Isles Away
MORE THAN ONCE, I LOST MYSELF, THINKING PERHAPS I WAS IN THE MALDIVES OR SEYCHELLES RATHER THAN THIS NATURALIST ’S UTOPIA.
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and wide orange eyes that Back on the winding gave the fluffy tree-dweller mainland trail, Andrianiaina a look of constant surprise. was suddenly excited. A Lounging on a branch, his quick solo excursion into the long tail twirling and curling thicket beyond had revealed as if it had a mind of its own, that indeed we were not he stared down alone in this verSINGULAR STAY while I stared up. dant forest. “Can Miavana’s 14 villas offer a Our eyes locked you climb up?” my rare refuge of luxury and and I froze, transguide breathleisure in Madagascar’s untouched Nosy Ankao fixed. Then, with lessly whispered, archipelago. a flick of his tail, gesturing toward he scampered off, the steep hill from leaving me behind, a motionwhich he had just emerged. less statue marveling at a “Of course,” I mouthed. Up sight that couldn’t be seen we zigged and zagged, hopanywhere else on ping from rock to rock, and Earth. dodging wayward tree limbs until we reached the top. And then, there it was: a critically Time + Tide Miavana, endangered golden-crowned timeandtideafrica.com; sifaka, an alabaster-hued available through the beauty with a black face Explorations Company, and marigold tuft of hair, explorationscompany.com
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