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Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of southeast Africa. It is the fourth largest island in the world. Madagascar split from India around 88 million years ago, allowing native plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation. Consequently, Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot; over 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on earth. There are nearly 100 species of lemurs on the island.
Photos of:
Chameleon at the Peyrieras Reptile Park
Diademed Sifaka (Propithecus diadema) at the Vakona Forest Reserve near Andasibe National Park
Black and White Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegate) at Palmarium Reserve, Canal des Pangalanes
Crowned Lemur at Palmarium Reserve, Canal des Pangalanes
Red Lemur (Eulemur rufus) at Palmarium Reserve, Canal des Pangalanes
Indri Indri Lemur baby at Palmarium Reserve, Canal des Pangalanes
The Canal des Pangalanes, one of the longest canals in the world, is a series of man made canals linking natural lakes and rivers running down the east coast of Madagascar from Tamatave for over 600 kilometres (370 miles). It is used mainly for transportation and fishing but it also contains unspoiled beaches. It was constructed by the French between 1896–1904. The Palmarium reserve, also named Ankanin'ny Nofy (dream nest) is situated on the East coast of Madagascar. It is a 50 hectare reserve on the shore of the Ampitabe lake and the Indian ocean and offers one of the best opportunities of interacting with lemurs. Although the lemurs are wild they join the hotel guests for breakfast so that they can share the fruit on offer! So be careful not to store any fruit in your room or it is likely they will ransack it. It's much easier to see the lemurs there than to try and spot them in the rainforest of Andasibe for example.
Ile Sainte Marie (Nosy Boraha) is 60 km long and less than 10 km wide. The channel between Sainte-Marie island and Madagascar is a hot spot for whale watching. Substantial groups of humpback whales (Megaptera) migrate from the Antarctic to this idyllic breeding place. These quiet giants find conditions there that are favourable for the growth of their young and well suited to their courtship and acrobatic games before their big return toward the cold seas.
The food in Madagascar has a heavy French influence. Most of the roads are poor, except for route nationale 2 from the capital Antananarivo towards Tamatave/Toamasina and route national 7 from Antananarivo to Toliara. If you hire a car it will come with a driver. ATMs/cashpoints restrict the amount of money you can withdraw which is worth bearing in mind because most places (petrol stations and hotels) will only accept cash. Madagascar is most easily reached from Paris, France.
And if you'd like to see Nicola Philippi's video of the lemurs please click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIbP5vLz_Is&list=UUjO2CsMrL0LKaO_RwrwXcDA
Photos of:
Chameleon at the Peyrieras Reptile Park
Diademed Sifaka (Propithecus diadema) at the Vakona Forest Reserve near Andasibe National Park
Black and White Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegate) at Palmarium Reserve, Canal des Pangalanes
Crowned Lemur at Palmarium Reserve, Canal des Pangalanes
Red Lemur (Eulemur rufus) at Palmarium Reserve, Canal des Pangalanes
Indri Indri Lemur baby at Palmarium Reserve, Canal des Pangalanes
The Canal des Pangalanes, one of the longest canals in the world, is a series of man made canals linking natural lakes and rivers running down the east coast of Madagascar from Tamatave for over 600 kilometres (370 miles). It is used mainly for transportation and fishing but it also contains unspoiled beaches. It was constructed by the French between 1896–1904. The Palmarium reserve, also named Ankanin'ny Nofy (dream nest) is situated on the East coast of Madagascar. It is a 50 hectare reserve on the shore of the Ampitabe lake and the Indian ocean and offers one of the best opportunities of interacting with lemurs. Although the lemurs are wild they join the hotel guests for breakfast so that they can share the fruit on offer! So be careful not to store any fruit in your room or it is likely they will ransack it. It's much easier to see the lemurs there than to try and spot them in the rainforest of Andasibe for example.
Ile Sainte Marie (Nosy Boraha) is 60 km long and less than 10 km wide. The channel between Sainte-Marie island and Madagascar is a hot spot for whale watching. Substantial groups of humpback whales (Megaptera) migrate from the Antarctic to this idyllic breeding place. These quiet giants find conditions there that are favourable for the growth of their young and well suited to their courtship and acrobatic games before their big return toward the cold seas.
The food in Madagascar has a heavy French influence. Most of the roads are poor, except for route nationale 2 from the capital Antananarivo towards Tamatave/Toamasina and route national 7 from Antananarivo to Toliara. If you hire a car it will come with a driver. ATMs/cashpoints restrict the amount of money you can withdraw which is worth bearing in mind because most places (petrol stations and hotels) will only accept cash. Madagascar is most easily reached from Paris, France.
And if you'd like to see Nicola Philippi's video of the lemurs please click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIbP5vLz_Is&list=UUjO2CsMrL0LKaO_RwrwXcDA