Madagascar Volunteer Programs | Most Affordable & Trusted

My experience in Madagascar didn't just meet my expectations, it beat them, by far.
The landscape is breathtaking, the locals are very friendly and the volunteers will become your best friends in no time. I went to Madagascar for just two weeks but I know it will be an experience I will remember my whole life.
The nature is challenging and at times a little difficult to adapt to but totally worth it. I did teaching but I had the chance to try out some of the other programs such as construction and forest conservation. Even though it was super fun, I can say that teaching was the most fulfilling of them all. Not only did you see the impact of your help inmediatly but the happiness and energy you get from the kids is just incredible. Little tip: I totally recommend bringing ballons or pencils or any other material for the class as it will make a huge dofference!!
So if you are sitting there just doubting about if you should go or not, just listen to me, GO!! I was scared and doubted and was intimidated too, it's normal but trust me, you will have no regrets and IVHQ is honestly a great organization that will make things very easy and make you feel safe at all times.

I loved my experience in Madagascar! The forest conservation program was everything I hoped for and more! I went to Madagascar for the turtles and the lemurs and it didnt disappoint. The programme was structured and we were always doing meaningful work. I loved that we were given a chance to interact with the locals and participate in community building activities while also accomplishing our own agenda.

My first time solo travelling abroad was made more special with IVHQ as I felt more confident and safe in my journey. I am definitely going to be going back to madagascar again!

It was one of the best experiences of my life. MRCI camp made me feel like I was truly living an adventure. Exploring the main island of Nosy Be was also a huge source of fun and entertainment. The staff were all amazing and incredibly nice and helpful. If there is anything that I would note is that you should choose your programs wisely because they are truly the deciding factor in everything. I would definitely go back for another round because life in Madagascar truly charmed me.
I am currently planning my next IVHQ volunteering trip to a new destination in the world. Then maybe I'll head back to visit Madagascar later.

Program details:
I did both construction and Turtle conservation. They were both amazing programs. While doing those, I also joined the teaching english programs in my extra time, and I have to say, they all had me visiting different amazing places and meeting the new cultures.

Free time:
Nosy be is an amazing place to hang out. Whether its renting scootors and cruising(funny story happened to me with that!) or simply taking boats and exploring other islands. And its extremely cheap considering the normal expenses you have in everyday life.

Hi my name is Matt Bradley, I am from Cape Town, South Africa. Volunteering in Madagascar on the Island Outreach Program was easily the most incredible experience I’ve had. With so many endemic species and untouched coastlines, you are able to get a real feel for how nature should be thriving. Conducting field surveys, cleaning up beaches, interacting with the local communities and working with an international team of volunteers definitely gave me a different perspective on life. The field surveys were an eye opening experience as you get an understanding to the extent of the variety of different species that call Madagascar their home. The highlight of the program would have to be the turtle watch surveys as well as playing football with the locals after the English lectures. IVHQ were extremely helpful and made all of this possible.

Hi, I'm Laura, from Reus, Spain. I am 22 years old and I volunteered in Madagascar for three weeks in the teaching project. The experience was amazing! I could teach kids classes in the mornings, and also English classes to adults in the afternoons. All the local people from Nosy Komba are so nice, friendly and interested in learning english as much as they can. This attitude and their smiles in their faces made my day everyday. Their lifestyle is really calm and atracts you to join their culture and all the beauty of the country.
On the other hand, there are all the other volunteers, lovely and open-minded people that you have to share everything with, and I will never forget. I am so glad to still be in touch with some of them and hope to see again soon!

I loved my experience volunteering in Madagascar -- I had signed up to be on the Construction Project, but right away when I arrived on camp I learned that I could also do the Teaching Project! This was amazing because I was busy everyday and always felt like I was contributing as much as I could be. Also, the other volunteers were amazing! I made some lifelong friends while I was there. The locals were some of the most friendly and inviting people I have ever met, they will forever be in my heart. Also, I felt safe the entire trip; the staff does a great job of making you feel comfortable. They also give volunteers lots of freedom on the weekends to do whatever they want! I went on some really fun and beautiful trips to nearby islands. Everything was amazing.

Every day a new adventure awaits on the coast of Nosy Komba. If you go on this journey be prepared to fall in love with the lush mountains and the water. Be prepared to miss Madagascar every day you aren't there after you've left. I learned so much about myself, so many things I'd never learn had IVHQ not been available to me. Madagascar will teach you things you didn't even know were possible. I've never had more fun in my whole life. Every day was exciting and brought new things. The housing was huts, that were nice and comfy. The food provided was great. Wifi isn't really a thing unless you get a local phone with data, which is highly recommended. The nightlife is so awesome if you love loud music and dancing. Everyone who thinks they should go to Madagascar SHOULD go to Madagascar, and I hope if you've spent the time to read this you will highly consider letting this place change the way you think. I'm grateful for IVHQ because without them my experience wouldn't be the same in any way.

I was looking for a reliable organisation to volunteer with, and came across IVHQ, who set me up with MRCI and it was the best time of my life!
First off: the food was awesome (rice, veggies, sometimes pasta or noodles, zebu, chicken, fish), the local staff were superb, the huts were spacious and clean, camp was really nicely laid out (we even had fancy western toilets and showers!) - I was very comfortable living there.
I did forest conservation on the island Nosy Komba: we did lemur studies (observing the diet & behaviour of wild lemurs and lemurs in the park), reptile transects (I LOVED these because it gives you the chance to walk through the forest and just look out for different species, I enjoyed being able to identify them too, it was way more interesting for me when I knew), line plots (frogs!)...I loved agroforestry, where we’d often go to local farmers’ plots to help clean/plant their land. Seedling collecting was great too, we got to plant it on MRCI’s plot of land, to encourage the growth of native species into the area, I was super interested in hearing different ways to farm to increase efficiency.
We had the chance to go to mainland Madagascar, in Ampohana, to build a clinic for the one doctor in the area. Such hard wrk making concrete in that heat, but I’m soooo glad I did it! At the opening ceremony a few weeks later, there were so many people there, I was so surprised at how they all rely on this small clinic?! Rum, zebu, dancing and music, it was the best celebration!
Free time at the weekends was well spent: we visited Nosy Iranjia and Tanikely, went on a whale shark trip, swam with turtles, saw sacred waterfalls, had party weekends in Ambataloaka and just hung out with everyone on the beach.
Met so many incredible people from all walks of life that I think I really can learn from, it feels so much like a family when it’s that intense for such a short period of time - I cried leaving them!
Would definitely go back 🤙🏼