Tag Archives | Travel

Volunteering at Sainte Luce Reserve

By Lynne Venart on December 15, 2016

This past October I volunteered in forest conservation for two weeks at Sainte Luce Reserve in south east Madagascar. I found the reserve listed on an international volunteer website and liked the variety it offered. Plus, it was in Madagascar which was a place that I’ve always wanted to visit. The volunteer listing mentioned lemur follows, tree planting, trail clearing, planting mangroves, sea turtle monitoring, and working in the tree nursery which all sounded perfect for me. I checked out […]

A mother ring-tail nursing her two babies at Anja Reserve. Photo by Lynne Venart.

Hiking with Ring-Tailed Lemurs at Anja Reserve

By Lynne Venart on November 8, 2016

After spending several days in Ranomafana and then Kianjavato, we head back west past Ranomafana National Park and then south to Ambalavao, a small city an hour south of Fianarantsoa (Madagacar’s second largest city) and just 7 kilometers north of Anja Reserve. The Anja Reserve is a popular tourist stop on the RN7, and is viewed by many as Madgascar’s most successful community reserve. At lunch, my driver Zina introduces me to Adrian, who will be my guide for my […]

Black and white ruffed lemurs in Ranomafana National Park. Photo by Lynne Venart.

Spotting Sifakas and Ruffeds with Théo in Ranomafana

By Lynne Venart on October 30, 2016

While visiting Ranomafana National Park, I stayed at Centre ValBio so I could get a first hand look at the Center, learn about their work, and chat with the staff. Stay tuned to the LCN blog for an interview with Pascal Robeson, Centre ValBio’s Madagascar Country Director, and a post about CVB’s truly inspiring work. During my hikes in the park, Pascal arranged for me to have Théo as a guide. Théo is the favorite guide for everyone at CVB. […]

There is an aye aye nest somewhere in the vicinity of this tree.

In Search of Aye-Ayes with the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership

By Lynne Venart on September 20, 2016

The small town of Kianjavato is located about 1 1/2 hours east of Ranomafana National Park on the RN 25. This is where LCN member Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership has one of their four main field sites, and where their partner Conservation Fusion plays the important role of teaching and inspiring local children to conserve their unique land. I visited this field site for one day and night to see their work first-hand, visit the lemurs in the nearby forests, and meet with two of the […]

Small villages dot rice field landscapes as you drive south from Antananarivo through the rolling hills of Madagascar's Highlands. Photo by Lynne Venart.

Traveling South to the City of Antsirabe

By Lynne Venart on September 14, 2016

Like most visitors to Madagascar, I began my travels in the capital of Antananarivo. My time for this trip was limited, so I headed out of Tana the following morning en route to Madagascar’s third largest city: Antsirabe. The Road to Antsirabe Antsirabe is about a 3 1/2 hour drive down the RN 7 from Antananarivo, passing by barren hills, rice fields, picturesque small villages, and roadside towns with local Malagasy out and about — shopping on market day, playing baby foot […]

The author Lynne Venart on her first trip to Madagascar in 2012. Photo taken by Christine Venart in Ankarafantsika National Park.

Planning Your First Trip to Madagascar

By Lynne Venart on February 9, 2016

As a tourist, it can be intimidating to plan your first trip to Madagascar. It seems so remote and exotic! Plus, it’s large, with a less-than-stellar road system, and the plane tickets are expensive, so you want to do it right the first time. In this blog post, I’ll share a variety of options for traveling to Madagascar for the first time visitor, with some helpful tips and quotes from the experts. Don’t be intimidated, and don’t fret about “doing it right.” There […]

The crowd at the concert among beautiful forested hills

Centre ValBio Interns Venture to Kianjavato to See Singer Khelen in Concert

By Lynne Venart on December 15, 2015

A Weekend Adventure to See One of Mada’s Top Singers A few of the volunteers and researchers at Centre ValBio took a weekend trip to Kianjavato to see Khelen in concert. Khelen is one of the most popular singers in Madagascar at the moment and… she happened to be hosted by Aina, a friend of one of the researchers. As luck would have it, we could also stay at the same house as Khelen and entourage were going to leave the […]

Avenue of the Baobobs. One of the most unique and picturesque landscapes in all of Madagascar.

Ecotourism and Education: How it Can Save Lemurs

By Corey Romberg on November 24, 2015

Many conservationists agree that ecotourism is the number one thing that can ensure the survival of lemurs in Madagascar. “Lemurs are the goose laying the golden eggs for Madagascar,” says Jonah Ratsimbazafy, Secretary General of GERP Madagascar. “Thousands of families depend on lemurs, because tourists will not come to see empty forests.” The local Malagasy people need to see that lemurs are more valuable alive than dead. Tourists will come to see lemurs in the wild. But much more work needs to be done […]