Madagascar Safari Highlights

The island of Madagascar is a fine blend of African, Indian and Arabic - both in its people and in its evolutionary history, making for a multitude of Madagascar safari highlights that will both delight and inspire visitors. The island is arguably best known for its unique array of primates and birds but it also offers tropical beaches where coconut groves fringe coral atolls and the azure blue Indian Ocean is abuzz with colourful creatures.

This Southern African gem is situated off the coast of Mozambique and although it can’t offer a Big 5 safari, it can offer an African safari with a difference. A nature-lover's paradise, Madagascar is filled with rich and fascinating opportunities for exploration. The mountains, rain forests, river valleys, coastal plains, grasslands, caverns and deserts offer a wealth of diversity and wonder. .

Madagascar is recognized as one of the world's top ten hotspots for biodiversity and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species - 80 % unique to Madagascar. Among its most notable examples are the lemur family of primates, three endemic bird families and its baobab trees and is also considered to be a prime spot for serious bird watchers.

Four distinct regions – the north, south, east and west are really quite exceptional considering the size of the island republic with remarkable features that include forests of up-side-down trees, otherwise known as baobabs, spiny deserts where the flora is arguably more of a weapon to the uninitiated and long-extinct volcanoes where the timid fear to tread.

Malagasy is the official language and French the administrative language spoken here. English is widely spoken in the tourism industry.

Madagascar can be divided into four regions:

	The North This region is characterised by its dramatically changing weather patterns.... more		The South Set on a small peninsula backed by high mountains and bordered by.... more
	The East This real tropical paradise is a 57 km-long island off the east coast of.... more		The West/Highlands Meaning 'place of much salt', Antsirabe is known for its thermal.... more

Climate
Madagascar is entirely situated in the tropical zone. Being in the southern hemisphere, it has two fairly distinct seasons: from May to October, austral winter, the dry season; from October to April, austral summer, the rainy season

History
Madagascar's first settlers came from Asia in around 700 AD. In the 7th century Arabs established trading posts along the north-west coast. In the centuries that followed, the Portuguese, Dutch and British all failed to establish permanent bases on the island, until the1500's, when a Portuguese sea captain spotted the island after his ship had been separated from a fleet en route to India. Word of the "discovery" spread to France and England, who then rushed to establish settlements on the island, bringing the first Europeans to the country. In the late 17th century it became a haven for slave traders and pirates who based themselves on the east coast, as well as the French, who established trading posts here. Pirates traded and fought with the local kings who ruled both the east and west coasts. In 1794, King Andrianampoinimerina united the various kingdoms (there were three main kingdoms: the Merina, the Sakalava and the Betsimisaraka) and formed a single kingdom. In 1883 the French attacked Madagascar and after years of war followed by a massive invasion, Madagascar became a French colony. The monarchy was abolished, and French became the official language. In 1958, Madagascar gained independence and was renamed the Malagasy Republic. Malagasy was established as the local language which is a synthesis of Indonesian, African and Arabic elements. However, French is still widely spoken throughout Madagascar.