Africa-Madagascar Expedition Cruise
October 28 – November 15, 2025
Kenya | Tanzania | South Africa | Madagascar
The Duke Lemur Center and Duke Travels are excited to share with you this preview of our plans to offer a new tour experience for 2025—an expedition cruise to Madagascar, South Africa, and Tanzania!
The cruise will be aboard the elegant SH Diana, part of the Swan Hellenic fleet. This expedition cruise is an extraordinary opportunity to visit Madagascar and Africa with the Duke Lemur Center’s conservation expert, Charlie Welch, who will be our trip leader and expert. He will share his stories, insights, and expertise from more than 35 years working in Madagascar, including 15 years living there, establishing and nurturing growth of the Duke Lemur Center’s conservation programs.
When registration begins, eligible DLC giving society members will receive the opportunity to reserve a spot and select a cabin before the trip is offered to a wider audience.
We anticipate the trip details and pricing to be finalized soon and the brochure to be posted this fall on this page of the Duke Travels website. If you have any questions, contact Nathan McKinnis (Director, Duke Travels) at nathan.mckinnis@duke.edu or 919-684-6723.
Overview
Madagascar is one of the highest conservation priorities on the planet due to its high level of endemic biota, and the rapid rate at which much of that biota is unfortunately disappearing. We invite you to be part of this exclusive and remarkable adventure to one of the most extraordinary places on Earth. In addition to the many splendors of this unique island country, you’ll experience exclusive areas not open to tourists. The Duke Lemur Center has been working in Madagascar for over 35 years, and we’ll have access to Duke-connected conservation projects and people. This is truly a one-of-a-kind experience!
Madagascar is home to all of the world’s lemurs (100+ species) and over half of the world’s chameleons, in addition to more than 170 species of frogs. There is no question that Madagascar is a nature lover’s dream and an exceptional photographic destination! Our itinerary is designed to cover many of the island’s highlights, including different ecosystems with a diversity of wildlife and photographic subjects. We have chosen these stops to showcase the incredible diversity in landscape flora and fauna common to each of these areas.
The tour will be led by Duke Lemur Center conservation coordinator Charlie Welch, who lived and worked in Madagascar for 15 years. In keeping with the principles of responsible ecotourism, we will make a donation to the Lemur Center’s SAVA Conservation Project; employ local people; use locally owned and operated lodges and outfitters, and use local goods and services. This is a journey that will make a positive impact on both you and the areas we visit.
Duke Faculty: Charles Welch, Conservation Coordinator, Duke Lemur Center.
This tour is offered by Duke Travels in collaboration with the DLC. To reserve your space, please visit the Duke Travels website. We hope you’ll join us on this trip of a lifetime!
Questions?
If you have questions, please contact Nathan McKinnis at Duke Travels (duketravels@duke.edu or 919-648-2988).
Note that, even though the trip is offered by Duke Travels in collaboration with the DLC, you do NOT need to be a Duke alumnus/a to join us on this journey!
