- Jun–Jul & Sep–Oct
- 12 Days
- Limited to 12 Participants
Follow the haunting calls of indri through Madagascar's misty rainforests, where chameleons blend in among the foliage and lemurs leap through the canopy. Explore Andasibe-Mantadia with expert naturalist guides, searching for wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. Then fly by private charter to Ranomafana National Park, where you'll venture deep into the forest with Malagasy researchers, tracking endangered sifakas and golden bamboo lemurs as they forage, navigate the treetops and interact with their families.
Gain rare access to a research program pioneered by Dr. Patricia Wright, whose discovery of the golden bamboo lemur helped establish Ranomafana National Park. Spend hours observing wild lemur families, recording feeding habits, social behavior and infant development. Help collect non-invasive samples to investigate lemur health and learn how logging, wildfire and invasive plants affect their survival. Beyond the fieldwork, explore rainforest trails after dark and visit Centre ValBio to discover how more than four decades of research are helping protect Madagascar's endangered primates.
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Research at a Glance
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The Research Focus
Study endangered Milne-Edwards' sifakas and golden bamboo lemurs, comparing their feeding behavior, reproduction and survival across rainforest habitats. Investigate how logging, wildfire and invasive plants affect these primates.
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What You'll Do
Follow wild lemur families through Ranomafana's rainforest, recording feeding habits, movements, social interactions and infant development. Help collect non-invasive biological samples for genetic, hormone and parasite studies.
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Why It Matters
Your observations add to more than 40 years of lemur research, helping scientists pinpoint how forest disturbance affects endangered primates and identify which habitats are most important to protect or restore.
Meet Your Lead Scientist
Patricia Wright, Ph.D.
Primatologist and conservation biologist Dr. Patricia Wright has spent nearly four decades studying and protecting Madagascar’s remarkable lemurs and rainforests. Her groundbreaking work includes discovering the golden bamboo lemur and helping establish Ranomafana National Park to protect its threatened rainforest habitat.
Read moreExpedition Highlights
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Follow Lemurs Through Madagascar's Rainforests
Search for indri in Andasibe-Mantadia, then track endangered sifakas and golden bamboo lemurs through Ranomafana. Encounter Madagascar's largest living lemur, powerful canopy-leaping sifakas and one of the world's rarest primates.
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Enter the World of Pioneering Lemur Research
Join a research program that has followed generations of wild lemurs for more than four decades. Observe habituated families with Malagasy scientists and visit Centre ValBio to see how field observations inform ongoing studies.
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Discover Madagascar Through Its People
Explore Ranomafana's living traditions, from silk weaving and natural dyes to medicinal plants and local healing practices. Browse the village market, where farmers and artisans gather to trade produce, spices and handmade crafts.
Hear the Indri's Haunting Calls
Follow expert local guides into Andasibe-Mantadia's misty rainforest, listening for the far-carrying calls of Madagascar's largest living lemur. Search the canopy for these striking black-and-white primates as they communicate with their families.Track Endangered Lemurs Through the Canopy
Venture into Ranomafana with Malagasy researchers to follow habituated families of Milne-Edwards' sifakas and golden bamboo lemurs. Spend extended periods observing feeding, movement and social behavior in groups whose lives have been documented across generations.Go Behind the Scenes at Centre ValBio
Meet scientists at Centre ValBio, the state-of-the-art research station founded by Dr. Patricia Wright. Discover how observations of wild lemur families contribute to a research record spanning more than 40 years.Investigate Lemur Health in the Field
Help collect non-invasive biological samples used to study genetics, hormones and parasites. Learn how researchers combine these findings with behavioral observations to investigate lemur reproduction and survival.Seek Out Madagascar's Rainforest Wildlife
Search the forests of Andasibe-Mantadia and Ranomafana for brilliantly colored chameleons, leaf-tailed geckos camouflaged against tree bark, unusual frogs and endemic birds. Keep your eyes on the branches, trunks and forest floor for wildlife easily overlooked.Explore the Rainforest After Dark
Search for tiny mouse lemurs, sleeping chameleons and elusive frogs on guided evening walks. Listen as the forest comes alive with unfamiliar calls and movement after sunset.Discover Madagascar's Living Traditions
Meet women from Ranomafana's FAMIOVA cooperative to learn about traditional silk weaving and natural dyes, then explore medicinal plants and healing practices with FIMARA traditional healers. Browse the local market, where farmers and artisans gather to sell tropical produce, spices and handmade crafts.Fly by Private Charter Between Rainforest Regions
Travel by private charter to and from Ranomafana, avoiding lengthy overland journeys and giving you more time in the rainforest with Madagascar's endangered lemurs.Unwind in Madagascar's Rainforest Retreats
Retreat to comfortable accommodations near the rainforest, from the lush surroundings of Mantadia to the tropical gardens of Ranomafana. Enjoy time to unwind between field excursions at properties that emphasize local sourcing, resource conservation and community connections.Explore with a Group of Just 10 Travelers
Enjoy an intimate field experience with a dedicated Expedition Leader, expert local guides and Malagasy researchers. Take time to observe wildlife closely, ask questions and notice the subtle details of lemur behavior that larger groups might overlook.