Madagascar Highlights

PART ONE INTRODUCING MADAGASCAR Chapter 1 History; people Chapter 2 The Natural World Geography & climate; habitats & vegetation; wildlife Chapter 3 Planning your trip When to go, types of visit; birding trips; red tape; getting there; health advice before you go; giving something back (local charities etc) Chapter 4 On the Ground Health; safety; money; food; drink; shopping; communications; cultural etiquette; tipping. PART TWO MADAGASCAR HIGHLIGHTS Chapter 5 Antananarivo (Tana) and surrounds Excursions to Lemurs Park and Ambohimanga. Local charities. Chapter 6 Tana to Andasibe Andasibe: The rainforest national park three hours from Tana that everyone visits, the journey and places of interest on the way as well as the national park. Boxes on night walks, the indri and Mitsinjo reserve, an alternative to the well known national park. Chapter 7 RN7: The Route South Route Nationale 7, Tana to Toliara (Tulear): The most popular road journey in Madagascar, and the one with the most tourist infrastructure along the route. Highlights along the route heading southwards: Antsirabe & pousse-pousses, Ambositra & woodcarving, Zafimaniry villages, Ranomafana, Fianarantsoa & vineyards, Sahambavy tea plantation, Ambalavao & paper-making, Anja Park, Andringitra national park, Isalo national park, Arboretum d'Antsokay, Toliara. Boxes cover rice, zebu, tombs, carving, Merina/Bara tribes and bamboo lemurs. Chapter 8 Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin) and surrounds This region is a natural destination in itself, pretty much disconnected from the rest of the country by overland transport. Tourists generally fly here. The town, beaches, day excursions, Ste Luce, nearby reserves (Berenty, Mandena and Nahampoana) and Andohahela national park. Boxes: ring-tailed lemurs, sifakas, endemic birds of Madagascar. Chapter 9 The north and northwest General route: Ansiranana (Diego Suarez); Nosy Be and nearby islands; Mahajanga and region. Ansiranana (Diego Suarez) and region: Montagne d'Ambre National Park; Ankarana; The road journey to Nosy Be. Boxes on Tsingy, invertebrates, chameleons, geckos, chocolate. Nosy Be and nearby islands: Nosy Be, Nosy Komba, Nosy Tanikely, Tsarabanjina, Nosy Iranja, etc. Boxes: cruising. Mahajanga and region: Ankarafantsika national park; Anjajavy. Chapter 10 The West Morondava and surrounds: beach hotels; Avenue of the Baobabs; Kirindy Reserve; Tsingy de Bemaraha national park. Boxes: baobabs; Vezo & Sakalava people & their customs. Chapter 11 Eastern adventure General route: Toamasina and the Pangalanes Canal; Maroantsetra and region; Ile Ste Marie. Toamasina, Ivoloina park, Pangalanes Canal and lake resorts. Boxes: The MFG zoo consortium, HELP charity, reforestation projects. Maroantsetra, Nosy Mangabe, Masoala Peninsula. Boxes: aye-aye, rainforest ecology, frogs. Ile Sainte Marie. Boxes: whale-watching, pirates. Appendix: Language Appendix: Further Reading Index