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A Madagascar safari offers a completely unique experience: the pint-sized 'continent' of Madagascar is neither Africa nor Asia. Madagascar split from Gondwanaland some 165 million years ago - a Noah’s ark of sorts sailing away to the east. The isolation of Madagascar makes for an exciting safari destination as the completely separate evolution of flora and fauna is a paradise for nature-lovers with over 20,000 species, 80-90% of which are endemic (ie. not found anywhere else.) Lemurs are the lure for many visitors, with nine-tenths of the world's endangered lemurs only found on Madagascar.
A Madagascar safari is not blessed with a wide variety of birds, only 283 species, but the ears of keen birders are soon attuned to the calls of its numerous endemic birds, a staggering 109 species. Specials include the Giant coua, Crested coua and the Velvet asity. The island also boasts some of the richest flora in the world with over 1,000 species of orchid, 6 species of baobab (The whole continent of Africa only has one!) even a carnivorous ‘pitcher plant’, as well as over 70% of the world’s population of chameleons, and a mere 150 species of frogs.
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| Who will enjoy a Madagascar safari? |
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Visitors fly to Madagascar direct from Johannesburg, Paris or Milan, and accommodation is mostly in simple hotels and country lodges. (There are plans to also fly direct from Johannesburg to the resort area of Nosy Be.) We recommend that you visit at least two, and preferably three or four, of Madagascar's distinct climatic and floral zones - Berenty, Perinet and Morondava. You experience the flora and fauna of Madagascar mainly by walking the forest trails, sometimes for some hours, sometimes in hilly terrain. Many visitors tack on some days of relaxation at the end, at Nosy Be or Saint Marie with their gorgeous tropical beaches. The west and northwest of Madagascar are year-round destinations but mid January to March is cyclone season on the east coast. The eastern rainforests have a high rainfall so the best times to visit are the drier months of May or September to November.
However, a Madagascar safari or Madagascar tour is not for everyone… flight delays and late itinerary changes are all part of travelling in this remote country. If you really like good quality accommodation, expect a holiday to unfold exactly as the brochure says, and have difficulty coping with change, then perhaps Madagascar is not for you. This is also the case if you’re not in good physical health, given the amount of walking usually involved. However, if you have a spirit of adventure, welcome the unexpected, and are willing to accept some irritations and rustic conditions, then Madagascar, with its pristine flora and extra-ordinary wildlife, could be the perfect destination for you.
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are tailor-made specialists. Contact us to discuss your unique African
holiday of a lifetime. |
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| Madagascar Accommodation
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Types of Tours in Madagascar |
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