"GALAPAGOS OF AFRICA"
The only place in the world where you can see lemurs in the wild, Madagascar is home to a unique abundance of wildlife. Big-eyed chameleons, dancing lemurs and leaf-tailed geckos are just the beginning.
Madagascar is a destination like no other and has even been dubbed the '8th continent' for its enchanting beauty and stunning diversity. An early escape from Earth's single landmass Gondwanaland more than 165 million years ago, this stunning island, located 250 miles off the coast of East Africa, is the world's fourth largest. The landscapes of the majestic Red Island range from palm-fringed and forested beaches to semi-arid deserts, limestone peaks, volcanoes and grassy plateaus. Combined with the immense diversity of wildlife on offer, Madagascar is often called the 'Galapagos of Africa', and to this day continues to offer some of the most unique and unheard of wildlife adventures on the planet.
"In this unique environment, even time feels askew, as if the twin processes of evolution and extinction were happening simultaneously," he says.
Madagascar, also called Malagasy, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island and country located east of the mainland of the continent of Africa, separated from it by Strait of Mozambique. It is the fourth largest island in the world. Madagascar is definitely a holiday for your bucket list !
Baobab trees are huge trees that can grow 30 metres high and 11 metres wide and live for up to 1,000 years (that's about the height of an eight-storey building). The reason they grow so wide that they can absorb and store water is because the climate is so dry (as much as 1,000 gallons of water can be stored in a single tree).
Situated on the western coast of Madagascar, Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park is known for its breathtaking limestone formations. Read on to see what makes this park a must-see on your next trip to the country.
Ever heard of Tsingy De Bemaraha in Madagascar? If you love nature, you will definitely appreciate this park’s natural beauty. While the country is known for lemurs, birding, baobab trees, and jungles, Tsingy De Bemaraha provides tourists with a little different experience.
The sheer diversity of its landscape, marked by sweeping canyons and gorges and grand waterfalls will give even the most seasoned traveler goosebumps. It’s that beautiful.
Home to the most mind-blowing and unique geological formation in the world, the Tsingy are marked by gigantic limestone stones with jagged peaks. But that’s only the start.
Isalo National Park is a national park in the southern Malagasy region of Ihorombe. Established in 1962, the national park is also known as the 'Colorado of Madagascar' due to its jagged rock massifs. The name Isalo comes either from the endemic plant species Ischnolepis graminifolia or is a corruption of the name of a Portuguese who stayed here in the 16th century.
Nationaal park Ranomafana is een nationaal park in Centraal-Madagaskar. Het park heeft een oppervlakte van 416 km². De naam betekent 'heet water' en verwijst naar het nabijgelegen dorp Ranomafana waar zich warmwaterbronnen bevinden waar de Fransen in de koloniale periode een kuuroord aanlegden, waaromheen het dorp ontstond. Bij de ingang van het park bevindt zich Centre Valbio, het belangrijkste wetenschappelijke instituut van Madagaskar op het gebied van biodiversiteit.
Andasibe Mantadia National Park is a 155 km² protected nature reserve in Madagascar's lowland forests. It is located near Andasibe, a town in the eastern region of Alaotra-Mangoro. The park consists of two sections: the Mantadia National Park and the Analamazoatra Reserve, also called Périnet, after the old French name for Andasibe. Visits to both the park and the reserve are allowed only when accompanied by a local guide.
Nosy Sakatia is an island of Madagascar in the Mozambique Strait, belonging to the Indian Ocean. Administratively, the island belongs to the municipality of Nosy Be in the Diana region. The island is located 1 kilometre west of Nosy Be. Nosy Sakatia is six kilometres long and two kilometres wide. About 300 people live on the island, divided into three villages that live from both fishing and agriculture. One can snorkel, hike and scuba dive here; there is an NAUI facility on the island, for instance. The interior is quite hilly and the forests in the south are home to bats and Brookesia minima.
Nosy Be is the place for Madagascar's signature beaches. Located five miles off the coast of the main island, Nosy Be is a volcanic island with an area of more than 120 square miles (310 square kilometres). Although it is a volcanic island, there have been no eruptions in recorded history.Here you will find white sandy beaches and a more upmarket, western environment. There are expensive restaurants, large resorts and lots of couples and families (which is generally Madagascar). Beach parties erupt every Sunday and you can do fantastic snorkelling, diving, fishing and whale watching (the waters around Nosy Be are home to humpback and minke whales). It is the ultimate tropical island paradise.
Home to more than 1.6 million people, Antananarivo is the country's capital and Madagascar's largest city. Before French colonisation in 1897, the city was already a thriving cultural centre. After the country gained independence in 1960, the city's population increased dramatically.
Today, it is a chaotic place with not much to do, but it is a good stop to see the lemur park and the Rova (the old palace), get an idea of the city's international scene and use it as your launch pad for stops further afield.
The best time to visit Madagascar is from April to October. This dry season brings less rainfall, which means optimal conditions for wildlife spotting, hiking and enjoying the beach.
Although holidays in Madagascar can be enjoyed all year round, the main wet season is from late December to March; often with cyclones, it is probably best avoided! Being prepared for all weather conditions is always recommended, as weather patterns do not necessarily stick to traditional seasons. Madagascar is a huge country and therefore the climate varies enormously depending on your geographical location. In short, the best travel time to go to Madagascar is
From July to September to see humpback whales. These are often considered the best months to visit with excellent weather and wonderful accommodation for relaxing on the beach.
October and November are excellent for baby lemurs. Lemurs can generally be seen all year round.
April avoids the high season and is ideal for lush landscapes, bounding lemurs and quiet parks and beaches.
September to December is a great time to combine lemurs, chameleons and beach holidays with warm, relatively dry weather.
The best time to go depends on where you want to go and what you want to see. In general, April to December work well.
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