Madagascar
The fourth largest island in the world, Madagascar is one of the most bio-diverse
countries on earth, home to thousands of species of plant and animal life of which
about 80 percent cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. Lying off the east
coast of Africa, Madagascar is very different from its neighbours, and its
uniqueness in the world has led some to class it as the Eighth Continent. Since
it split from the mainland 165 million years ago, many species that are unique to
the island have evolved, including 3,000 indigenous species of butterfly. Ringed
by golden beaches and palm trees, it has an interior that is resplendent in its
variety, from grassy plateaux to volcanoes and opaque forests and natural reserves.
Our 14-day trip (MG1) covers the island from top to bottom; join us in July / Aug
in the dry, cooler season.
An island of gold-sand beaches lined with swaying palm trees, diverse
topographical wonders that house incredible arrays of endemic flora and fauna and
friendly, traditional peoples with tribal cultures, Madagascar has all the right
ingredients for an unforgettable tour destination. As we travel through sceneries
of mist-enshrouded virgin rainforest, rice paddies fringing low hills, deep
canyons carved into peculiar shapes by erosion and Eden-like waterfall oases, we
see Mother Nature at her best and come to appreciate the uniqueness of this
special place. We see brightly coloured houses stacked on hillsides, bustling
markets and innumerable intriguing sites that detail the area's pre- and post-
colonial history--and of course, we'll be sure to see plenty of lemurs, which can
be found naturally only in Madagascar and on one or two surrounding islands.
Calling Madagascar an island almost seems unfair. This Eden-like garden of riches
is filled with so much diversity in life and geography it is like no other island
anywhere on Earth. Indeed, every expedition into its mountains, rain forests,
river valleys, coastal plains, grasslands, caverns, and deserts leads to the
discovery of some new plant or animal species. And with its many quiet coves and
its proximity to the Indian Ocean trade routes, Madagascar was a haven for many
of the fiercest pirates that ever sailed the seven seas. Tales of buried treasure
and stories of the swashbuckling buccaneers' deeds and misdeeds have become a
colourful part of the national folklore. It is no exaggeration to claim that this
micro-continent (as some have called it) offers limitless opportunities for
exploration.
Kenya, Tanzania & Madagascar Tours
Day 2 of Kenya, Tanzania & Madagascar Tour
Nairobi - Mt Kenya Conservation Area
This morning we will depart for the lower slopes of Mt Kenya, rising to 5199m
(16,728 feet), Africa's second highest peak. Our drive will take us into the
Central Highlands, the heartland of the Kikuyu people. This is a very fertile
region, well-watered, intensively cultivated, and thickly forested. The land was
coveted by the Europeans who began arriving in ever-increasing numbers once the
railway through the area was completed. The settlers established coffee and tea
plantations on the eastern slopes of Mt Kenya and cultivated wheat on the western
slopes. The higher regions of the slopes are left to the leopard, buffalo, lion
and elephant. Tonight we overnight at a "Tree-Style" lodge, uniquely designed and
situated to provide one with an often extremely close-up view of a wide variety
of wild animals as they come to drink and cavort. We highly recommend an optional
guided nature walk (approx USD 15, payable locally) offered by the lodge. All
rooms have a waterhole view and en suite facilities.
Overnight in Mt Kenya Conservation area. Serena Mountain Lodge. All meals.
Madagascar Travel made easy!
Tanzania & Madagascar
Day 5 of Tanzania & Madagascar Tour (Madagascar Tours)
Ngorongoro - Serengeti National Park
Departing the Ngorongoro Conservation area this morning we descend onto the
Serengeti Plain, stretching out endlessly before us. Indeed the name "Serengeti"
derives from a Masai word meaning "Land-without-end." This is a land of
superlatives, both in the vast landscape that surrounds you and the incredible
biodiversity it supports. It is here that you have a chance to witness one of
the most compelling natural dramas on earth--the annual migration, a sight
unparalleled anywhere in the natural world. Our afternoon game drive provides an
excellent introduction to this fantastic landscape and the biodiversity it
supports.
Overnight in the Serengeti National Park. Serengeti Sopa Lodge or similar. All meals.
With the lapping waters of the Indian Ocean caressing the white-sand beaches on and iridescent reefs off its coastlines, the island of Madagascar is a haven for sun-worshippers and watersport enthusiasts alike. The myriad activities offshore complement its paradisiacal sceneries onshore and to venture farther inland is to discover why Madagascar is sometimes likened to a continent within itself. The fourth largest island in the world, Madagascar is also home to a staggering five per cent of the world's animal and plant species, the vast majority of which are unique to this "micro-continent." Easily rivalling the Galapagos Islands in terms of abundance and diversity of flora and fauna, Madagascar seldom receives the acclaim it deserves for its natural attractions that must be seen to be believed.