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Situated off the southeast coast of Africa, Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world. It is separated from the coast of Africa by the Mozambique Channel, the shortest distance between the island and the mainland is 400km (248.5 miles). Madagascar is legendary for its profusion of wildlife and flora, 80% of which is found nowhere else on earth. Isolated from the continents 160 million years ago, Madagascar followed a unique evolutionary path into enormous Tortoises, Elephant birds, and Lemurs. The animals of Madagascar found plentiful foodstuffs, and an almost total lack of predators. Because evolutionary pressures on Madagascar's early inhabitants were almost nonexistent, the island literally teems with life forms that have changed little in hundreds of thousands, even millions of years. In many ways, Madagascar is literally a land that time forgot. Lemurs were the highest primate form on the island until the Malagasy people, of Afro-Polynesian ancestry, arrived a mere 2000 years ago. Some of the worlds most unusual birds are found only on Madagascar, gorgeous ground-rollers, the diverse Vanga family, the Couas. Birders will be rewarded by a visit to any of Madagascars splendid reserves. If you long to tick off most of the endemics, including Oxylabes, Newtonias and the rare Madagascar Fish Eagle, we recommend a two-week specialist birding tour. Places of interest:Andringitra National Park:
Andringitra National Park, located in south-east Madagascar, was inaugurated in October 1999. The areas great tourism potential resides specifically in the possibilities it offers for panoramic views, environmental education and sport like trekking. The 31,160-hectare national park lies between two older protected areas, Ranomafana and Isalo National Parks. As a natural area, it is in a class of its own, characterized by a very high diversity in plant and animal life and a large variety of endemic species. Andringitra exhibits tropical moist forests, dense montane forests and high moutain prairies crowned by massive granite escarpments. Peak Boby, 2,658 metres (8720.4 feet) above sea level, the highest accessible peak in Madagascar, is the Malagasy second highest mountain and one of the areas principal attractions. |
