Madagascar is a mesmerising country. Isolated and geologically ancient with an flora and fauna that is completely unique. Nowhere else in the world are there so many species of chameleons. Lemurs are found naturally only here – in the whole world. Between 80-90% of all animals and plants are endemic. In Madagascar there are the strange baobab trees, insects with giraffe necks, frogs that look like poison dart frogs of South America, the smallest chameleons in the world – as small as a little fingernail, no venomous snakes but snakes that have fake twigs, branches and leaves on their heads, whole families of birds that are not found anywhere else , insects camouflaged as red flowers – YES – the list goes on! The fantastic rainforests, among the oldest in the world, house the greatest diversity of all the island’s peculiar animals and we visit several of the finest rainforests.

Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island and a fantastic country to visit. Nature is wonderful, different and incredibly exciting. The people are curious and interested in strangers, and the social climate is soft and pleasant. Crime is low and traffic is sometimes non-existent – especially in rural areas.

We always have local guides and animal trackers with us. On the tour, we have photo workshops where Jan goes through techniques and photo ideas for the next few days’ photography. As usual, we also look at picture composition and each other’s pictures.

ANDASIBE-MANTADIA NATIONAL PARK
Next to the community of Andasibe is a cluster of rainforest areas that are one of Madagascar’s most exciting areas thanks to the rich wildlife. Indrin is found only in this part of Madagascar. We visit the Analamazaotra section which is 1,500 ha of the national park and the indrin is the star here. There are several family groups of Indris in this area. A persistent, mournful honking—almost howling—sounds from the forest as the indrin sings. The song can last up to three minutes, and when one starts singing, several can join in and form a duet or chorus. The song is strongest in the morning and late afternoon. Indrin is the largest of the lemurs. In the same area we also have chances to find the diadem sifaka, the most beautiful of the sifakas and also one of the largest lemurs. There are also brown lemurs (brown maki). We hope to find one or more species of frogs or leaf-tailed lizards. This gecko is so well camouflaged that it is almost impossible to see it against a mossy log, even if you are standing right in front of it. Another species looks like a specific leaf. Several species of chameleons are also found in the national park, including the largest species the panther chameleon. Birdlife is varied with the beautiful Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher as the crown jewel. Blue kou is an endemic bird species, as big as jackdaws, and they often follow our journey through the forest. In the evenings we go out to photograph nocturnal lemurs, gecko lizards and chameleons.

RANOMAFANA NATIONAL PARK
This exciting mountain rainforest of 41,600 ha is characterized by dense vegetation and many rivers and creeks, e.g. the great Namorona River. Here we are searching for several different species of lemurs, e.g. the golden bamboo lemur which was discovered here as recently as 1991. It is found only here and the national park was established to protect this lemur. There are also another 11 lemur species in the forest, e.g. the equally rare and endangered greater bamboo lemur and brown lemur and the great Milne-Edwards’ sifaka. There is also a multitude of insects here, we hope to find the distinctive giraffe neck weevil, a beetle-like weevil with an extremely long “giraffe neck”. We are also looking for the colorful mantled frogs – as colorful as South America’s poison dart frogs. In the rainforest there are many species of birds that are endemic such as asity, ground blue crows, owls and night owls. After dusk we photograph nocturnal frogs, mouse lemurs and chameleons.

PALMARIUM AND AKANIN’NY NOFY
No animal in Madagascar is as fabled as the aye-aye. It has eluded the people of Madagascar for a long time and has given rise to numerous myths, stories and superstitions. Already in the 70s, there were alarming reports that the aye-aye was disappearing completely from Madagascar’s nature due to persecution and deforestation. Later, it has been shown that it occurs sparsely over larger parts of the country than the researchers previously thought – however very scattered and with a population that is now declining. Since it is only nocturnal and usually shy, it is normally difficult to find and approach. The aye-aye is a unique animal and known from many nature films. It is larger than most people think and is one of the largest lemur species and also the world’s largest nocturnal primate.
In the dimness of the darkness, it looks like a troll or a witch with a pointed head, large elf ears and long black-grey striped fur with a large bushy tail. It moves unlike other lemurs – more like a cat as it climbs up and down the trunks in the forest. Most striking are the front paws – or the hands where the fingers are long and crooked. The middle finger is extra long and thin with a long, crooked nail. With its fingers, it taps during the search for food on darkened tree trunks. With its large ears, it can then hear if there is a caterpillar inside the wood and easily opens the trunk with its sharp rodent-like front teeth. Then it sticks its long middle finger in like a long crooked dental instrument and fishes out the yummy grub. It is like a lemur woodpecker.

The aye-aye leave their nest 30 minutes before sunset and only come back at dawn. On the small island, which is a private nature reserve where they are protected from poaching, there are half a dozen individuals and it is normal to see several animals during the early night. At our lodge there is a lower deciduous forest where the BBC has filmed many of the scenes with jumping indris. Since the trees are not very tall and the forest is more sparse than at Andasibe-Mantadia, there are good opportunities for nice interior shots. Indrin is drawn differently here with larger gray areas in the fur. There is also a black and white version – a lemur that is graphically drawn as a panda.

This is a tour not only for the most avid nature photographers, but also for those of you who want to experience some of the world’s finest natural environments and their wildlife up close.