Madagascar is the oldest island on earth and is characterised by its unique natural history. This great mass of land, in fact the fourth largest island in the world, lies off the South-East Coast of Africa and is home to 5% of the world’s animal and plant species.
Ranomafana means ‘hot water’ and is made up of rainforests, cloud forests, marshes and high plateau forests and bisected by the Namarona River which you can swim in during the summer months. The golden bamboo lemur was discovered here but also shares the space with 11 other different species of lemur.
Tsingy de Bemaraha is perhaps the most impressive of the National Parks. It is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has unique geographical features – the tsingy. These oddly named formations form a collection of ‘tsingy’ peaks and are perhaps better described to those having not seen them before as a forest of limestone needles. A series of walkways, ladders and cable ropes run between the peaks and providing stunning views. There is an abundance of flora, fauna which is home to the red-fronted and brown lemurs as well as chameleons and collared iguanids.
The beaches of Madagascar are great too and can often be overlooked. Nosy Be is the largest of a cluster of islands in the Mozambique channel. A stay on Nosy Be wouldn’t be complete without a day trip to the nearby reef ringed island of Nosy Tamikely. Here you will find a marine reserve perfect for snorkelling.
Off the East Coast of Madagascar lies Ile Sainte Marie, a cliché of a tropical island with endless palm fringed beaches, white sand, luxurious vegetation and the added bonus of being relatively undeveloped. The picture perfect beaches are a great place to wind down and between May and September to whale-watch.