Détours Madagascar Seminar — March 2026
From March 19–22, 2026, the Détours Madagascar teams gathered for a landmark seminar across two meaningful locations: the Akanin'ny Fitiavana school-farm in Bembary Andaingo and Le Relais du naturaliste in Vohimana, in the heart of a pristine primary forest.
March 28, 2026
From March 19–22, 2026, the Détours Madagascar teams gathered for a landmark seminar across two meaningful locations: the school-farm Akanin'ny Fitiavana in Bembary Andaingo, then Le Relais du naturaliste in Vohimana, nestled within a pristine primary forest. Forty of us in all — office staff, guides from across Madagascar, driver-guides, and trackers from the Makay whose presence left a particular mark on everyone's minds — came together for four days of immersion, collective reflection, and commitment, united by a deep conviction: a crucial new chapter in Détours' evolution, one befitting the challenges of a world undergoing profound transformation.
It all began Thursday morning, when the first participants gathered outside Détours' offices before heading toward Moramanga and Bembary. Arrival at the site set the tone immediately. Guided by Aurélia, who carries this project on her shoulders, the tour of the Akanin'ny Fitiavana school-farm — meaning Nest of Love in Malagasy — revealed a project of rare coherence, anchored in the Alaotra Mangoro region.
Early childhood education, educational farm, community development: this place will offer children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds a concrete chance at a fairer future. Work is advancing, and opening is expected within less than a year — a prospect that gives the visit a particular energy, that of promises taking shape. Détours Madagascar supports this project with conviction, already giving its travelers the opportunity to contribute directly — through funding, child sponsorship, or simply through their engaged presence. It is here, in this still-under-construction "nest," that the seminar's founding idea takes full meaning: responsible tourism is not decreed, it is built, gesture by gesture, encounter by encounter.
On Friday, the second wave arrived in Vohimana, and the seminar delved into its main theme: sensitive natural sites. The Makay massif served as our case study: a magnificent yet threatened site, it perfectly illustrates the tensions between responsible tourism development, preservation, and exploitation. Détours Madagascar, which has been investing there for years, shared its actions: training local teams, raising awareness of eco-friendly practices, and strengthening community belonging. An approach we find across all our territories, where ecosystem preservation and respect for local communities are at the heart of everything we do.
Discussions were rich — guides, office and field teams alike — centered on best practices to adopt: systematic briefings before each departure, daily eco-gestures, waste management, and measured use of water and energy. Living pedagogy, transmitted as much through dialogue as through shared experience.
Saturday deepened these issues with the question of Travelife certification, in which Détours Madagascar is actively investing. Travelife is one of the most recognized international certifications in the sustainable tourism sector, founded on rigorous audits of operators' social, environmental, and ethical practices. For Détours, committing to this process is far more than obtaining a label: it means affirming a position in a rapidly evolving global market, gaining credibility with demanding partners and travelers, and opening new commercial horizons. The afternoon was then devoted to co-creating an internal ethical charter — environmental, social, and professional commitment — a true shared compass for the months ahead.
This Madagascar seminar resonates well beyond the Big Island. For Détours has a living presence in Algeria, Mauritania, Kenya, and Tanzania-Zanzibar — so many lands of adventure and encounter where the same convictions guide every team, every guide, every journey. From desert to desert, forest to coral archipelago, it is one and the same vision that flows through them all: that of responsible tourism which respects people, preserves environments, and weaves lasting bonds between travelers and the communities that welcome them.
Sunday, awake at 5 a.m., camp struck, and departure for an early-morning hike through Vohimana forest. A way to close this seminar as it had been lived: feet in nature, minds in motion.
*Best wishes for the 2026 season to the entire Détours team!
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Bembary Madagascar Makay Educational Project Relais du Naturaliste Solidarity Responsible Tourism Vohimana Travel [[email protected]](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection)
