MADAGASCAR

An island in the Indian Ocean, roughly the size of France or Texas, Madagascar is home to more than 250,000 species of which 70 % are found nowhere else on the globe. It is the fourth largest island on earth. The island is said to have broken off the African continent about 165 million years ago.

It has a mountainous central plateau and coastal plains. The first settlers were of African and Asian origin, and 18 separate ethnic groups emerged, derived from an African and Malayo-Indonesian mixture. Most of the population depends on subsistence farming with coffee, vanilla, and seafood being important exports.

French colonial rule began in 1896. Independence was gained in 1960. In 1990, after almost 20 years of Marxism, Madagascar lifted a ban on opposition parties, and a new president was elected in 1993. Elections in 2001 and 2009 resulted in brief periods of civil unrest. The country is currently peaceful.

Due to massive environmental degradation, Madagascar's species are some of the most threatened on the planet. Since the arrival of man less than 2000 years ago, Madagascar has lost more than 16 species of lemur including one the size of a gorilla, a pygmy hippo, the largest land bird to ever walk the planet, and giant tortoises. The IUCN Red list currently includes 472 entries for Malagasy species at risk of going extinct. Today Madagascar is arguably the highest conservation priority in the world!

More than 50 types of lemurs are unique to the island, as well as 99 percent of its frog species and 36 genera of birds. Madagascar houses 100 percent of the world's lemurs, half of its chameleon species and 6 percent of its frogs.

Madagascar's famous lemurs are primates that are unique to the island and display a range of interesting behaviors from singing like a whale (the indri) to sashaying across the sand like a ballet dancer (the sifaka). The island is also home to more than 300 species of reptiles of which more than 90 percent are endemic and 36 are found nowhere else. Madagascar's reptile fauna includes lizards, snakes, turtles and tortoises, and crocodiles.

The Aye-aye is one of the world's most bizarre creatures with its long twig-like middle finger, huge eyes, rat-like teeth, and large bat-like ears. This nocturnal lemur, first classified as a rodent, uses its long middle finger as a tool for finding insects. After tapping the tree bark, it uses its sensitive hearing to detect the movement of insect larvae. Studies have found that the aye-aye is capable of sensing insect movement at a depth of 12 feet.

Antananarivo - often shorted to "Tana" - is the capital city of Madagascar. It is a most unusual capital city with colorful houses decorating the hillsides, extensive rice paddies running through sections of the town, and bustling streets full of cars and Zebu-drawn carts. Tana is located in the central highlands of Madagascar where the climate is mild.

Nosy Be, also known as Nosy Manitra ("the scented Island”) is filled with the fragrances of ylang ylang (perfume tree), frangipani, vanilla, cocoa, cinnamon and sugar cane. A very popular destination on any itinerary, Nosy Be highlights focus on beautiful beaches, views from the peak of Mont Passot, scuba diving and a ylang ylang distillery.

Options in Madagascar are varied and should be designed to suit your level of adventure, need for comfort and luxury, or pure curiosity and desire to see this unique part of the world. Madagascar is definitely for the adventurous – snorkel or scuba dive in the warm Indian Ocean, take a dhow sailing trip or charter a yacht, find the world's smallest chameleons, hidden waterfalls and crater lakes, and trek to see the many species of lemur, craters and unique wildlife of Madagascar.

At night a different world comes to life in the Madagascar forests. Night walks are very rewarding as a large number of mammals and other species are nocturnal. If you pick your excursion well, you can find lemurs, and if very lucky you may see the aye-aye. Other mammals seen at night are the fossa and the giant jumping rat. Endemic night birds include the Madagascar long-eared owl, Madagascar scops owl, white-browed owl and the Madagascar and collared nightjars.