LEMURS & LIZARDS
Memorable encounters with Madagascar’s wild inhabitants!
THE CALL OF THE WILD LEMUR
From the capital, it's a four hour drive on windy mountain roads and lots of truck traffic as this is the main route between the capital and the port. I see rice planted in every open piece of land even in the city. In the rice fields I see people, cattle and ducks.
There is a river that runs alongside the road. People are doing laundry that they lay out on the rocks to dry. It looks like an artistic patchwork of color. We arrive at Grace Lodge in the evening and after 36 hours and three airplane flights, I’m happy to be in a bed.
My first stop the next morning is a walk with Adrian through the lush forest at Andasibe National Park. At one point, we go off the main trail. Adrian hears a lemur. He stops to call them and there is a resounding response!
We hike quickly up the hill and see the famous Indri Indri: the largest Lemur species and the only one without a tail. It is a striking black and white color. Other hikers find us. We are all in awe! We go off trail again in search of more lemurs.
What a fun hike and hearing the lemurs calling to each other was truly the highlight!
LEAPING LEMURS!
The next day we go to an island where there are Lemurs that cannot be returned to the wild.
Lemurs don’t swim, so the island haven has no fences. The only way on and off the island is by canoe - which is our means of transport.
The islands Lemurs are tame and are used to tourists, so they jump on us expecting food. It’s neat to see them up close, but strange to have them on me!
LANGUID LIZARDS
Next up is the Reptile Reserve where they have many native and very colorful chameleons. It’s interesting how some blend in with their environment and some contrast with it. Amazing to see so many different colors and patterns.
So much diversity on the island of Madagascar!