MADAGASCAR

The country of Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, located 250 miles off the east coast of Africa. Breaking off from the mainland millions of years ago, it evolved in isolation, resulting in an environment full of unique and unusual plants and animals found nowhere else on earth – in fact about 90% of all species in the country are endemic.
Adventurous travelers looking for an off-the-beaten-path destination may find any of the 111 species of lemurs, rainbow-colored chameleons, the tsingy forest, towering baobabs, mountains, deserts, jungles, and more than 3,000 miles of coastline with pristine beaches surrounded by some of the world’s largest coral reefs. Madagascar is magical and mysterious, its isolation adrift in the Indian Ocean creating a “Lost World” that anyone who visits soon realizes is like nowhere else on earth. Its culture is a colorful fusion of African, European, and Southeast Asian influences, with 18 distinct subcultures, each with its own traditions and beliefs.

We recommend Madagascar as a standalone destination in order to fully enjoy all that the country has to offer.