Located off the African coast, Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world and is second only to the Amazon Basin in the biodiversity stakes. Coral reefs and sandy beaches fringe the island, while dry deciduous forests can be found in the west, rainforests to the east and semi-desert conditions in the south. This diverse terrain is home to staggering 200,000 species of flora and fauna, 80% of which are endemic to the island. All but a tiny percentage of its mammals and amphibians, and over half of its bird population, cannot be found anywhere else on earth. You'll also find seven of the world's eight baobab trees and over half its entire gecko species here.
It is probably best known for its lemur populations, of which the comical ring-tails and dancing sifakas are the most iconic. There are in fact more than 50 lemur species with more being discovered regularly - for example, a new nocturnal mouse lemur was discovered as recently as June 2006.
Even more intriguing is the recent discovery of giant, self-destructing palms which are so large that they can be seen from satellites. Named Tahina spectabilis, which means "blessed" or "to be protected" in Malagasy, they only exist in the north-west of the island where they grow to about 20m high with leaves of 5m long. When the tree flowers, is expends so much energy that it collapses and dies.
The island's 20 tribes, originating initially from Indonesia and subsequently Africa, offer visitors a fascinating insight into the cultural beliefs, taboos and traditions that have grown up over the years in this cultural melting pot.
If you are looking for a unique experience, Madagascar is one of the weirdest and most wonderful countries you are ever likely to visit.
