In Malagasy ‘Mora Mora’ is, ‘ slow down chill out, relax, don’t expect anything to happen on time’. So first day orientation starts at 7.30am…. okay… started at 8ish …

Boris, is the smiley energetic Malagasy man managing the camp. The one donning a bright red zippy Manchester United tracksuit top, even though he claims to be a Tottenham supporter. It is his job to orientate us on camp life, on what we will, and will not be doing over the next few weeks.

The key message comes over loud and clear. 40 percent of the money contributed by the volunteers will go to local community projects and 100 per cent of our work effort. Schools have been built, teachers employed and kids supported with the basics of paper, pencils, chalk and books over the last 10 years of the project. Although the Madagascar law promises universal education, it is said that only 30 percent of children take up that education.

I see quickly that the community projects sit more prominently here than the environmental ones, but I am happy to go with the flow.

The volunteers work in four areas. Which accounts for the high number of staff needed, with many of them local specialists in fields of biology and oceanography. The areas are : Marine Management where you need to be an experienced diver ; Turtle Conservation (that’s me) ; Forestry Management and Community Teaching Projects. Bar the Marine Management area, the hope is that volunteers will morph across other areas. I have already signed up for some forestry work, and as they are constantly short of English teachers, and as it is one of the few languages I can speak, I have also put my name down for this.

Camp rules are clear : electricity is scarce, drink only filtered water, no alcohol, no drugs and take everything home with you that you bring. Every bit of plastic, paper, spent battery’s etc.

Outside the camp : respectful clothing please, ask before taking pictures of people, no photos of tombs or graves, and, the height of all sins, (specifically) never wash your clothes, or start anything new, on a Tuesday. A Nosy Komba local suspicion. You would never marry on a Tuesday, and you are pretty jinxed if you are born on a Tuesday.

After the main Orientations new volunteers were then walked off in skin soaking rain to visit the island’s main village, Ampangorinana, and meet our first lemurs.

The Macaco lemurs are teased out of the trees with bananas. Not the ‘real thing’ for me, but nevertheless a great introduction, and maybe, for some of the volunteers, the only lemurs they will see in the wild.

The village, although waterlogged looked like an interesting place for a re-visit, but not for today…

‘Mora Mora’.