From Lemurs to Coral Reefs: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Expedition to Madagascar
This summer, a group of Haileybury pupils embarked on an unforgettable expedition to one of the most unique and biodiverse regions on Earth: Madagascar.
The trip was a huge success, and both pupils and staff returned home with incredible memories, new skills, and a deeper appreciation for conservation and culture.
The adventure began with a thrilling 4×4 drive through the palm savannah en route to the Mahamavo forest research site. Pupils embraced daily treks to survey a remarkable variety of endemic species, and even braved challenging night surveys in dense forest to observe very active lemurs, chameleons, geckos, snakes, and spiders up close.
Pupils enjoyed working alongside passionate scientists and PhD students who were conducting their projects on the same research site and who shared their expertise in scientific research methods with them.
On the second part of the trip, pupils gained hands-on experience contributing to conservation projects by surveying some of the incredible Madagascan coral reefs for research databases. To do so, several pupils learnt to scuba dive and achieved their SSI Open Water Dive Certification under the excellent instruction of Scuba Nosy Be dive centre.
Cultural immersion was also an essential part of the adventure. Pupils learnt about Madagascar’s fascinating history and traditions through an interactive lecture and workshop programme. The fun Malagasy language workshops and competitions led by locals from the Sakalava tribe even had Mr Metcalfe gamely dancing around the campfire after his team lost a lively competition!
The expedition ended on a truly unforgettable note: snorkelling with hawksbill turtles in the Nosy Be protected marine area on the final day – an incredibly magical experience for everyone!
