Aug 8, 2019 - Ifaty to Antananarivo

Due to fly back to Antananarivo on Air Madagascar and the flights are notoriously inreliable. They are regularly cancelled with only 24 hours notice, which would mean a 10 hour bus ride back to the capital. This flight has been cancelled for the past 3 days, but we have heard that it has been confirmed. We are getting to the airport early to check in as they are likely to have overbooked the flight. In the meantime we got to hang out at the beach all morning instead of getting on an early morning bus. The flight made it, but we didn't reach...

Aug 6, 2019 - Ifaty

In the morning Judes and I went whale watching. Felt like we went to Mozambique and back. We only saw the rear end of one whale and a pod of dolphins, so rather disappointing. In the afternoon we went to the Spiny Forest, using carts pulled by zebu as our transportation. In the Spiny Forest we saw many baobab trees, the oldest being 1200 years. In the evening, walked down the beach for dinner

Aug 4, 2019 - Ranohira

A full day in Isalo National Park - a very hard hike in hot (35 degrees) and dry conditions. Not what I was expecting in Madagascar. A welcome relief in the natural pool. Ended the day planting 200 trees! Madagascar used to be known as the Green Island, but is now referred to as the Red Island due to deforestation) - not surprised after my flight in

Aug 3, 2019 - Ambalavao to Ranohira

Visited a handmade paper factory followed by a silk factory, before driving a short distance to the Anja Special Reserve. There were so many Ring-tailed lemurs, and they let us come so close. Definitely a highlight so far. we then spent the afternoon driving to Ranohira, and the landscape changed dramatically as we crossed the high plateau - not at all what I was expecting from Madagascar

Aug 2, 2019 - Ranamofana to Ambalavao

Opted for the morning hike in the Ranomafana rainforest. There are 7 diurnal species of lemur in the rainforest, and we were lucky enough to spot 6 of them - the Red-fronted brown lemur, Milne Edward's sifaka, golden bamboo lemur, greater bamboo lemur,black & white ruffed lemur and the Red-bellied lemur. So our total number of lemur species for Madagascar is up to 10. Had considered going to the hot thermal springs for a swim after the hike, but decided against it having done some research The afternoon was spent drivibg to Ambalavao

Jul 30, 2019 - Andasibe to Antsirabe

Just a long travel day today. Left Antsibe at 730am and headed back to Antananarivo and the south to Antsirabe, arriving at 530pm. Seemed a long way around, but apparently the roads are so much better. Having troublr uploading photos due to very slow internet - will try and catch up later

Jun 1, 2019 - Crocodiles and Turkish Airlines

The night before I made arrangements for a cab to pick us up, then get James, then to the crocodile farm, and to the airport. We packed our bags and got a scale and all seemed well (but scale a bit squirley). At 10:00 the cab arrived and we headed to pick up James. Lots of traffic but we finally got to him and off to the Crocodile Farm. Through a town on the outskirts of the airport where lots of people were crushing granite for rubble and selling it in piles. Normal sort of town. As we approached the farm there was a big open space where...

May 31, 2019 - All around Antananarivo

We got up fairly early to get ready for our tour and there was a knock on the door – our guide had sent a note that we should leave at 7:00 to avoid traffic! We hurried up and packed and had a quick breakfast and were on the road with Ravo by 7:30 – but a bit late. Traffic was horrific. We spent maybe three hours in town, mostly stopped. There were street vendors who walked between the stalled vehicles selling all sorts of foods. We were being passed by cargo rickshaws and zebu wagons who went up on the sidewalks. Many curious children and...

May 30, 2019 - Back to Tana

Departure day. We packed our bags and went to breakfast, then again loaded into the boat to cross the cove to get to Anakoa. It was dawn when we headed across. Again hundreds of sailed fishing boats filled the horizon – some close most, in groups, further out. A quite ride. We landed at the dock and met our transport and headed to the airport. After a while we said goodbye to Bruno. Gave him a tip and my 18 – 200 lens as the new one is just fantastic! We stopped at a souvenir stand and got some more things, then through security. Kitty...

May 29, 2019 - Tsimanampetsotsa Nature Reserve

We broke into two groups today. Teresa and Paul decided to go to Nosy Ve for some snorkeling on the island and James and the two of us, plus Bruno, went to Tsimanampetsotsa National Park to look at the woods and flamingos. Peter and Sue were heading off for an early flight back to Australia so we said goodbye to them – good travel partners! Then we loaded into a four wheeler and headed to the park. We passed through a number of villages and passed many zebu carts on the one lane sandy road on the way. We were also introduced to Malagasy...

May 28, 2019 - Boababs!

Up at 3:30 and there were no lights – as we were warned. We got packed up anyway and met folks at the van. A box breakfast. We headed off into the night going south. Just about sunrise Bruno pulled the van over and set up a breakfast table. It was really chilly and Kitty and I were the only ones without jackets. And there was no tea! But as the sun came up we saw a huge baobab tree off near some hills. We ate what we could then took pictures, then went over to the tree to take even more pictures. Magnificent tree – about 800 years old. Back...

May 27, 2019 - The escarpment

We were up early and, indeed, no lights! We somehow got dressed and ready to go to breakfast on time. The grounds of the lodge were quite diverse with pineapple bushes and many variety of trees, including elephant’s foot – looked like a baobab. Then off on a very bumpy ride to the escarpment – only about a mile but the road was so bad it took half an hour – we were all quite shaken up by the trip. It was quite a lovely day and we ascended the escarpment on a steep path with irregular steps (like everywhere!) The rock formations were very...