sheldita - now moved to new website!

First stop was a little nature reserve where we were visited by a troupe of Coquerel's Sifakas

This one of the 300 last Indris alive.  They are great singers calling across the valleys in the morning.  They look like small children in clown suits!

Madagascar is the Chameleon capital of the world - they have 80% of all species

Ringtailed Lemurs

Ringtailed Lemurs are vary quick, social and smart 

As well as Lemurs and chameleons Madagascar has it's share of tree frogs in crazy colours

Fat tomato frog

This is Brookesia Minima which is the world's smallest lizard - this one is fully grown!

Beady eyes of the diademed sifaka

Brown Lemur - always found lurking around picnic areas

Madagascar has beautiful bright green day geckos.  Great for keeping mosquitos out of hotel rooms

Madagascar has a family of endemic leaf tailed geckos which are really well camoflaged

Milne Edwards Sifaka at Ranomafana National Park

No shell-suit though

Croc had caught a boa

Andringitra encompasses a range of granite dome mountains which stick into the sky like a giant ribcage.  We went hiking and climbed up onto a plateau of granite boulders.  That was after 4 hrs of having your backside tenderized on the horrible roads

Andringitra skyline

Elephant Foot Baobab - these are miniature versions of the great Baobab tree.  They're in the desert in Isalo park

This is Patrick, the guide, sprawling on a ridge over Isalo

Isalo is a series of giant canyons in sandstone and is like a smaller version of the Grand Canyon.  It's also seriously dry and full of scorpions!

Ringtailed lemus busy in a tree

Was a beautiful spot so long as you didn't mind jostling the hoards of German and French tourists for a good position to watch the sun go down

Me and an Osterlitz Chameleon

Behind the beach in Ifaty there's the weirdest forest imaginable.  Every tree is spiny and vicious.  Here are baobabs and also a type of tree cactus called the Octopus Tree

One of the most scenic falls in Madagascar

Near the Chutes de Lily there is an area of natural hot springs.  The area is one of ancient volcanic activity which is still cooling off

Beautiful colours at the hotsprings