HEADLINES:
R/€ Exotic Madagascar
July 26, 2005
Winnie Graham
Madagascar is poised to become one of the world’s exciting “new” destinations.
A film of the same name, featuring some of the island’s incredible wildlife, particularly the large-eyed lemurs, has propelled it into the world spotlight – and for good reason.
Madagascar is a fascinating place with much to offer for tourists wanting both time to relax and an opportunity of seeing the unusual creatures who live in the tropical island’s rainforests.
The island has long been popular with discerning travellers who know it provides the perfect escapist holiday. For the most part, however, it has never achieved quite the same popularity as the Seychelles, Mauritius, the Maldives or the Comoros.
Although Madagascar’s general tourist infrastructure remains relatively primitive, its unspoilt simplicity remains the biggest attraction for adventure-minded tourists.
Now, with the screening of the movie, Madagascar has captured world attention and families are rethinking their holiday options.
Why not take the children on a holiday to a country where they will not only be free to play on a beach but where they will have a chance to see some of those
cute creatures in the forest? No geography lesson would ever be as interesting.
The forests of Madagascar and the nearby islands are the only home of the lemurs, who live in the trees surviving on a diet of fruit, leaves, insects, small birds and eggs. And they are just one species of the island’s many fascinating animals.
Others that can be spotted include birds such as the blue coua and and nuthatch vanga, as well as reptiles such as the Malagasy tree boa and Parson’s chameleon.
The Malagasy islands are also of botanical interest boasting orchids and epiphytes.
And there is another attraction. In a world crowded with tourists, Madagascar remains a remote hideaway where people can relax, a place where golden beaches, fine snorkelling and good diving are part of the many attractions.
These also include local culture. Roughly half of the 17-million people on the island are under 20. While the indigenous people are largely of African and Indonesian stock, Madagascar’s population is composed of 18 different ethnic groups, including French, Chinese, Comorians, Indo-Pakistanis and Europeans. As varied is the religion which includes ancestral worship, Catholicism, Protestantism and Islam.
It was the Portuguese who “discovered” Madagascar but the French who colonised the island in 1896. It became an independent republic in 1960 with Malagasy and French the local languages.
For those who are wondering, yes, Madagascar has several large towns, medical facilities, pharmacies and banks.
What of the food? “Exotic” is the word that best describes it. The staples include rice, stews, spinach, manioc, coconut, zebu and fish.
Air Madagascar has long had air links with South Africa but with trade and tourism between the two countries improving, the number of flights has now been increased to four a week.
Tour operators, too, report increased business. Unusual Destinations, a Sandton-based travel company that has been organising trips to Madagascar for many years, offers a number of packages from which to choose.
For visitors who want to enjoy the best of the island, they have compiled a special “beach and nature” package to Nosy Be and the Perinet Reserve, a good choice for first-time visitors.
The package provides tourists with a wide choice of accommodation, ranging from budget to exclusive private island resorts.
The concept of combining beach and nature means visitors get the opportunity to visit the spectacular Perinet Reserve which is home to a large variety of rare animals, notably the baboon-sized Indri, largest of the lemurs.
All sorts of rainforest-dwelling birds, reptiles and other animal oddities abound there too.
The trails are well-mapped and the local forest guides, who all speak English, are there to show visitors the many animal and plant species.
It is possible to see most of Madagascar’s wildlife in the Perinet Reserve.
An early morning wake-up call is essential for serious wildlife observers as the animals are most active at daybreak.
And guests are advised to pack a torch so that they can go on night strolls to see nocturnal animal life.
Among the best places to stay in this part of Madagascar are the upmarket Vakona Lodge or the mid-range Hotel Feon’ny Ala.
There is also plenty to do by way of excursions.
Nosy Komba, an unofficial “sanctuary” for a thriving population of endangered black lemurs, is close by.
And just a quick boat trip away is the island of Nosy Tanikely, a marine reserve famous for its magnificent coral reefs.
Picnic lunches are served on Tanikely after snorkelling while souvenir hunters may want to go shopping for some of the lovely Malagasy tablecloths and woodcarvings.
e-mail rita@unusualdestinations. com or visit www.unusual destinations.com
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