Madagascar – Lemurs, rainforests, unique plants and animals, stunning beaches and eclectic Malagasy culture
Continental drift has allowed this massive tropical island to support a unique ecosystem for the past 165 million years. Today, Madagascar is home to a staggering 150,000 species found nowhere else in the world. Not quite Africa and not quite Asia, Madagascar is famous for its lemurs, gorgeous beaches, colorful chameleons, orchids, rainforests, baobab trees, paradise islands, coral reefs, turquoise waters, beautiful white sand beaches, fishing, scuba diving, whale watching, camping on the beach, butterfly safaris, waterfalls, unusual birds, and vanilla plantations. Don’t forget some of the freshest seafood in the word and the inviting Malagasy people as well.
Where Should I Go?
Nosy Be – Known as “the island of perfumes,” this tropical island paradise is famous for the seductive aroma of vanilla, coffee, cinnamon, cocoa and perfume essence from the ylang-ylang tree, as well as being home to excellent scuba diving and lemur viewing.
Montagne D’Ambre National Park – This scenic mountain park is one of Madagascar’s most beautiful and biologically diverse rainforests, and a wonderful place for hiking and seeing lemurs.
Ankarana Special Reserve – Famous for its unique limestone formations and deep gorges, Ankarana is a densely vegetated plateau with rugged rocky landscapes, caves, underground streams, and a host of interesting creatures including lemurs, birds and chameleons.
Anjajavy – An isolated tropical paradise with white sand beaches, Anjajavy’s rich forests are full of lemur.
Masoala National Park – Madagascar’s largest National Park is home to rainforests, marine parks and white sand beaches.
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park – Andisibe is famous for being the best place to see Indri lemurs, the largest lemur species.
Ranomafana National Park – One of Madagascar’s most visited attractions is a mountainous and humid rainforest park created to protect the golden bamboo lemur.
Nosy Sainte Marie – A small tropical island paradise with quaint beach resorts just an hour flight from Antananarivo, Nosy Sainte Marie boasts excellent whale watching as well as great scuba diving.
Antananarivo – The capital and largest city in Madagascar is affectionately known as ““Tana” and is a hilly, bustling city with three distinct areas: the high-city, the mid-city, and the low-city.
Berenty Reserve – This small Private Reserve is one of the best places in Madagascar to see lemurs.
Isalo National Park – A visually stunning park with grassy plains surrounded by unique wind and water-sculpted sandstone formations, canyons and gorges, Isalo reminds some visitors of America’s Wild West.
Ifaty – Located in Madagascar’s largest lagoon and protected by a pristine coral reef, the Ifaty area offers excellent diving and resort accommodation in a very laid-back atmosphere.
Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park – Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique geography, preserved mangrove forests, and wild bird and lemur populations, Tsingy de Bemaraha is one of Madagascar’s most unusual National Parks, protecting the country’s largest expanse of ‘tsingy’ – rare, sharp limestone pinnacle formations.
Kirindy Reserve – A dry deciduous forest home to the greatest density and diversity of primates in the world, Kirindy is also notable for its enormous boabab trees.
