Republic of Madagascar

Geography At 587,000 square kilometres (227,000 sq mi), Madagascar is the world's 46th-largest country and the fourth-largest island. It is slightly larger than France,

Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot in which over 80% of its plant and animal species are found nowhere else on Earth. These are dispersed across a variety of ecoregions, broadly divided into eastern and south-central rain forest, western dry forests, southern desert and spiny forest.

Ecology As a result of the island's long isolation from neighboring continents, Madagascar is home to a vast array of plants and animals, many found nowhere else on Earth. Approximately 80% of all plant and animal species found in Madagascar are endemic, including the lemur infraorder of primates, the carnivorous fossa and three avian families. This distinctive ecology has led some ecologists to refer to Madagascar as the "eighth continent Over 10,000 plant species are native to Madagascar, of which 90% are found nowhere else in the world.

The Ring-tailed Lemur is one of around 100 known species and subspecies of lemur found only in Madagascar. The island is home to two-thirds of the world's chameleon species. The majority of insects on the island are also endemic. These include the world's smallest bee, over 100 species of cockroach and over 80 species of stick insect.

What to Do in Madagascar Diving: Madagascar has some of the world’s most pristine coral reefs, and you won’t have to deal with the seaweed of eastern Africa or the ubiquitous tourists of other diving destinations. The most popular destinations for diving are Nosy Be, in the northwest, and the beaches in the southwestern part of the country. Both areas have a broad spectrum of accommodations, ranging from small hostels to large seaside resorts, and equipment rentals are easy to come by.

Famadihana: Every seven years, families in the Malagasy highlands exhume the bodies of deceased relatives for Famadihana, a traditional festival involving dancing, food, drink, and contemplation. In Antsirabe, it is possible to arrange an invitation to one of those gatherings through a local tour agency; families who agree to this are generally quite welcoming to foreigners, and it makes for a poignant cultural experience.

Isalo National Park: Tourists often claim that Isalo National Park, situated among the grasslands of Madagascar’s southwestern region, evokes the American West. While the park’s jaw-dropping sandstone formations, hot springs, and vast plains certainly recall the films of John Ford, there’s plenty to remind you that you’re not in Kansas anymore. The Canyon of Monkeys and the sacred Sakalava tombs are perennial Isalo favorites.

Restaurant Tour: Perhaps the most universally appealing attraction in Madagascar is the country’s cuisine, considered by many to be unforgettable. Incorporating a broad variety of influences that evoke the Indian and Chinese roots of the Malagasy, the food here makes broad use of seafood, rice, vegetables, and other meats.

Rain Forest Helicoptering: It may require a splurge, but a helicopter tour provides a unique view of Madagascar’s rain forests, mountains, and coral reefs. Helicopters leave from Antananarivo and Nosy Be. 

When to Go The best time to visit Madagascar is in late spring (April through May) and early autumn (September through October). The southwestern and coastal areas can get quite hot during the summer, and at that time of year throngs of European tourists crowd the island. Madagascar’s rainy season, between January and March, renders many roads impassable, and from June through August the northeast is vulnerable to cyclones, some of which obliterated the country’s vanilla crop in 2003.