Andranosoa Secondary School is up and running

School started in Andransoa in October and pupils are now being taught by 3 teachers funded by our donations.

Expedition in Numbers

Here is the updated version of our expedition video. Please feel free to share with friends and family. The audio sounds best when allowed to load fully before playing. Please watch the video in HD on vimeo here http://vimeo.com/49965562

Photos now on Flickr

I have set up a separate Photo page on the right hand menu.

http://www.madagascarexpedition2012.com/p/photos-on-flickr.html

Please sign up to Flickr and upload some of your own photos so that I can then put the slideshow links on here. 

Week 4: Andranosoa Opening Ceremony

George and Lauren, our Head boy and Girl give a speech to the crowd of 300 Assembled villagers and dignitaries.

The local children taught us how to dance as a way of saying thank you for our fundraising and hard work.

A member of the Madagascar Ministry of Education formally opens the school. The day was recorded by national television and shown on the national news!

Week 4: Morondava- Chez Maggie

A local man and his wife drive a zebu cart through the Avenue de Baobabs

Zebu Carts are the local form of transport. 

Gary Lemmer (Remote Rivers), Mr Cornish and Ludo (Remote Rivers) at Chez Maggie

The last night at Chez Maggie saw a campfire on the beach with songs and lasting memories. 

Week 4: Belo Sur Mer

The 4 hr journey to Belo Sur Mer wasn't the easiest and involved 2 river crossings in our fleet of 9 4x4s. 

The journey to the coral islands was enjoyed by all. Some swum in the azure waters, some sun bathed, while others in the group collected shells of all shapes, colours and sizes from the beach, recently designated a national park. 

Grace's birthday celebrations involved the Malagasy version of One Direction teaching us how to dance follow-the-leader style in circles on the beach as the sun slipped below the horizon. 

Week 3: Mangily and Kirindy Forest

The boys play football on the beach while the girls watch- a common occurrence on this trip!

Setting up camp on the sand dunes overlooking an empty 2 mile stretch of white sand beach. 

A night walk in Kirindy forest gave the group an opportunity to observe at least four species of nocturnal lemur.  Most pupils were lucky to be able to see Madame Berthe's Mouse lemur, the smallest primate in the world. 

Week 3: Tsingy De Bemaraha

The view from the top was awe-inspiring. The Limestone pinnacles rise 70m above the fragments of forest that are adapted to grow in the canyons below. 

George tests the strength of the rope knowing that if he slips- he takes everyone else with him!

Mr Opie's Group make it to the top of the Grand Tsingy. 

As well as climbing and caving, the Tsing gave us the opportunity to observe endemic species such as this Brown Lemur jumping from rock to rock. 

Week 2: Tsiribihina river

Pupils spent over 3 days paddling down the windy river camping on the large sand banks on the side. 

Camp one saw a cloudless night with the Milky Way stretching right over the camp. 

Morning Exercise included kick ups with the river guides. 

A rarely visited waterfall meant a welcome swim and shower for the group. 

Week 2: Andranosoa

The last few days in the village saw a wealth of activity. 20 benches were completed by Mr Opie's hard working team and Miss Ellis's group finished two murals inside the classrooms. All pupils had the opportunity to have a walk up to the top of the sacred hill to see the tombs of past kings and queens of Madagascar and understand a little more about the culture of ancestor worship. A team has been surveying the village to find out the houses most in need of solar light bulbs while a separate group of students has been handing out stationary equipment to local children. Mrs McCall's hard work around camp and organising all of the food has been well recieved. 

We are all excited to confirm that we will be returning to Andranosoa on the 3rd of August for the opening ceremony and an afternoon of Malagasy music and dancing. We might also squeeze another football match in too (unbeaten so far W1 D1 L0). Today we are in the city of Andtsirabe and have taken the opportunity to have a hot shower and sleep in a bed for the first time in over a week. Tomorrow we will be travelling to Miandrivazo for the start of the 3 day long canoe trip down the Tsiribhina river.

An afternoon walk up to the sacred hill overlooking Andranosoa.

Both of the murals have now been completed

Nokero solar bulbs have been sponsored by the Upminster Residents Association. 

A proud man showing off his new solar light bulb. 

Local children with their gifts of pencils. 

Joe and the rest of the bench team have worked extremely hard to finish all of the benches.