This program offers three amazing opportunities. First, the chance to explore island and coastal biodiversity – including snorkelling in beautiful marine habitats. Second, the chance to contribute to conservation projects. And third, the opportunity to embrace the unique life found on remote research stations – exposure to new languages and insights, and access to beautiful natural parks.
As islands like Madagascar begin to bear the burden of man-made climate change, the ecosystems and life they support along their coastlines – both on land and in the water – are growing more fragile and vulnerable.
It’s important that we find science-based conservation solutions – and the best way to do that is to study the coastal region directly. As a participant on this coastal conservation volunteering program, you’ll get the chance to work with several research teams to study terrestrial and marine biodiversity across the island. Based out of Lokobe National Park – home to several endangered species, including the famous lemur – this research is done in collaboration with Madagascar National Parks, our local partner on the ground.
Your journey as a coastal conservation volunteer will be filled with meaningful, hands-on work that creates a lasting impact. As you rotate between projects and research teams, you’ll gain diverse experiences that enhance your skill set, like species identification, data collection and data entry. You’ll work across two kinds of habitats: marine and terrestrial.
In the water, you’ll snorkel through colourful coral reefs, surveying the health of coral and monitoring the populations of vibrant reef fish. You’ll drift through seagrass meadows and warm, tropical waters, fully immersing yourself in all the marine splendour the Indian Ocean has to offer.
On land, you’ll track coastal wildlife populations, including lemurs, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mangroves. You’ll also lead missions focused on beach cleanups and profiling.
It’s not every day that you have the opportunity to embark on a transformative cross-cultural adventure. In addition to making a positive impact, this volunteer program is also a chance to switch off from the digital world, relax, and take a break from traditional education. You’ll be able to recharge and reflect, find solace in nature, prioritise your mental health and expand your perspectives.
Together, we can work to protect our precious natural heritage. Are you ready to join us on this extraordinary adventure?
Explore the species-rich ecosystems of the Indian Ocean – snorkelling through seagrass meadows and coral reefs to discover a marine wonderland.
Spend your days on the beach or snorkelling. You’ll collect data that forms the basis of cutting-edge research aimed at combating climate change.
Contribute to ongoing environmental projects that address critical challenges aligned to the global UN SDGs.
Join local conservation partners and qualified professionals to ensure your efforts are highly ethical, meaningful and sustainable.
Venture outside typical travel itineraries to get exclusive access to extraordinary remote habitats, rare species and unique ecosystems.
Share epic experiences with like-minded, passionate changemakers from all over the globe.
With expert local staff and 24/7 support at every step – you can relax and enjoy the experience stress-free.
Disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with nature, yourself and your purpose.
Some of the example typical activities you could participate in on this program.
Identify species, conduct surveys and population assessments, assess threats to coastal ecosystems and understand ecosystem-level processes.
Assist with seagrass and mangrove surveys, as well as biodiversity surveys on coral and reef fish, coastal birds, lemurs, reptiles and amphibians.
Undertake bird point counts to assess what bird species are found within the reserve and which species frequent the reserve on a non-permanent basis.
Conduct underwater surveys on coral health, monitor reef life, and explore seagrass meadows in the beautiful Indian Ocean.
Assist in beach profiling studies and take part in periodic beach cleanup activities to help local communities keep their environment clean.
Record sightings of reptiles and amphibians. Some of these include the gorgeous eyelash palm pitviper and the popular red-eyed tree frog.
Lead workshops on environmental education and conservation through local community outreach initiatives
Work with local guides and rangers to help them develop their English language skills with a focus and conservation and ecology.
Some of the partners we work with on base.
Our base is located on Nosy Be island – also known as the “Perfumed Island” because of its ylang-ylang plantations, which give off a beautiful floral scent during their flowering season. This island is also renowned for its extinct volcanoes, ancient rainforests and an abundance of rare and incredible species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, such as the Nosy Be panther chameleon, the Hawks’ sportive lemur and the Madagascan fish eagle. Nosy Be means “big island” in the local Malagasy language, and is located off the northwestern coast of Madagascar.
Fieldwork on the conservation project includes trekking through the Lokobe National Park, (a strict reserve), looking for signs of critically endangered lemurs and the great variety of bird, reptile, amphibian and butterfly species that call this rainforest habitat home. Forest surveys are conducted in the morning or at night. You can catch spectacular sunsets and sunrises over the Indian Ocean. There are bound to be many priceless photo opportunities during the course of your program.
If you choose to complete a community development program, you will assist with teaching the English language – supporting the younger students with the language, as well as assisting with their grasp of environmental education. That will take place in the mornings. English is a vital skill for people to learn as it’s highly sought after in the local job market and tourism industry.
Your accommodation – which is a stone’s throw from the beach – consists
Upgrades are available at Les Bungalows d’Ambonara guesthouse, a 10-minute drive from our base (local taxi required, no walking). These upg...
Travelling to and from Fascene Airport takes around 25 minutes, and can be arranged with GVI in advance, to align with your program’s start date....
You will have limited access to long-distance communications while on the program, so make sure that your friends and family know how often they ...
The Malagasy diet is mostly rice- and bean-based. A typical main meal consists of rice alongside servings of seasonal vegetables in a sauce, with...
Nosy Be has a hot, tropical climate all year round. The rainy, hotter season is between November and April, and the dry season from May to Octobe...
We want you to make the most of the chance to live in – and contribute towards – the most diverse and unique wildernesses and communities on earth. Introducing GVI Experiences – immersive adventure, cultural and wellness activities exclusive to GVI that have been specially designed in collaboration with our local partners to support and stimulate sustainable economic development.
Enhance your impact. Expand your adventure. Explore your world.
Joining a GVI program not only allows you to collaborate with communities or work toward preserving unique ecosystems – but it also offers plenty of opportunities to explore the surrounding area or travel further to see what other parts of the region have to offer over weekends.
Field staff are a great source of advice and have helped us put together the following information on local travel options. You can choose to travel before or after your experience with GVI (subject to immigration restrictions), solidifying the lifetime friendships you’ve established on the program. Please note that the below options are not included in the program fee, and would be up to you to arrange at your own expense.
You can spend time in the village and visit a local market, cafe or...
Mont Passot is the highest point on Nosy Be Island, at 329 metres a...
June to September is humpback whale-watching season. During this season you can book a tour with a responsible, ethical tour provider. If you’re ...
Book a recreational dive to experience the exceptional variety of Indian Ocean marine life up close. Among the vibrant corals, you can spot a vas...
Visit one of Nosy Be’s many palm-lined stretches of golden beach, such as Andilana, Ambondrona, Madirokely and Ambatoloaka, and enjoy a relaxing day swimming in the warm waters ...
Visit the Sacred Tree, located close to Mahatsinjo village, on the western side of Nosy Be island. This huge banyan tree was planted by the queen of the Sakalava people in 1836,...
We’re based right on the edge of Lokobe National Park which holds the last remaining preserved primitive forest on the island of Nosy Be. The for...
South Africa is a mere three-and-a-half-hour flight from Madagascar. Fly to Johannesburg and book a safari tour through the famous Kruger National Park or experience the beauty ...
This breathtaking archipelago of islands is home to pristine beaches, coral reefs, nature reserves, as well as rare animals such as the giant Ald...
Visit the mainland to see a greater variety of species and experience other distinct cultures of Madagascar. See ring-tailed lemurs in Isalo National Park, hike the stone forest...
Madagascar is surrounded by many islands and islets. From our location on Nosy Be Island
Engaging intimately with a new context teaches global awareness, adaptability and critical thinking – skills highly valued in the modern marketplace. Local and cultural immersion is encouraged on all our programs around the world, and will also be one of the most enjoyable aspects of your experience. Luckily, there are many different activities that you can get involved in during your free time, or before and after your program.
On our community programs, the focus is on cultural topics, while on marine or wildlife programs the emphasis is more on the environmental element. Use your evenings and weekends to explore topics like local cuisine and religion, or how sustainable development challenges are affecting local contexts.
Marodoka village, which means “the ancient village” in Swahili, is located a few kilometres from Nosy Be’s centre. With exceptional architectural...
Many of Madagascar’s cultures have long-standing artisanal craft traditions. Some of these include intricate embroidery and brightly coloured baskets. Madagascar is also the pri...
The most notable festivals on the island of Nosy Be are dedicated to music. The Nosy Be Jazz Festival is held in April and the Donia Music Festival is held towards the end of Ma...
Most people in Madagascar speak Malagasy, a language with many dialects. The dialect that is most commonly spoken in the area in which we are based is Sakalava. Due to the influ...
If you’d like to find out what the experience of joining a GVI project is really like, simply contact us and we’ll put you in touch with one of our many Alumni.
We’ll try to match you to an Alum based on your location, nationality, age, stage of academic career, gender, and program interests. This allows you to gain insights into the experience that is most relevant to you.
Depending on your location you might be able to speak to an Alum over the phone or online, or meet up with them face-to-face at a coffee shop nearby. We also run a series of small events around the world where you can speak to GVI Alumni, Ambassadors and staff members.
Program Manager
Meet Padraig, also known as Pod, our Program Manager in Nosy Be, Madagascar. Pod is a passionate wildlife photographer and used to work professionally in the film and TV industr ...
When it comes to support, we ensure that each participant is provided with unparalleled, 360 degree support, from your initial contact with the GVI Family, all the way through your program, and even after, as you become part of the GVI Alumni Team.
As part of this promise, we will ensure, whenever possible, that one of our dedicated staff will be available to meet you at the airport. In most locations, we also set up a Whatsapp group to help with managing airport arrivals.
We will arrange with you prior to your departure that, should you arrive in the agreed upon pick up window, a member of our staff will be there to welcome you, easily identifiable in a GVI t-shirt or holding a GVI sign and wearing a friendly smile.
This means there will be someone there to greet you as you land, and from there you will be transported to your GVI base to start your adventure and meet the rest of your team.
All of our programs have short-, mid- and long-term objectives that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). This enables us to report on our collaborative impact across the world in a streamlined manner, measuring which UN SDGs we are making a substantial contribution to. Furthermore, this will help our local partners and communities measure and visualise their contribution to the UN SDGs.
Prior to your arrival on base, you will be educated about the UN SDGs. Then once you arrive on base, you’ll learn about the specific goals we have in this particular location, our various objectives, and also clarification of how your personal, shorter-term involvement contributes to these.
Our aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to be an active global citizen after your program, helping to fulfil our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.
Madagascar is home to 5% of the world’s precious plant and animal species, with more than 70% being endemic to Madagascar. Lokobe National Park is the only remaining primary forest on the island. It’s also a rainforest, recognised as a nationally protected area by the government of Madagascar and defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a strict nature reserve.
You will have the opportunity to get involved in vital project work such as behavioural surveys and habitat surveys. One of the focuses being the monitoring and protection of the endemic species that are heavily poached for pet trade. For example, the monitoring of populations and numbers of the panther chameleon, one of the most poached and heavily trafficked chameleon species in the world.
Critically endangered species
The area is home to one species of endangered lemur, the black lemur, as well as two species of critically endangered lemurs, the Nosy Be sportive lemur, known as the Hawks’ sportive lemur, and the Nosy Be mouse lemur, better known as the “Claire’s mouse lemur”. We track these animals and carry out behavioural surveys.
Biodiversity data
We carry out tracking and surveys of other animals in the park, including insects, amphibians and reptiles – during the day and at night. This helps us determine the bioindicators of the park. The park has not been rigorously surveyed since the 1990s, and knowing the health of the park can assist local conservationists, governments and international organisations improve decision-making.
Preventing poaching and the illegal wildlife trade
Despite being categorised as “least concern” by the IUCN when evaluated against the Red List, the panther chameleon is a highly poached and trafficked species, and part of the illegal pet trade. We monitor panther chameleon numbers in the forests to keep track of the naturally occurring numbers in the forest to ensure that the population remains sustainable.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) the GVI Nosy Be research station contributes towards are Goal 13: Climate Action, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Goal 15: Life On Land and Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
GVI Nosy Be’s Long-term Objectives:
1. Monitoring and protection of critically endangered species.
2. Establishing the baseline biodiversity of Lokobe National Park, which hasn’t been rigorously surveyed since the early 1990s.
3. Monitoring and protection of endemic species heavily poached for the pet trade, such as the panther chameleon – one of the most poached and heavily trafficked chameleon species in the world.
A GVI program is an investment in your career. No matter which you choose, you will be working toward improving your employability by mastering new social skills, gaining further technical expertise and earning qualifications in many cases. Most of our staff are, in fact, GVI Alumni, and we have helped many of our Alumni discover, move toward, and earn their own personal dream jobs. Each program includes introductory workshops, ongoing presentations, as well as on-the-ground professional support provided by our very own trained staff members. In addition, our training programs are critical for helping us to ensure the long-term impact of our sustainable development projects around the world.
Learn about the importance of child and vulnerable adult protection best practices and how to apply them while on project.
Introduction to the history and evolution of sustainable development, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and how these related to your project work.
Learn about our country locations and further opportunities available to you during or after your program.
An introduction to different survey techniques and best practice guidelines for surveys; introduction to different types of data and how to record information via a datasheet.
Learn about biodiversity and how biodiversity is measured, and classifying different species and how to identify species that indicate the health of the habitat.
If you have a passion for wildlife conservation then this course will provide you with the foundational skills and understanding needed to achieve your conservation-related goals. You’ll learn about the various methods of wildlife monitoring, as well as exploring the delicate balance involved in terrestrial ecosystem management. After successfully completing the course, which you have the option of doing prior to your in-country program, you’ll receive a certificate from the University of Richmond.
This online course, valued at £295, is included in all volunteering programs. Full course details can be found here.
We won’t sugarcoat it — traveling abroad is usually a complex process that carries an element of risk. But this is exactly why we’re passionate about providing extensive support throughout the process as well as the highest safety standards during the in-country phase. We believe that volunteering abroad should not only be impactful, but an enjoyable experience that carries as little risk as possible. This is exactly how we’ve been able to maintain our reputation as the most highly respected volunteering organisations in the sector over the past two decades.
It takes courage to book a GVI program, get on a flight, and head off to somewhere new. Volunteering offers a level of cultural immersion that typical backpacking or holidays ju...
As the saying goes: ‘Expect the best, plan for the worst’. Cliched or not, we take it to heart. This tenet is at the core of how GVI operates when it comes to promoting the heal...
The weather isn’t just a topic for polite small-talk here at GVI. We have emergency action plans in place for all scenarios. So when the weather, or other natural forces, takes ...
Once GVI has matched a participant to a program that suits their passions and goals, our team aims to set the right expectations for them. In the event that false expectations a...
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