Madagascar Highlights

The Malagasy, who are they? The Malagasy has a complex origin. Before the African, Arab and European settlers, Madagascar was first inhabited by the Austronesians, some twenty-five centuries ago. Subsequently, Indonesian (Malacca) and Bantu immigrants from the subequatorial Africa integrated with these Proto Malagasy. The dissemination of a small population in this vast space led to the formation of demographic isolates and assimilated to “tribes’’. The Betsileo and the Merina live in the highlands. The Sakalava and the Mahafaly dominate the plains of the west and southwest; the Antaimoro, Antaisaka, and Tanala populate the coast and forest of the southeast, while the Betsimisaraka dominate the eastern coast. The north of Madagascar is mainly populated by the Tsimihety and the Antakarana. The Antandroy and the Bara rule the semi-arid regions of the south.

MOZAMBIQUE C OMORES

There are currently 43 protected areas managed by Madagascar National Parks. Most are on land but many are marine reserves. Some reserves are classified as “Integral Natural Reserves” and are only open to researchers and scientists.

Approximately 95 percent of Madagascar’s reptiles, 89 percent of its plant life, and 92 percent of its mammals exist nowhere else on Earth. And of course, the lemurs remain emblematic animals of the island and they are present in all the parks. Madagascar is also a haven for bird lovers as the island is home to some astonishing 120 endemic species of birds. Add to these are butterflies, insects, chameleons, the very rare predator Fosa, and the nocturnal and very peculiar Aye-aye.

Madagascar has 5000 km of coastline, the majority of which is beach and most of which is deserted and isolated. To take advantage of these superb sites, it will be necessary to go to Nosy Be and its surrounding archipelagos, or to the small island of Ste Marie on the East coast or to the superb lagoon of the south-west in the region of Tulear. Numerous scubadiving and snorkeling spots can be found along the coast.

There are more than 1,000 varieties of orchids and succulents which stand out in the arid south of Madagascar. Several national parks and rainforests boast of endemic flaura species found all over the country.