to bring their own towels and sheet, pillow, pillow case, mosquito net and thin sleeping bag/top sheet. It is hot in Madagascar and most people only require a sheet to sleep under, although in the cooler months from June to August, a blanket or sleeping bag may be required.
Power for lights is supplied from solar panels and there is a backup generator for staff that may run 1 - 2 hours per week. Volunteers are encouraged to minimize the amount of electronic equipment they bring as the camp only has limited power points available to charge devices. As there is no other electricity at camp we recommend volunteers bring solar chargers for their devices, if possible. The accommodation is fairly isolated and only accessible by boat or a 30 minute walk across boulders and uneven terrain to the nearest village for WiFi and charging.
WiFi is accessible in the local village and you can also purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone when you arrive in Madagascar.
Meals
Volunteers are served three meals per day, prepared in the traditional Madagascan style by an on-site Malagasy cook.
Meals are basic, but nutritious and tasty. Breakfast ranges from pancakes to eggs or bread with condiments.
Lunch is rice or pasta based, and dinner is rice based. Both lunch and dinner will usually be either chicken, zebu (beef) or fish, all with vegetables, beans and sauce. Volunteers working on a placement which requires them to be away from camp during lunch time can organize a packed lunch, through the local team, the night before. Supplies in Madagascar are limited and meals will change seasonally depending on the ingredients available on Nosy Be.
Please note that the local team is not able to cater for special dietary requirements or requests and meals are usually carbohydrate heavy. You should not expect to eat as you normally do at home and there is the need to be flexible or prepared to supplement the food provided. If supplementing food, volunteers must note 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 can eat out at local restaurants.
A small canteen is available on Nosy Komba for volunteers to purchase snacks. Snacks should be stored in containers located in the dining area.
Pricing
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$299 (approximately CA$452) you secure your spot and unlock all our preparation and training tools.
You don't need to worry about paying your Program Fee until you get closer to your start date.
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
|---|---|
| 1 week | $510 Equivalent to $73/day |
| 2 weeks | $770 Equivalent to $55/day |
| 3 weeks | $1,040 Equivalent to $50/day |
| 4 weeks | $1,310 Equivalent to $47/day |
| 5 weeks | $1,580 Equivalent to $45/day |
| 6 weeks | $1,850 Equivalent to $44/day |
| 8 weeks | $2,390 Equivalent to $43/day |
| 10 weeks | $2,930 Equivalent to $42/day |
| 12 weeks | $3,470 Equivalent to $41/day |
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$299 (approximately CA$452) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Madagascar generally find US$70-120 per week to be sufficient for expenses.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Airport pick-up
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- Return to the airport when your program finishes
- Flights
- Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
- Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.
Popular add-ons & experiences in Nosy Komba
Take your volunteer experience to the next level with these popular add-ons and experiences. Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Nosy Komba program.
Enjoy a stress free journey from Nosy Komba back to Nosy Be after your program arranged by our local team.
Upgrade to a double private room within the volunteer camp!
Arriving early or want to stay after your end date? Book your extra nights of accommodation.
Check what's required to visit Madagascar
Safety and support
Safety and support
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
- All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
- All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Essential country information
Essential country information
| Capital | Antananarivo |
| Population | 26.97 million |
| Languages | Malagasy and French |
| Currency | Malagasy Ariary (ARA) |
| Time zone | UTC+03:00 |
Weather and climate
The climate of Madagascar varies due to the topographic differences and trade winds from the Indian ocean. Typically the climate is tropical along the coast, temperate inland and arid in the south. There is a wet, warm season from November to April with most rainfall covering the eastern coast. There is a cooler, dry season from May to October. Temperatures fall between an average of 18°C (64°F) to 30°C (86°F) throughout the year, with the lowest temperature dropping to 12°C (54°F) and highest reaching 36°C (96°F).
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