| Indian Ocean Islands, Madagascar.
| Sun and Sandals
Tours has over two decades worth of experience with Madagascar island.
We can tailor honeymoon packages, romantic getaways, large group tours, adventure
vacations, hiking, wildlife or beach holidays to this facinating island. Madagascar
lies 400 kilometres off the east coast of Africa and offers diverse and spectacular
scenery: mountains, deserts, rainforests, dazzling beaches fringing the Indian
Ocean and island archipelagos linked by coral reefs and clear turquoise waters.
Madagascar is legendary for its profusion of wildlife and flora, 80% of
which is found nowhere else on earth. Isolated from the continents 160 million
years ago, Madagascar followed a unique evolutionary path into enormous tortoises,
elephant birds, and lemurs. Lemurs were the highest primate form on the island
until the Malagasy people, of Afro-Polynesian ancestry, arrived a mere 2000 years
ago. | Travel Themes. |
| Flowers. |
Eco Tours Madagascar. | Madagascar
has always been a mysterious island. Its ever-changing features draw tourists
and nature lovers who yearn for the unusual and unique.A mountainous central 'spine'
separates the permanently damp east from the drier west and sub-desert south.
The island has dramatically contrasting climatic zones and each region has its
own complement of plants and decidedly odd animals. There are 19 000 listed plant
species, including 1 000 varieties of orchids. There are over 100 000 invertebrates,
at least 3 000 of which are butterflies. |
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| Lemurs and Wildlife. |
| Safaris in Madagascar. | Descendants
of antediluvian monsters, the Malagasy chameleons represent two thirds of the
species in the world. Madagascar has been separated from the African mainland
for 160 million years, and from India for 90 million years. For this reason its
wildlife, which may have originated in Africa, has evolved independently. Of all
its animals, lemurs have been studied the most intensively and have received
much attention from the conservation community and tourists. There are about 71
species of lemur, with new species being described frequently. The island has
its share of white sandy beaches and world class reefs. Once lost to the outside
world, they were only visited by fishermen on their pole pirogues. Now they are
major draw-cards for families, honeymooners and divers alike. Man arrived approximately
2000 years ago by means of outrigger canoes from Melanesia, Polynesia, Indonesia
and Africa. Although the
17 million contemporary Malagasy are separated into 16 major tribes they are united
by language and culture. The best known Malagasy ceremony is the 'bone-turning'
or 'famadihana' ceremony, held from June to August. From June to September, humpback
whales return from the Antarctic to spawn near Ile Sainte Marie. |
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| Getting
there: Air Madagascar & Airlink fly six times a
week between Antananarivo and Johannesburg. Flight duration is three hours. Getting
around: Air Madagascar serves 60 domestic airports. There are also some very interestingoverland
routes. We will arrange all excursions and transfers. Be wary of pickpockets in
Antananarivo. Wear a money belt and leave valuables with hotel reception or in
your room safe. Do not leave your possessions unattended anywhere, even on tables
in restaurants or in hotel dining rooms! Health: No immunisations are necessary.
Malaria prophylactics are essential. Drink only bottled water or take water purification
tablets. Travel insurance is essential. Be meticulous with personal hygiene. | | Madagascar
Island, Indian Ocean, honeymoons, vacations, holidays, honeymoon madagascar, accommodation
madagascar, hotels, nosy be, sainte marie, st marie, tsarabanjina, princesse bora,
vacation deals to madagascar, unusual destination, exotic vacations, lemurs, wildlife
tours, hiking, trekking, sailing, fishing madagascar. | |
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in Africa and Islands.
