Practical Information - Madagascar - page 146

Hope for Madagascar 3150 Iris Av, Ste 210, Boulder, CO USA; e hopeformadagas-
[e-mail] ; www.hopeformadagascar.org . This US charity seeks volunteers with
previous experience of living abroad & teaching English. Besides providing English les-
sons, they build schools, distribute school supplies & run village development projects.
Mada Clinics e [e-mail] ; www.madaclinics.org . Operates clinics in the
north. Welcomes volunteers, especially those with some medical experience.
People & Places 01795 535 718; e [e-mail] ;
www.travel-peopleandplaces.co.uk . With their team of local people, this company offers
community-led volunteering placements.
The Dodwell Trust 020 8740 6302; e [e-mail] ;
www.dodwell-trust.org . Volunteers spend 1-6 months living in a community. They may
teach English, work at the zoo or botanical gardens, hold events, run tree nurseries, make
radio shows & more. No skills required & weekends are free. Conservation & biology re-
search work is available to graduates.
World Challenge Expeditions London, UK; 020 8728 7200; e welcome@world-chal-
lenge.co.uk ; www.world-challenge.co.uk . This organisation is aimed mainly at students.
WWF www.wwf.mg . A new Youth Volunteer Programme for ages 19-27 currently oper-
ates 10 projects ranging from coral reef & wetland management to various forest & com-
munity projects.
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Trekking It's a misnomer to call it trekking because Madagascar is not like the Himalayas
orAndeswhereyourgeariscarriedbyportersorpackanimals toadifferentcampsite each
night. Two national parks are specifically set up for hiking: Andringitra and Isalo. I count
Andringitra as one of my best hiking trips anywhere (see Click Here ) and Marojejy ( Click
Here ) is one of the most exciting mountains I have (nearly) climbed. There are a growing
number of national parks and reserves that offer good treks - but you must always be ac-
companied by a guide.
Hiking Myadvicetopeoplewantingtostrikeoutontheirownistobearinmindthatmany
of Madagascar's 'roads' are overgrown tracks, and ideal for hiking. There are a couple of
well-known routes, the Smugglers' Path and the Trans-Masoala Trail , but these do not
appeal to me nearly as much as the huge regions that have seen few foreigners.
TRAVELLING BY MOUNTAIN BIKE IN MADAGASCAR
Lex Cumber with additional recommendations from Bill French & Julian Cooke