Madagascar is a dream destination for outdoor enthusiasts, with desert, hiking, driving, rainforest, lemurs and baobabs, the true joy is in the journey to these destinations!
Madagascar is exclusive, in the sense, 5% of all known animal and plant species are found here alone. The island’s signature animal is the lemur, though you may sight many more exotic creatures and plants; baobabs, insects, sharks, frogs, orchids, palms, birds, turtles, mongoose. The list can go on and on. Most of this biodiversity could be under threat from climate change and population pressure, giving every trip a sense of urgency but also a purpose: tourism could really do good in time.
The amazing fauna and flora is harmonised by epic landscapes of diversity. One can go from rainforest to desert in just 300km, being one of the few places that offers such extraordinary brilliance of nature. There are sandstone canyons, limestone karsts, mountains, fertile hills outpouring with terraced rice paddies, forests of various kinds-rain, dry, spiny- and a murram rich soil that gave the name ‘Red Island’ to this country. Since it has a vast coastline of about 5000 km, the sea is never too far, turquoise and idyllic in some places and dangerous in others!
Madagascar is the world’s fourth-largest island with barely any roads at all, however, for those who relish an adventure, this is a very distinct destination; the off-road driving experience being noteworthy. There are a few national parks that have just a few hundred visitors throughout the year, some regions that live in tyrannical rule during the rainy season, with resorts so remote that one would need a private plane or boat to reach there. There are numerous activities one can choose from, like hiking, diving, kitesurfing, rock-climbing apart from a number of natural beaches and hammocks where you can relax.
Madagascar has been influenced by successive immigrants from different corners of the Indian Ocean, unlike Africa and Asia. There are incredible sights to discover the history of this place, a number of opportunities to meet the locals and plunge yourself in their world; village stays, long-distance trails, festivals, taxi brousse (bush taxis) and Friday night discos are indeed a treat to the discerning traveller.
