Planet Madagascar’s 2026 World Lemur Day celebration will bring students, teachers, community members, conservation professionals, and local authorities together at CEG Marosakoa, near Ankarafantsika National Park.
The Lemur Conservation Network is grateful to Remote River Expeditions — Madagascar and Chez Maggie Hotel in Morondava for making this possible as the event’s Full Sponsors! Supporting Business Members since 2024, they are helping Planet Madagascar bring conservation education and community participation together for a full day in Marosakoa.
The event is part of the 2026 World Lemur Festival in Madagascar throughout October, a worldwide celebration focused on lemurs, Madagascar’s natural heritage, and the communities working to protect both.
This is Planet Madagascar’s second annual World Lemur Day celebration near Ankarfantsika. The Lemur Conservation Network sponsored its first World Lemur Festival event last year. Remote River Expeditions — Madagascar and Chez Maggie Hotel — Morondava have now carried that sponsorship forward, allowing Planet Madagascar to continue the tradition and grow their relationship with these communities.
About Ankarafantsika National Park
Ankarafantsika National Park protects an important area of dry forest in western Madagascar. The park lies in the Boeny region along National Road 4, and its forests provide habitat for birds and lemurs, including Madagascar’s iconic dancing lemur, the Coquerel’s sifaka. The communities that Planet Madagascar works with around the park are closely connected to the landscape. Many take part in protecting it through forest monitoring and other conservation activities.
Why Marosakoa
Marosakoa is a municipality in the Marovoay district, approximately 35 kilometers south of Mahajanga. CEG Marosakoa, the largest secondary school in Marosakoa Commune, was selected as the event location because it provides a central gathering place for people from several communities where Planet Madagascar works.
The celebration will connect schools and communities from Marosakoa, Ambodimanga, Ampijoroa, Ampombilava, Ambikakely, Ampasika Be, Befotoana, and Ambarindahy. Holding the event at a school makes it possible to reach young people directly while also involving teachers, families, community leaders, and local decision-makers.
Planet Madagascar’s Approach to Conservation
Planet Madagascar focuses on building sustainable forest communities by conserving Madagascar’s biodiversity, improving local well-being, and supporting people who want to contribute to wildlife protection.
Working with Communities
Planet Madagascar designs and implements projects in consultation with local communities, Madagascar National Parks, and other organizations working in and around protected areas, with most of its conservation work centered on Ankarafantsika National Park.
Its community-based activities include fire management and firebreaks, forest restoration, tree nurseries, conservation education, sustainable agroforestry, and alternative livelihoods. Women’s cooperatives are also part of this approach. These activities recognize that long-term forest protection depends on the people who live beside the forest and interact with it every day.
A Full Day of Learning about Lemurs
Activities at the Celebration
The World Lemur Day celebration is designed not only to share information about lemurs, but also to strengthen connections among schools, local authorities, conservation professionals, and the communities surrounding Ankarafantsika.
Planet Madagascar will lead a day-long program combining education, creativity, and cultural activities. Planned activities include:
- A lemur-themed carnival
- A costume competition
- Traditional and modern dance performances
- Poetry contests
- Talent show competitions
- Conservation quizzes
- Educational films about Madagascar’s lemurs and forests
Participating schools will prepare costumes and educational materials for the competitions, giving students opportunities to communicate conservation messages through performance, art, teamwork, and public speaking.
Participation across Communities, Conservation Organizations, Universities, and the Government
Planet Madagascar expects the celebration to reach more than 300 students and community members, including:
- teachers and students from the participating communities;
- representatives from Madagascar National Parks, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, the Red Island Restoration project, and the Fosa Association;
- University of Mahajanga students specializing in primatology and conservation; and
- government and community representatives, including the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development through DREDD in Mahajanga, district and commune authorities, and local community leaders.
The event will promote awareness of lemur conservation, highlight the importance of protecting the forests surrounding Ankarafantsika, and strengthen collaboration among schools, authorities, and conservation organizations.
About the Event Sponsorship
Remote River Expeditions — Madagascar and Chez Maggie Hotel are both based in Morondava, on Madagascar’s western coast. Their businesses are closely connected to western Madagascar’s landscapes, tourism, and wildlife, but the event they are supporting will take place farther north, in a different community connected to Ankarafantsika National Park.
Why this Sponsorship Matters
That distance makes their sponsorship especially meaningful: they are contributing to Madagascar’s wider natural heritage and to communities working in another part of the country. It is a reminder that businesses can direct their support toward conservation in communities beyond their own home region.
The Lemur Conservation Network is especially grateful to Remote River Expeditions — Madagascar and Chez Maggie Hotel — Morondava for their generous support of Planet Madagascar’s World Lemur Day celebration.
Since 2025, LCN’s Small Grant Program has sponsored World Lemur Festival events across Madagascar. But, we often receive more applications than we can fund! Event sponsorship from our Supporting Members means that these events can happen as planned. Without the sponsorship, the events would need to be much smaller and reach less people.
With this help from Remote River Expeditions — Madagascar and Chez Maggie Hotel, lemur conservation gets a bigger spotlight and communities receive the full events that they deserve!
About Remote River Expeditions — Madagascar
Remote River Expeditions — Madagascar (RRE) is a small hands-on company based at the Chez Maggie Hotel in Morondava. They have a strong reputation for offering quality services with reliable communications and attention to detail at a reasonable cost.
They take their name from their original 1985 expeditions exploring the rivers of the Great Red Island. Since then, they have become specialists in creating truly unique vacations and learning experiences that cater to all ages, interests with a personalized, ethical, and sustainable approach centered on sharing a genuine love for Madagascar. The company is owned and managed by Gary Lemmer, an American guide and naturalist.
Tours Available from Remote River Expeditions — Madagascar
Remote River Expeditions designs and operates tours throughout the island; welcome all requests and cater to all budgets. From luxury charter flight tours to multiactivity programs for budget and economy travelers. Their river journeys include calm water floats on the Mangoky, Tsiribihina, and Manambolo Rivers. River travel offers the opportunity to experience Madagascar’s wildlife, landscapes, and local communities.
About Chez Maggie Hotel — Morondava
The Chez Maggie Hotel is a comfortable retreat in a relaxed garden setting. A small secluded property on the beach of the Mozambique Channel with extensive gardens, swimming pool and wonderous sunsets. Perfect for family vacations and honeymoons. The hotel known for offering a friendly reception and quality service. Chez Maggie is owned and operated by Gary Lemmer and his wife Baholy.
Accommodations include two-story chalets, garden-view rooms and bungalows along with traditional Vezo-style reed bungalows. Most have air conditioning and all have ceiling and floors fans. Each has it’s unique and distinctive flair featuring colorfully tiled bathrooms, hand-picked artwork and most have large sitting areas. Baby crib available upon request. The restaurant offers a varied menu and generous portions.
Highlights of Morondava
The town of Morondava is the gateway to the many wonders of Madagascar’s Menbe (western) Region. Highlights of the region include Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, Kirindy Forest Reserve, and the world famous Avenue of the Baobabs.
The world famous Avenue of the Baobabs. Photos courtesy of Remote River Expeditions — Madagascar.
Stay at Chez Maggie Hotel and Hire Remote River Expeditions — Madagascar to Arrange Your Activities
Remote River Expeditions — Madagascar is a full service tour operator based at the Chez Maggie. Guests can arrange regional activities, car hire, guide services and fully inclusive tours in the west and throughout Madagascar. Their multi-lingual staff are on hand to offer advice, recommendations and assist with tour arrangements as well as logistical and emergency assistance.
A huge thanks to Remote River Expeditions — Madagascar and Chez Maggie Hotel — Morondava from the Lemur Conservation Network for making the 2026 World Lemur Festival extra special!
You Can Help, Too!
Readers can support World Lemur Festival events through the Lemur Conservation Network by making a donation, learning how to sponsor an event, or following the events calendar. Learn more about World Lemur Day and the annual festival at the World Lemur Day page.
Travelers can support conservation by choosing tourism businesses that give back to Madagascar’s communities and biodiversity, and following responsible wildlife-viewing practices.