Lemur Research Project in Madagascar
Volunteer on this one-of-a-kind Lemur Research Project in Madagascar and help protect lemur species on the brink of extinction.
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Activities
Itinerary
Below is an example of a two-week itinerary. Please note that some activities are seasonal and may be subject to change depending on the needs of the project.
Day 1 - The Adventure Begins:
Upon arrival at Ivato International Airport, you'll be met and transferred to a hotel for the night. Here you can rest and relax after your flight and later enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow volunteers and the project coordinator.
Day 2 - Lemur Park, Transfer & Orientation:
After breakfast, you'll venture out to Lemur Park, approximately 2 hours away, for your chance to see iconic ring-tailed lemurs, alongside other incredible species, some of which were saved from the illegal pet trade, and some you'll see out in the field! After a guided tour and lunch, you'll transfer to the research site (roughly a 5-hour drive). Once you have arrived, you will enjoy dinner and an orientation, and a short tour of camp.
Day 3 - First Day in the Forest:
Your first full day in the field begins with an early observational hike. You'll make your way over a little bridge next to your accommodation before being met with a wall of primary rainforest! After entering, it won't be long before the lemurs are watching you, watching them. The aim of today’s hike is to get a sense of the forest and its hiking trails, and to enjoy seeing the lemurs. You'll head back to the field house for lunch before receiving a full tour of the field site and meeting the whole team.
Day 4-6 Research & Reforestation:
Over the next few days, you’ll dive into a dynamic mix of lemur and forest research, hands-on reforestation, and community engagement. Mornings might find you shadowing playful lemur troops, setting up camera traps in hidden clearings, or helping record wildlife for biodiversity surveys. Afternoons may be spent gathering seeds from the canopy nets, nurturing young plants in the nursery, or planting new saplings in crucial habitat areas that need them most.
Day 7 - Lemur Survey & Campfire Night:
Today, you'll step into the forest to assist with lemur surveys. You'll keep focal groups company as they leap, forage, and call through the canopy. With researchers by your side, you'll become something of an expert yourself after essentially becoming one of the troop! Volunteers will return for lunch before an afternoon of invasive plant removal. After a rewarding week in the forest, unwind with an evening around the campfire with your team.
Day 8 - Relaxing Lake Day:
Take a well-deserved break from fieldwork with a day by the lake. The team's favourite spot is a perfect way to see the forest from a new perspective. It's a great place to spot birdlife along the banks, try out yoga, read a book, or soak in the beauty of your surroundings. You may even be able to take the research site's canoe out for a peaceful cruise. Today is yours to relax and prepare for another exciting week ahead!
Day 9-12 - Research & Reforestation:
Back to the field with renewed energy! Over these three days, you'll continue contributing to vital lemur and biodiversity research, forest restoration and community outreach. Tasks may include lemur surveys, biodiversity monitoring, seed collection, and community garden work. By now, you'll be more confident in your field skills, moving through the forest with sharper eyes, deeper knowledge, and a stronger connection to the landscape you're helping to protect!
Day 13 - Community & Conservation:
The final day gives volunteers the chance to support the local community. Depending on the school calendar, you will either assist at the local school, helping children practice English through fun activities, or help out in the community garden during exam periods or school holidays. Back at base, you will review camera-trap footage you've collected during your time on the project, noting vital wildlife data and hopefully spotting some incredible animals on film. To mark the end of your stay, you will plant your very own tree, a small but meaningful reminder of the impact you've made!
Day 14 - Final Day:
Today marks the end of your volunteer adventure. After breakfast, you'll be transferred to Ivato International Airport for your return flight or to begin your onward travel plans. If you're planning to explore more of Madagascar and would prefer to stay in Antananarivo, we can recommend nearby hotels that offer airport transfers (please note that this option would be at your own expense).
Durations & Prices
Accommodation
Volunteer Accommodation
During your stay, you'll be accommodated in one of four stunning new chalets, purpose-built for volunteers within the forest! Each twin-share chalet (same-sex unless travelling as a couple) features a private veranda and an en-suite bathroom with Western facilities and warm showers, perfect after a day of trekking. The newly renovated field research station is right next door, providing everything you need for a homely yet exciting stay, including a welcoming social area, an open-air kitchen and dining space, and Wi-Fi. Welcome to the most comfortable accommodation of any lemur research project, where community and conservation come together!
Meals & Beverages
Three meals a day are provided and prepared by a local cook, so you'll get a taste of authentic Malagasy cuisine throughout your stay. Along with a few Western dishes for some home comforts, too! Expect hearty, home-cooked food made with fresh, local ingredients, perfect fuel for your days in the forest. Vegetarian, vegan and other dietary requirements can be catered for, just let the travel team know of any before you leave. Drinking water, coffee, and tea are readily available on-site, and a small selection of snacks and alcoholic drinks is available to purchase at the field station. You're also welcome to bring along any favourite snacks or beverages for between meals.
Project Details
When is the best time to volunteer?
The project runs from May to October, coinciding with the dry season, which is generally considered the best time to visit Madagascar. During this period, you’ll enjoy less rainfall and more sunshine, with temperatures ranging from highs of 19°C to 25°C (66°F - 77°F) and lows of 10°C to 15°C (50°F - 59°F).
Getting There
You will need to book a flight that arrives at Antananarivo Ivato International Airport (TNR) on your project start date. Upon arrival, you'll take a private transfer to a nearby hotel for the night. We recommend booking flights that arrive by 5pm so that you can attend the welcome dinner with your fellow volunteers.
On the final day of the project, you will be transferred back to Antananarivo, roughly a 3.5-hour drive. Your flight must depart after 2:45pm to ensure you have enough time to get to the airport and check in. Alternatively, you can book a night in a hotel and fly the next day if there are better flight options, but this will be at an additional cost. We can recommend hotels that provide airport transfers.
Visa Requirements
You can enter Madagascar without a visa for a stay of up to 15 days, but an administration fee of €25 must be paid on arrival.
For longer stays of up to 60 days, a tourist visa is required. Except for citizens of Burundi and Palestine, all foreign nationals can obtain a tourist visa on arrival at the airport. An administration fee must still be paid, which is €35 for a 30-day visa and €40 for a 60-day visa. Additionally, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your entry date and contain at least two blank pages.
For stays of up to 90 days, tourist visas can be extended when you are in Madagascar, and the cost is approximately €50. You can also apply for a tourist e-visa before travelling.
Fitness & Skills
No specific skills or experience are required to join; however, the project involves daily trekking through steep, uneven forest terrain, so a strong level of fitness is essential. Volunteers should be comfortable with physically demanding days and extended hikes, typically lasting at least four hours, in a remote jungle environment.
Vaccinations
There are no specific vaccinations required to join this project; therefore, we recommend consulting your GP/doctor or a travel clinic and following their advice on vaccinations for travel. You can also find helpful advice and information on the Travel Health Pro website.
Gallery
News & Stories
15
Setting New Benchmarks in Biodiversity Surveys
UPDATE | Jun 2026
The second group is breaking records! They are having amazing sightings, with 2 or 3 species of lemurs on each hike; an incredible record of 35 chameleons on one night walk; 15 species on the bird survey; and incredible stamina during reforestation activities. In their free time, they enjoy playing charades by the campfire and gazing at the stars.
1
ARTICLE | May 2026
Our first volunteer group is boots-on-the-ground in Madagascar! From tracking lemurs to planting trees, they’re already deep in real conservation work in the highland forests.
1
NEWS | May 2026
Looking for the best summer volunteer programs 2026? Here's our top picks in ethical wildlife conservation experiences across Africa, Asia, and Central America.
Reviews
I feel immensely privileged to have been one of the volunteers on the first of the Lemur research project. From trekking through the jungle in pursuit of the lemur, chameleon, and other wildlife was absolutely amazing. Seeing these beautiful lemur, indri, safika, brown, mouse and bamboo in their natural habitat was truly wonderful. The daily tasks which were varied, were well planned and carried out by the volunteers, setting up seedling bags, planting the seedlings, planting coffee plants with our names and dates, clearing weeds from the 1,000 odd coffee plants, to teaching the children at the school and supporting the community gardens. All very worthwhile tasks. The cabins were comfortable and well thought out and the dining area where great meals were served and an evening of cards, specifically Skyjo had us roaring with laughter. Great privilege to meet Debra Erickson who is the driving force behind this project. Well worth the experience… something I would do again. Thank you all!
From the first meet n greet the coordinators, Lauren and Claudia were organised, welcoming and professional, there guidance was much appreciated. Debra is an inspiration, her continuous devotion, foresight, love and knowledge has driven the project to where it is now, total admiration for all her achievements going forward. The community are sowing both hope and love into the soil with every seedling collected and planted, this is an extraordinary land with wonderful people and magical wildlife. The dedication to reforestation of this unique and very precious rainforest is both a humbling and an enlightening experience. Like a big hug the community and staff are so pleased to welcome you, appreciating the extra pair of hands, your understanding and ideas. Immersing yourself in Wildlife Madagascar’s hopes and expectations for the future was easy, hand in hand with The Great Projects gives us all the opportunity to help and support this wonderful project, it deserves so much success to save this precious, delicate environment, the dedication of the researchers to follow, learn and save these amazing lemurs and all the other wildlife that all call this wonderful land their home. This project has been enlightening, it has shown me a much... From the first meet n greet the coordinators, Lauren and Claudia were organised, welcoming and professional, there guidance was much appreciated. Debra is an inspiration, her continuous devotion, foresight, love and knowledge has driven the project to where it is now, total admiration for all her achievements going forward. The community are sowing both hope and love into the soil with every seedling collected and planted, this is an extraordinary land with wonderful people and magical wildlife. The dedication to reforestation of this unique and very precious rainforest is both a humbling and an enlightening experience. Like a big hug the community and staff are so pleased to welcome you, appreciating the extra pair of hands, your understanding and ideas. Immersing yourself in Wildlife Madagascar’s hopes and expectations for the future was easy, hand in hand with The Great Projects gives us all the opportunity to help and support this wonderful project, it deserves so much success to save this precious, delicate environment, the dedication of the researchers to follow, learn and save these amazing lemurs and all the other wildlife that all call this wonderful land their home. This project has been enlightening, it has shown me a much greater understanding of the extreme challenges faced by the animals, the environment and the whole community. It will open both your eyes and your heart and show you that we must do all we can to ensure that there is no further deforestation and to help enhance the education all of the community to protect their home and their biodiversity. An amazing experience that I will never forget and hope to return to, thank you so much for the absolute privilege of being one of the first volunteers to La Mananara. (Show More)
Download Project Guide
What's Included
- Accommodation
- Arrival and departure airport transfers
- Transfers to and from Antananarivo to the field station
- Three meals per day
- Lemur Park visit
- A conservation donation to Wildlife Madagascar
- Tea, coffee and drinking water
What's Not Included
- All flights
- Vaccinations (if required)
- Visas (if required)
From
$2,295.00
$2,065.00
€1,434.00
€1,291.00
£1,195.00
£1,075.50
$1,614.00
$1,452.00
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Up to 8 Persons
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All Meals Included
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13 - 27 Nights
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Set dates between May and October
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Minimum Age 18 (Or From 16 Years Old With An Adult)
