Conservation, Community, and Lemurs: A Volunteer Experience in Madagascar
By Fanih Randriamanohisoa
Wildlife Madagascar and The Great Projects staff with the first group of volunteers! From left to right: Lauren, Claudia, Domohina, Fanih, Mahandry, Lynn, Debra, Merryl, Carol, Vamsee, Varsha, Odiano, Rojo, Ravaka, and Rota.
As a Volunteer Facilitator with Wildlife Madagascar, I work closely with The Great Project’s Project Coordinator, alongside our camp staff, researchers, and local team members, to ensure that every volunteer has a meaningful, well-organized, and rewarding experience while contributing directly to conservation efforts in Madagascar. Every group that arrives brings new energy to camp, and it has been inspiring to see how quickly people from very different backgrounds connect through a shared passion for wildlife and conservation.
This month, we welcomed our first volunteers from countries including Australia, India, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. One of the most remarkable parts of the experience has been the diversity of ages and backgrounds among participants, ranging from just 16 to 68 years old. Despite our different cultures, languages, and life experiences, everyone arrived with curiosity, kindness, and a genuine desire to help protect Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity. Very quickly, camp began to feel like a small international family.
One of the moments that touched me most happened during our very first lemur monitoring activity. For many volunteers, it was their first time walking through a Malagasy rainforest, listening to unfamiliar sounds and learning how to move quietly through the forest. When we finally encountered lemurs in the canopy, the excitement and wonder on their faces reminded me just how special our wildlife truly is, even for those of us who are fortunate enough to experience it regularly.
Observing wild lemurs.
Four times each week, volunteers join researchers in the forest to assist with lemur monitoring and behavioral observations. These activities contribute valuable data to our long-term conservation and research programs while also giving participants a rare opportunity to observe species such as the indri, diademed sifaka, and bamboo lemurs in their natural habitat. Volunteers are always fascinated by lemur behavior, learning how these animals communicate, socialize, and navigate the forest. The haunting call of the indri, which can echo across the rainforest from miles away, is often one of the most unforgettable experiences for first-time visitors. At the beginning, some volunteers even mistake frog calls for lemurs before gradually learning to recognize the incredible diversity of sounds within the forest.
Night walks quickly became another favorite activity. Equipped with headlamps, we carefully explored the trails after dark, scanning the trees and undergrowth for nocturnal wildlife. Every step brought anticipation and excitement, as volunteers searched for glowing eyes hidden in the darkness. These walks often introduced participants to entirely new sides of Madagascar’s biodiversity and created some of the most memorable moments of their stay.
Searching for nocturnal lemur eye shine.
To make wildlife spotting even more engaging, we also introduced a “forest bingo” game featuring species that volunteers could try to find during their time at camp. What began as a simple activity quickly turned into a friendly competition, with volunteers enthusiastically comparing sightings and encouraging one another throughout the week.
Beyond wildlife monitoring, volunteers also contribute directly to practical conservation activities, including habitat restoration and reforestation work. In our plant nursery, volunteers help prepare seedlings, fill planting bags, and care for young native plants that will later support forest restoration efforts. One especially memorable activity involved our coffee plantation project, where volunteers planted coffee trees that will remain part of the landscape long after they return home. One volunteer became particularly attached to her tree and repeatedly asked us to “take special care” of it after her departure, a small but meaningful reminder of the personal connection many participants develop with the project.
Planting coffee trees and participating in forest restoration.
Volunteers also engage with the surrounding community through activities such as maintaining the community garden and supporting local schools. The community garden created many fun memories, especially during one sweet potato harvest when volunteers working in different areas returned with dramatically different results. One participant proudly carried back enormous sweet potatoes while another returned with only tiny ones, and the joke continued around camp for days afterward.
At the local school, volunteers assisted with the environmental education program by teaching English lessons to the students. The activities focused on simple and interactive topics such as animals, colors, and numbers, helping the children improve their vocabulary while connecting learning with environmental awareness. Although language barriers sometimes created challenges, the children’s enthusiasm and the volunteers’ creativity always found ways to bridge the gap. These exchanges became rewarding experiences not only for the students, but also for the volunteers, who often said these moments helped them feel more connected to the local community and culture.
Volunteers spending time at the local school.
Of course, some of the strongest memories were formed during the quieter moments at camp. During happy hour, card games quickly became a daily tradition that brought everyone together after long days in the field. These evenings were filled with laughter, storytelling, and shared experiences, helping transform strangers into close friends in a very short time.
What makes this volunteer program so special is that it offers far more than an opportunity to observe wildlife. Volunteers become part of the daily life of an active conservation field station, contributing directly to research, habitat restoration, and community engagement while experiencing Madagascar in an authentic and meaningful way. At the same time, their participation directly supports Wildlife Madagascar’s ongoing conservation efforts and helps strengthen our ability to protect some of the world’s most threatened ecosystems and species.
Relaxing around the La Mananara field station.
For many volunteers, the experience leaves a lasting impact long after they return home. Whether planting trees, hearing the call of an indri for the first time, working alongside local communities, or simply sharing stories around the dinner table at camp, these are experiences that stay with people forever. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has joined us so far, and we look forward to welcoming many more volunteers to Madagascar in the future.