Operation Wallacea Conservation Research Expeditions for Schools

A night time lemur survey was one of the most incredible experiences in my life. Seeing this early incredible animals in their natural habitat when many of them are naturally active. Although the trip was incredibly tiring, it was very rewarding, although how we were expected to get up early the next morning for an early survey I will never know! Having only seen quite common lemurs such as the Coquerrels Sifaka and Common Brown Lemur, being able to see a wider variety of lemurs was quite rewarding, even though the trail we took was a real killer. Even so, the guides were incredibly friendly and very informative, and we learnt a lot about Madagascar as a country as well as an environmental haven

In summer 2016 I went to Madagascar as a trip with school, it was a lot of money so I wasn't sure on it at first but I'm definitely glad I went and would 100% do it again. We stayed at two different forest camps over one week and a camp by the sea for a further week. The country was very beautiful and exciting as I'd never seen anywhere like it before. The camps were very nice as when we arrived all our tents were set up for us. We saw a huge array of animals that I would never be able to see anywhere else which made this trip even more special. We also had lectures which were interesting and taught us a lot about what we were doing. We visited the town which was fascinating seeing how the people live and seeing their culture.
I had an experience of a life time and would love to go back again some day.

This was honestly a unique and wonderful experience - the best two weeks of my life! You won't get this opportunity again! Whilst in South Africa I had the chance to watch a wild leopard walk past during dinner, and float in a reef watching sharks swim around me. Before the trip I was't used to the environment we stayed in, but it really helped me to experience living in a way i never had before! The staff were amazing and made us all feel safe and included. I would really like to work somewhere like this in the future! I would recommend this to anyone - it may be expensive but its worth the price!

As a Biology teacher, it's my job to share my passion for the living world in a way that makes my students want to infect others with the same enthusiasm. With Operation Wallacea, they had the opportunity to explore the natural world guided by an inspiring group of experts that took their skills, knowledge and passion for Biology to the next level. From learning how to dive, to surveying chameleon, jackal, fish and invertebrate populations, the trip encompassed all of the fantastically exciting and engaging practical aspects of Ecology that just can't be offered within the classroom. Six months on and the excitement hasn't faded!

We arrived late due to weather issues leaving Puerto Rico. However, Charlotte and her team made sure that we still experienced all the studies. We also got to do both the canyoning and vulcanology even though originally you had to choose between the two.

All the scientists were very professional but also open to sitting around with the students and talking about career paths and general interests.

The country is beautiful and the people are so welcoming. You really feel like you are making a difference!

Mexico gave me a chance to grow and prove to myself that I was capable of such an activity - and in fact do very well at it, and love it as well.
The expedition was varied; there was learning by classroom and by practice, and in the forest and under the sea. The knowledge and experiences were valuable beyond belief at the time, and also looking back now, almost at the end of my University career.
The accommodation was less-than-luxurious, but it was more than adequate and the whole point was to camp and settle into the natural world; nothing more was needed and what was provided was good quality and clean.
The staff were wonderful. I still miss them and have been in touch with some since. The trip would have been amazing either way, but the Operation Wallacea staff, and the temporary 'expert' staff, made it even more so.

I had an amazing time during my recent trip to Mexico. During my time in the Jungle in Calakmul our group became a family and shared unforgettable memories together. During my time at the marine site, my passion for marine biology escalated and I felt inspired by the vast range of biodiversity I saw. I would recommend this trip to everyone, it has been an experience I will remember for the rest of my life.

I was qualified for diving before the trip, so was able to do the full week of open water dives, which were overall great fun. The one problem is I have issues with spacial awareness, so I was never quite sure where things were. This was compounded by the fact that I was underwater, and moving up and down quite a lot due to me breathing. After two days, I had settled a bit and was diving normally, but I still had issues knowing where things were. This was fine most of the time, excpet while doing transects, as while one group were doing the transect we were asked to swim round the reef in a group. This led to a problem as me and my partner were at the back. I was distracted by several fish, and swam to close to the people in front. This led to me being kicked in the face. This led me to stop, and this led me to look around-where I saw a turtle. I'd been wanting to see one all of the dive, so finally being able to was great!