Madagascar
Madagascar is the fourth largest island on Earth, Madagascar is a country of diverse scenery: dry deserts, lush forests, baobabs, and long stretches of beach with secret coves. Rich in fauna and flora - there are around 12 000 species of flowers alone - most of the plants, reptiles, amphibians and primates found here are endemic to the island.
Madagascar is also known as the Land of Lemurs because of its prosimians (a sub-order of primates). Most common is the ring-tailed lemur. You’ll find them at the Park Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza or the Berenty Private Reserve along with white-footed and brown varieties. The indri, a panda-like creature, is elusive, but you may see one in the Perinet National Reserve or at least hear its haunting call.
Visit the Rova (Queen’s Palace) and get your tongue around the names of former monarchs such as King Andrianampoinimerina or Queen Rasoherina.
Hire a pousse-pousse, or rickshaw, to explore the capital Antananarivo (Tana for short) and shop at Zoma, the market, where friendly locals speak French or Malagasy. You might want to read up on Fady, a system of strange taboos practised by the Malagasy people. You may not step inside a house with your left foot first, for example. Madagascar really is another world!
