Madagascar: Cultural & Ecological Diversity Gap Year Semester
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About
Rugged travel across a canvas of deserts, forests, mountains, and seas paint the vivid ecosystems and traditions that make up this island-nation. Stunningly diverse and colossal in size, more than 80% of the plant and animal species in Madagascar are not found anywhere else in the world. The Malagasy people are similarly unique. Historical and geographic isolation have made Madagascar a place where almost all of what you see, hear, and do are possible nowhere else on earth. Early in the program, we set out to explore some of the country’s unique ecosystems. We trek in two of the country’s most famous national parks and conduct animal surveys alongside wildlife researchers. We learn about the many species of lemurs, an endangered primate well-known for their catlike faces and playful sounds and behaviors.
- Delve into issues such as the provocative legacies of African slave trade and local conservation issues – particularly the complex tension between economic development and environmental preservation in Madagascar.
- Investigate how the micro-economics and political events impact the environment in Madagascar.
- Immerse yourself in Malagasy culture in two unique homestays in a semi-urban and rural environment.
- Experience Madagascar’s rich biodiversity with multi-day hikes and day-hikes in Isalo National Park, Andasibe National Park and Ranomafana’s lush mid-altitude rainforest.
- Travel throughout Madagascar on local transportation, which often winds slowly down sing-landed roads cluttered by cars, ox cards, bicycles and foot-traffic.
