After I arrived on Madagascar’s shores in April of 2017, it was like I had stepped again into a spot utterly faraway from the remainder of the world. Madagascar is an island off the coast of mainland Africa, but most species right here exist nowhere else on earth, from pleasant ringtail lemurs to the brilliantly coloured chameleons. Its isolation has created a novel and extraordinary biodiversity unmatched wherever else on the earth, so I used to be desperate to discover this unusual island. One of many fantastic features about my function as WT’s Africa Specialist is attending to expertise locations like this.
A panther chameleon exhibiting off probably the most spectacular colours. Virtually half of the world’s chameleons stay in Madagascar.
Left: Joyful children on the Avenue of the Baobabs. Proper: We met a younger lady from the fishing village of Betania. She wears a pure sunscreen product of floor tamarind wooden.
Farmers develop quite a lot of greens in Madagascar and promote them in native markets. Malagasy delicacies is influenced by the island’s Indonesian and French roots. The meals is kind of tasty. Fruit can be plentiful and unique.
We have been extremely fortunate to see a Fossa, one of many few predators in Madagascar. It’s associated to the mongoose.
Left: The Verreaux’s sifaka performs fixed acrobatics because it simply leaps between the bushes. It makes use of its lengthy tail for steadiness. I hoped for an motion picture and was rewarded with this shot. Proper: Ring-tailed lemurs lick rocks to acquire minerals. They forage on the bottom greater than every other lemurs.
Left: Our fantastic Journey Chief, Vy together with his assistant, a typical brown lemur. Proper: The indri is the biggest dwelling lemur and exists solely in jap Madagascar. We heard the sounds of its haunting name as we walked by means of the forest.
Ladies drying rice within the solar. Enjoyable Truth: Rice is a staple right here, with annual consumption about 250 kilos per individual.
We visited a ladies’s weaving cooperative close to Ranomafana. A non-profit gave them weaving classes and now the ladies earn cash to assist assist their households. Their scarves additionally make the proper present.
Left: Lemur Island is a photographers paradise. These lemurs have been completely happy to assist me discover the proper digicam angle. Proper: This baobab is greater than 600 years previous. It is likely one of the 25 baobabs that line the Avenue of the Baobabs.
