Species conservation volunteering: A feeding lemur in Madagascar

Volunteer Abroad Madagascar: Nosy Be Nature Conservation

Madagascar 4 to 10 weeks From 2,750 €

The voluntary work in our conservation projects in Madagascar provides an amazing opportunity to experience one of the most unique ecosystems on our planet. Taking part in varied research and conservation projects, you will gain deep insights into the life and culture of Madagascar. As part of a team of professional researchers and conservationists, you will work on and around the islands of Nosy Komba and Nosy Be to protect the region’s forests and ocean. In the midst of breathtaking landscapes you will learn all about the work of environmental conservation. A captivating adventure which will make your visit to Madagascar an unforgettable experience.

Your trip at a glance

Highlights

Live and work in a true island paradise
Be part of an international volunteer team
Help protect Madagascar’s unique nature
Discover magnificent tropical islands on a boat trip along the Madagascan coast
Experience the diverse flora and fauna of the island state

Locations

Nosy Komba

Conservation volunteering: A green gecko is sitting on a tree in Madagascar's rainforest

Ein Volunteer taucht vor der Kueste Madagaskars und widmet sich dem Meeresschutz.

Conservation volunteering in Madagascar: Volunteers on a boat are jumping into the ocean.

Conservation volunteering: A chameleon is sitting in a bush in the Madagascan rainforest

Reptile life in Madagascar: A small gecko in the rainforest

A sea turtle is swimming on the water surface of the Indian Ocean

Volunteering in Madagascar

As a volunteer on our project in Madagascar you have the chance to become active in nature and wildlife conservation and, at the same time, experience the fascinating animal and plant life of the island state.

Arrival and orientation in Madagascar

As there is no airport on the island of Nosy Komba, you will land on the island of Nosy Be. From there you will be picked up by a small ship and brought to Nosy Komba. Various airlines run regular flights to the airport on Nosy Be, so you can arrive from airports in Europe and the rest of the world without any problem. We are standing by to help you plan your journey to Madagascar (and back), so please get in touch if you would like our help.

Looking over Madagascar's untouched rainforest, the Indian Ocean in the backround

Volunteer activities during the conservation project

Depending on the length of your visit, you will spend your remaining time working with a forest conservation project on the islands of Nosy Komba and Nosy Be and, if you are visiting for 10+ weeks, you will also work on a marine conservation project around the coast of Nosy Komba. Your trip will include a 10-day eco-project by catamaran through Madagascar’s innumerable islands.
The work of this research and conservation project mainly takes place on the island of Nosy Komba. It is devoted to the protection of the indigenous forests and their wildlife.

Voluntary helpers on a Madagascan beach are having a fun time

During your time as a volunteer you will take on different roles within these projects. You will learn from professional conservationists how fieldwork is carried out; how wildlife and plant life is identified; and how data is collected and analysed. The voluntary work in the marine conservation project focuses on the conservation of the marine ecosystems on and around the coasts of the island of Nosy Komba. As a volunteer you will work together with oceanographers and other conservationists and you will see firsthand how research projects at sea are planned and carried out. You will gain insight into the world of coral reefs and you will learn different methods for identifying species, monitoring coral reefs and collecting and analysing data.

Conservation volunteers in Madagascar show the garbage they collected while diving in the ocean

On this 10-day tour, you and other volunteers with travel on a catamaran along the countless tropical islands of Madagascar’s coasts, discovering remote locations and fantastic landscapes. En route, you will raise awareness of conservation work among the communities you visit, and learn all about Madagascan life and culture firsthand from the locals. You will meander through the islands in the course of the project whilst investigating the development and condition of the indigenous forests and seas.

A lemur is sitting in a tree in the midst of Madagascar'spristine rainforest

Accommodation as a volunteer in Madagascar

Your accommodation is located on the island of Nosy Komba off the northwest coast of Madagascar. The project’s research station is also based on this island. You will live in shared accommodation in a bungalow together with other volunteers from around the world. Rooms sleep six to eight people. The house is equipped with all modern conveniences and is very spacious. You must bring your own bed linen. There are three meals a day, prepared by a cook using the local ingredients of the area. You can also buy extra snacks and drinks from the canteen, which is centrally located.

A volunteer is jumping in the air on a Madagascan beach at sunset

Leisure time during the volunteer project

You will have plenty of time for your own activities and you can explore your home island of Nosy Komba for yourself. There is a regular ferry service to transport you to the island of Nosy Be. You will find restaurants and cafés in the city of Hell-Ville. The island has a public transport network, so you can easily get into the city and to other destinations.

FAQ – Learn more about this trip

Prior to departure to Madagascar

If you want to apply for this project you should be over 18 and have sufficient English skills. We need a doctor’s certificate confirming your state of health and physical fitness, since you will go on long walks in extreme temperatures. If you want to be part of the diving missions you need to have an advanced diving certificate (PADI “Advanced Open Water Dive“). Furthermore, you might need a Visa for your volunteering work. Depending on the duration of your stay and your destination the requirements might vary. You might check out the foreign department’s website for the Visa standards or ask the Natucate team directly.
We will save you a place on the project and support you during preparation and organization. We will help you arrange your flight and transfer to the project. Besides our support the price includes your accommodation, three meals daily, transfers during the project and working equipment. Furthermore every participant has the chance to experience a boat tour on a catamaran. Flights and external transfers are not included.

Additionally participants will get the chance to complete a diving course if staying on the project for over 10 weeks. Participants without any prior knowledge can complete the beginner course PADI “Open Water Dive“ and only have to pay the fee for the advanced training course. If you already have the Open Water Dive certificate you can get the advanced training course for free.
You will need travel insurance to start your volunteering work with Natucate. We can provide you with all the necessary information. In general you need to talk to your doctor and make sure you are vaccinated against Morbilli, Mumps and Rubella. We advise you to get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B, Polio and Tetanus. For current information and warnings regarding your destination you should check out the homepage of the foreign department and inform yourself beforehand about possible risks.
For your stay you need to bring proper shoes, swimsuit, towels and sufficient sun protection (sun block, hat). You will also need bedding and insect repellent. If you stay longer than 10 weeks you might need to pack diving equipment. Furthermore a waterproof watch, a diving compass, a journal, reel and a surface marker buoy are necessary.

Arrival in Madagascar

We will help you plan your arrival, but cannot perform the booking. You have to book the flight to Nosy Be by yourself. You need to arrive one day before the project starts, preferably on a Sunday or Saturday. Once you have arrived in Nosy Be you will be picked up and taken to a harbor where a boat will take you to Nosy Komba Island where the project will take place.
The project starts every third Monday of the month. There will be an orientation course where you will be introduced to your upcoming tasks. You will also be introduced to the culture, aims of the project and security precautions. Most of your work can be done on foot. Some work has to be done on Nosy Be and the team will have to take the boat to get there.

During the project in Madagascar

The conservation project consists of different research assignments and protection measurements which are divided into different smaller projects. Depending on the duration of your stay you will be active in forest and marine conservation areas. Every stay includes a 10-day excursion on a boat to protect the coast line of Madagascar and inform the locals about the project.
- 4 weeks: 10 days Eco-boat tour, 2 weeks forest conservation
- 6 weeks: 10 days Eco-boat tour, 4 weeks forest conservation
- 10 weeks: 10 days Eco-boat tour, 4 weeks forest conservation, 4 weeks marine conservation
Eco-Boat: During the 10-day tour on the catamaran you will travel along the coast of Madagascar. Your main task will involve the investigation and control of the flora and fauna on the islands and in the ocean. Furthermore you will try to document the stock and clean up the coast line. The group will also provide awareness training to the locals, helping them understand the importance of conservation.

Forest Conservation: You will help to protect the flora and fauna on Nosy Komba Island by performing different field studies and documenting changes and progress. This way you will get to know the nature and its inhabitants closely.

Marine Conservation: This project section includes the intense research on the marine ecosystem. You will collect data and try to analyze it. You will measure coral reefs and investigate its biodiversity. You will also observe marine animals. Your work will also include cleaning up the beaches and educating the people about your work.

In general participants can choose what kind of work they prefer. The tasks also depend on weather conditions, season and current needs. You need to be flexible and talk to you supervisor if you have any problem with certain tasks.

Life on site in Madagascar

There will be a fixed working schedule that can be influenced by weather conditions from time to time. Training sessions will be held for three hours between 09:00 – 17:00. The rest of the time will be used for research content. When working on the forest conservation division you will work from 06:30 – 10:00 (sometimes until 13.00). Your working schedule for the marine conservation is 06:30 until 16:30. The afternoons and weekends are off and leave you some time to rest.
In general you don’t need a lot of money during the project. You might spend money for additional snacks, beverages or free time activities, as well as extra transfers outside of the project or cost for certain diving lessons. You can exchange and withdraw money easily at the airport. There are ATMs in the bigger cities. Inform yourself about the current exchange rate before leaving your country.
The weather is quite unpredictable. Due to the central high plateau every region has different weather conditions. In general the weather is tropical and most of the time warm with high temperatures and a lot of humidity. The further you go towards the high plateau the milder the weather gets. Eastern Madagascar is warm and tropical all year around with high amounts of rainfall. The South gets very smalls amounts of rain. The North has high temperatures all year around.

Learn what others say about their Natucate adventure.

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Lara spent four unforgettable weeks on North Island and dedicated herself to protecting endangered sea turtles and their habitats. Take a look at some wonderful images:

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Review Photos Tracking and Wildlife Photography South Africa – Gunter

Gunter took part in our Tracking as well as in our Wildlife Photography course in South Africa. Here you can find some fascinating impressions of his unforgettable time in the midst of wild nature:

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Review Volunteering Seychelles North Island – Peggy

“To me, the overall island feeling was beyond words and with it the “isolation from the outside”, animals and nature were unique.”

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Review Volunteering New Zealand – Dørk

“In Waiheke the accommodation was excellent and exceeded my expectations by far: Beautiful scenery, fresh coffee and oysters!”

1. Nosy Komba

Nosy Komba is a volcanic island, located between Nosy Be and Madagascar's northwest coast, whose almost untouched natural beauty can be experienced at first hand during your time as a volunteer.

Nosy Komba is a habitat for countless plants and animals. This incredible biodiversity makes Nosy Komba a unique natural paradise. Furthermore, the impressive coral reefs and fantastic underwater world off the island’s coast are home to an abundance of fascinating marine animals. During your time as a conservation volunteer, you will immerse yourself in the natural jewel off Africa's southeast coast and get the opportunity to make a valuable contribution to species conservation in this special region of the world.

Nosy Komba is a volcanic island, located between Nosy Be and Madagascar's northwest coast, whose almost untouched natural beauty can be experienced at first hand during your time as a volunteer.

Nosy Komba is a habitat for countless plants and animals. This incredible biodiversity makes Nosy Komba a unique natural paradise. Furthermore, the impressive coral reefs and fantastic underwater world off the island’s coast are home to an abundance of fascinating marine animals. During your time as a conservation volunteer, you will immerse yourself in the natural jewel off Africa's southeast coast and get the opportunity to make a valuable contribution to species conservation in this special region of the world.

Purpose of the marine conservation project

With its extraordinary biodiversity, Madagascar’s island of Nosy Komba is a unique natural environment and is the habitat of countless plants and animals. Moreover, the island’s impressive coral reefs and fantastic underwater worlds are home to countless fascinating sea creatures. With the help of dedicated volunteers these plants and animals are monitored by various conservation programmes which study variations in their development, population size and health.