We are now a few days into our latest adventure and decided that we’ll give you a sense of camp life at Turtle Cove.
The “camp” is Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute which is located on the ancient volcanic island of Nosy Komba or Lemur Island. The facility is built into the jungle and the huge basalt boulders that define the hillsides.
This idyllic setting is part of a group of islands off the north west coast of Madagascar that separated from Africa about 160 million years ago. The island itself is only about 2 km in diameter and has no roads or cars. There are a few small villages and some small hotels and other homes dotting the perimeter. Our camp has a small, postcard image beachfront that is the home to many green and Hawkesbill turtles.
Our camp is made up of mostly open air facilities including a kitchen/ dining area, main house and several cabins with 3 bunk beds. Interestingly, cabins are named not numbered - Paul is in Salty, Gayle is in Outhouse.
There are roughly 30 volunteers and 15 staff here that participate in 5 different programs- Marine Conservation, Turtle Conservation, Community, Construction and Forest Conservation. The latter is where we’ll spend most of our time. Most of the staff and volunteers are young adults, with a few “more experienced” of us thrown in. Picture summer camp for grown ups- many not wearing much.
Although there is a defined schedule, camp life mimics Madagascar’s Mora Mora (Slowly, Slowly) way of life. Each evening at dinner “the board” of activities is revealed for the next day.
A typical day is breakfast at 6:30 with work or training beginning at 7:30 and going until (roughly) noon when the lunch whistle blows. We start the program again at 1:30 and continue until about 3 or 4. Today we went to the jungle to collect data on birds. We then planted some cacao trees before heading to the jungle to collect bamboo for a new tree nursery. This afternoon we have some more training on birds and other Madagascar wildlife. Dinner is at 6 and we usually play cards or dice after for a while with the other volunteers.
We are having an amazing time and enjoying meeting lots of new people from around the world. We are also looking forward to some fun weekend adventures visiting the neighbouring islands.