Madagascar Information

To be in Madagascar is to be in another world. This island-nation's million-years of isolation from any continent brought in a peculiar mix of flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth. Add to this the country's unique brew of Asian-African people knee-deep into magic and taboos, and travelers may expect to get nothing from this country but pure shock and fascination. No wonder, this state southeast of Africa is often called "The Eighth Continent."

The fourth largest island in the world, Madagascar is separated from Africa by hundreds of kilometers of Indian Ocean and by 165 million years of evolution, enough to make its species evolve into some of the Earth's weirdest forms like the elephant bird, the largest bird that ever lived.

The Isalo National Park, Réserve Spéciale De L'ankàrana and the World Heritage Site of Tsingy de Bemaraha Reserve are specially known for having the lord's share of Madagascar's over 70 kinds of lemurs, including one that squeals like a police siren. The world's biggest and smallest chameleons are in Masoala National Park, while over 60 varieties of carnivorous pitcher plants are in Ranomafana. In Ifaty, hikers encounter forests of twisted octopus trees, while in Avenue Du Baobab, taxi-bes (cheapest taxis) pass in between a dozen 1000-year-old baobabs that tower to up to 90 feet.

From east to west, there is a different kind of adventure to savor. Water sports are the main feature of the East, where Masoala National Park lies with its dazzling clusters of corals, marine life, and shipwrecks favorable to kayakers, snorkelers and divers. The park harbors many other novelties such as geckos, red owls and tomato frogs. Romance may come to mind upon gazing at the sunset of Andilamena Beach, or yachting and cruising along Canal des Pangalanes, Ankify, and Diego Suarez Bay, regarded as one of the world's finest bays.