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July 30, 2017

Madagascar: An Island Lost in Time

Africa Cultural Traveler Stories Wildlife & Natural History

WT’s Africa Specialist sets out on a unique adventure exploring the many different landscapes of Madagascar.

When I arrived on Madagascar‘s shores in April of 2017, it was like I had stepped back into a place completely removed from the rest of the world. Madagascar is an island off the coast of mainland Africa, yet most species here exist nowhere else on earth, from friendly ringtail lemurs to the brilliantly colored chameleons. Its isolation has created a unique and extraordinary biodiversity unmatched anywhere else in the world, so I was eager to explore this strange island. One of the wonderful aspects about my role as WT’s Africa Specialist is getting to experience places like this.

Our Trip Leader, Vy Raharinosy, greeted me on arrival and off we went for a two-week odyssey around Madagascar. We hiked in lush rainforest, saw sunset and sunrise in the Avenue of the Baobabs, planted trees in Andasibe, watched lemurs jumping between trees above us, and met many local people who passionately showed us their innovative solutions to help preserve their beautiful country. Madagascar is not an easy place—it is like adventure travel of 20 years ago—rough roads, difficult to get to, simple accommodations—but the rewards are endless. I understand now why seasoned travelers often return—they can’t get enough the first time. I know I’ll be back! Here is a small snapshot of my amazing journey.

A chameleon with vibrant, multicolored scales is perched on a branch, hidden amidst the green foliage of Madagascar, an island seemingly lost in time.
A panther chameleon showing off the most spectacular colors. Almost half of the world’s chameleons live in Madagascar.
On the left, children play on a dirt road lined with baobab trees; on the right, a woman with a face mask and colorful headscarf stands in front of a baobab tree. This scene from Madagascar feels almost lost in time.
Left: Happy kids at the Avenue of the Baobabs. Right: We met a young woman from the fishing village of Betania. She wears a natural sunscreen made of ground tamarind wood.
A vendor wearing a hat and patterned shirt smiles while arranging produce at a market stall filled with a variety of vegetables, evoking the feeling of an island lost in time.
Farmers grow a variety of vegetables in Madagascar and sell them in local markets. Malagasy cuisine is influenced by the island’s Indonesian and French roots. The food is quite tasty. Fruit is also plentiful and exotic.
A fossa, a cat-like carnivorous mammal native to Madagascar, stands on the forest floor surrounded by foliage, almost as if lost in time.
We were incredibly lucky to see a Fossa, one of the few predators in Madagascar. It’s related to the mongoose.
Left image: Lemur leaping in the air against a blue sky and trees, as if lost in time. Right image: Lemur with a striped tail lying on a rocky surface amongst green vegetation on the island of Madagascar.
Left: The Verreaux’s sifaka performs constant acrobatics as it easily leaps between the trees. It uses its long tail for balance. I hoped for an action photo and was rewarded with this shot. Right: Ring-tailed lemurs lick rocks to obtain minerals. They forage on the ground more than any other lemurs.
On the left, a person smiling with a lemur on their head. On the right, a lemur lounging on tree branches. Both images are set in a lush forested area of Madagascar, an island lost in time.
Left: Our wonderful Trip Leader, Vy with his assistant, a common brown lemur. Right: The indri is the largest living lemur and exists only in eastern Madagascar. We heard the sounds of its haunting call as we walked through the forest.
Individuals gathered outdoors, with two women separating grains and two children observing. Against the backdrop of timeless Madagascar, two cows stand near the buildings on this enchanting island.
Women drying rice in the sun. Fun Fact: Rice is a staple here, with annual consumption about 250 pounds per person.
A group of ten people, adults and children, stand and sit on a wooden porch. They are in front of an old wooden building on the island of Madagascar, while some wear traditional shawls, evoking a sense of being lost in time.
We visited a women’s weaving cooperative near Ranomafana. A non-profit gave them weaving lessons and now the women earn money to help support their families. Their scarves also make the perfect gift.
Left: Person taking photos with a lemur on their shoulders in a forest, capturing the magic of Madagascar. Right: Person hugging a large baobab tree on a dirt road lined with more baobab trees, feeling lost in time.
Left: Lemur Island is a photographers paradise. These lemurs were happy to help me find the right camera angle. Right: This baobab is more than 600 years old. It is one of the 25 baobabs that line the Avenue of the Baobabs.

The wildlife, the people, and, of course, the amazing “Vyman,” made this trip absolutely unforgettable. It was a wonderful experience and such an honor to see this corner of the world. I’ll be back!

—Text and photos by WT’s Africa Specialist Barbara Wright. We offer two adventures in Madagascar, Magical Madagascar and Madagascar: Off the Beaten Path.

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