March 28, 2026

It all begins Thursday morning, when the first participants gather outside the Detours offices before heading toward Moramanga and Bembary. Arrival at the site immediately sets the tone. Led by Aurélia, who champions this project with unwavering dedication, a tour of the Akanin'ny Fitiavana farm-school construction site — "Nest of Love" in Malagasy — reveals a project of rare coherence, anchored in the Alaotra Mangoro region.

Early childhood education, pedagogical farm, community development: this place will offer children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds a genuine chance at a more equitable future. Construction is advancing, and opening is expected within less than a year — a prospect that infused the visit with particular energy, the energy of promises taking shape. Detours Madagascar supports this project with conviction, already giving its travelers the opportunity to contribute directly — through funding, by sponsoring a child, or simply through their thoughtful presence. It is here, in this "nest" still under construction, that the seminar's founding idea takes on its full meaning: responsible tourism is not decreed, it is built, gesture by gesture, encounter by encounter.

On Friday, the second wave arrives in Vohimana, and the seminar moves into its main focus: sensitive natural sites. The Makay massif serves as the case study: a magnificent yet threatened site, it perfectly illustrates the tensions between responsible tourism development, preservation, and exploitation. Detours Madagascar, which has invested in this region for years, shared its initiatives: training local teams, raising awareness about eco-practices, and strengthening community belonging. An approach we apply across all our territories, where ecosystem preservation and respect for local communities lie at the heart of our actions.

Discussions are rich — guides, office and field teams alike — centered on best practices to adopt: systematic briefings before each departure, daily eco-gestures, waste management, mindful water and energy use. A living pedagogy, conveyed as much through dialogue as through shared experience.

Saturday deepens these issues with the question of Travelife certification, in which Detours Madagascar is actively engaged. 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 Detours, committing to this process means far more than earning a label: it's affirming a position on an evolving global market, building credibility with demanding partners and travelers, and opening new commercial horizons. The afternoon is then devoted to co-building an internal ethics charter — environmental, social, and professional commitment — a true compass for the months ahead.

This Madagascar seminar resonates far beyond the Great Island. Because Detours also has a vibrant presence in Algeria, Mauritania, Kenya and Tanzania-Zanzibar — as many lands of adventure and encounter where the same convictions guide every team, every guide, every journey. From desert to desert, from forest to coral archipelago, it is one and the same vision that flows: that of responsible tourism that respects people, preserves environments, and weaves lasting connections between travelers and the communities that welcome them.

Sunday, a 5 a.m. wake-up call, camp struck, and off on a morning hike through the Vohimana forest. A fitting way to close this seminar as it was lived: feet on the ground, minds in motion.

*Here's to a wonderful 2026 season for the entire Detours team!

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BembaryMadagascarMakayEducational ProjectRelais du NaturalisteCommunity BenefitResponsible TourismVohimanaTravel[[email protected]](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection)