Southern Madagascar photography vacation

Planet

This expedition focuses on the very wide wildlife of Madagascar: Lemurian Catta, chameleons, birds and other endemic species... All these wide varieties can be spotted inside and sometimes outside the National Parks. We are committed to respecting all the local rules given by locals and guides such as never disturbing animals in their environment. Our skilled guides will hand down all information about safety, respect and behaviour to our clients.

Following on from an ongoing commitment to reforestation in Madagascar, in 2011 We launched a long term reforestation project in Tsarasoa. This year We are investing in a new long term project, the official project was launched in May 2011.

We have set up a tree nursery and orchard for a local school. We have already started building the fencing (350-400m) and are in the process of planting a well designed/equipped 100 tree orchard as well as 100 luguminous and 100 moringa Oleifera (nutrional plants) on a piece of land we have bought for the school. After the first couple of years this will produce 200 young fruit trees saplings (to be planted on student's family land) + 1800 leguminous trees (to be planted on community land).

The plan is that the first harvest of Ananambo nutritional leaves will be ready by 2013/14 to supplement the daily diet of students. Once the trees start growing and with the first seeds (papayas, passiflores, moringa, etc, ...) a small poultry operation will be launched, providing eggs and occasional meat for special school events. The association of poultry and fruit trees is extremely beneficial for both and is a long long time old practice in Madagascar. After 5-6 years, daily fruit distribution for students will be possible.

We employ one permanent gardener to maintain and direct student's works and are able to implement this with the support of our clients traveling to Madagascar with us (approximately 2% of the trip cost is donated to this project) and our local partner who is extremely active in reforestation of this area.

By supporting the conservation of the rainforest, we can encourage the authorities to recognise the potential of wildlife tourism and photographic safaris, ensuring the protection of this unique environment. You will be issued with instructions as to how you can help to preserve the environment and we hope that you will follow our advice to help make a difference.

As part of our commitment to responsible travel and in conjunction with Woodstock.org we finance a tree nursery and orchard in Italavina – which is a long term reforestation project.

Participating in this reforestation project will enable you to be and feel closer to the local population by interacting and discovering their culture. You will learn many instructions about how to develop and conserve this environment.

People

Our local staff accompanying this expedition will give you a real sense of Madagascan culture. We only use Malagasy guides, pay all staff fair wages and treat everybody on the trip, including staff, with equal respect and we expect you to do the same. We offer a continual training program for our local guides including English language lessons as well as continual development in activities such as rafting.

Our local agent has an active approach to employing and mentoring guides in Madagascar. One of whom joined us when he was 16 and a ‘street kid’ . Our agent took him under his wing, trained him up in all rafting skills, language skills, guiding skills and at the age of 29 he is one of our popular guides.

This is principally wildlife tourism that brings people to Madagascar and by using local businesses and services we can inject much needed capital into the local economy. On this expedition we are following a responsible camping procedure which leaves no negative evidence of our presence. We stay in small towns and villages interacting with the locals.

We have set up a tree nursery and orchard for a local school in Italavina. We are now in the process of planting (and nurturing) a well designed/equipped 100 tree orchard as well as 100 luguminous and 100 moringa Oleifera (nutrional plants) on a piece of land we have bought for the school. We plan for the first harvest of Ananambo nutritional leaves will be ready by 2014/2015 to supplement the daily diet of students. Once the trees start growing and with the first seeds (papayas, passiflores, moringa, etc.) a small poultry operation will be launched, providing eggs and occasional meat for special school events.

Accommodation
We use locally owned accommodation such as Camp Catta who lead a development project, in order to help the villages by establishing a clinic, consistent with school Aid.

Created in 2002 by a French-Madagascan family - Ialatsara Lemur Forest Camp aims to restore and protect fauna and flora. Located by the roadside RN7 52 miles away from Ambositra this ecotourism site was initially connected with Ranomafana National Park. … By improving the availability of food resources inside the site this project intends to maintain and even increase the population of existing Sifaka.