Madagascar: Urbanization and Rural Development

Educational Excursions

Educational excursions to locations across Madagascar are essential to providing a more complete representation of the country's many layers of diversity, including the country's ethnic, geographic, and ecological landscapes.

Andasibe and Ankarafantsika National Parks
The Andasibe excursion is an overnight trip that includes a stop in the market town of Moramanga. In Andasibe students have an opportunity to begin thinking about the needs and lifestyles of the local population in relation to questions of biodiversity, natural resource management, and eco-tourism. Situated on the eastern escarpment, the park offers an excellent example of montane rain forest. The visit includes a half-day guided hike in the forest.

The Ankarafantsika visit includes two nights of camping at the park entrance. Located along the road to Mahajanga, the visit allows students to continue exploring the themes introduced during the Andasibe visit, but in a completely different eco-system. Ankarafantsika is considered a dry deciduous forest. During the visit, students take part in a half-day guided hike in the forest followed by an hour-long guided night walk. In addition, the visit includes sessions with park management officials and a stop at a local weaving co-operative that was started with seed money derived from park entrance fees. The local partner for both of these visits is Madagascar National Parks, a national association devoted to the management of the country's parks and protected areas.

Nosy Be
Situated just off the northwest coast of Madagascar, Nosy Be is known worldwide for its accessible coral reefs and attractive beaches. The island has a rich cultural history and diverse present-day population. Tourism, the fishing industry, and cash crops of sugar cane and spices, combined with an active commercial port, also contribute to Nosy Be's role as a regional and national economic hub.

The Nosy Be excursion usually lasts for three days and four nights. In addition to scheduled program activities that include lectures on local history, traditions, and customs and a day of snorkeling at nearby Nosy Tanikely, students are given time to conduct individual field-based inquiries. Accommodations during the Nosy Be excursion are at a hotel in the port town of Hell-Ville.

The National Center for Oceanographic Research (CNRO) based on Nosy Be is SIT's local partner for this portion of the program.

Rural Imerina
Students spend a week in rural areas of the Bongolava region. At the end of the village stay, the group spends a day and a half in the town of Ampefy for discussion and relaxation. The town's position on the shores of Itasy Lake draw numerous local visitors and make it an ideal location to unwind after the village stay. Along the road between Antananarivo and Tsiroanomandidy, the group makes a number of brief stops at sites of historic and cultural importance.

Credits: 16

Duration: 15 weeks

Program Base: Madagascar, Antananarivo

Language Study: French, Malagasy

Prerequisites: 2 semesters French Read more...

View Student Evaluations for this program:

About the Evaluations (PDF)

Spring 2012 Evaluations (PDF)
Fall 2011 Evaluations (PDF)

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