The Wildlife of Madagascar

Better known as Tana, Madagascar’s capital tumbles up the Central Highlands in a colorful tangle of steepled hilltop churches, French mansions and colonial-era palaces. The scent of Malagasy street food fills the air, from Indian-style samosas to hot, sweet cassava muffins, doled out from local bakeries. There are a handful of museums and palaces, including the Presidential Palace or the fascinating Musee de la Photo.

The Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is an incredible rainforest with two sections: the Perinet (Analamazoatra) Special Reserve, where the ghostly call of indri lemur echoes through the tree canopy and Mantadia, for spotting black-and-white ruffed lemur and diademed sifaka. Waterfalls, rare ferns and over 1,000 species of orchid are also highlights.  

Sitting serenely on the banks of the Mandrare River, Ifotaka is an escape into the soul of Madagascar, where curious troops of lemurs scamper through the trees and dusk descends with spectacular, powder-toned skies. Look out for crested couas flitting between the baobabs and flamingos wading through the dune-backed waters of Lac Anony. The area is also the ancestral home of the Antandroy, a fiercely proud tribe known for their lively performances of song and dance.