Added: 05/25/2006 |
Madagascar Travel - A Journey to the Most Unusual Destination in the WorldMadagascar consists mainly of a block of crystalline rocks. It is generally described as a plateau, rising sharply from the narrow plain of the east coast and descending in a series of steps to the strip of sedimentary rocks along the west coast. The high plateau is much indented and cut by deep gorges and waterfalls. There are numerous volcanic outcrops and two former volcanic areas, Ankaratra and Andringingtra.
Modern man is said to have arrived on Madagascar more than 2,000 years ago by canoe from Melanesia, Polynesia, Indonesia, and joined later by the Bantu from Africa and Arabian traders, to make up this unique Afro-Asian nation.
Madagascar travel is a nature lover's dream: you'll find more than half the world's varieties of chameleons here. You'll also find more than 170 kinds of frogs and some 40 species of lemurs that are exclusive to the island. Some of the world's most unusual birds are found only on Madagascar - gorgeous ground-rollers, the diverse Vanga family -- the Couas. Birders will be rewarded by a visit to any of Madagascar's splendid reserves.
Madagascar has three main climactic and floristic zones - the eastern rainforests, the western tropical dry deciduous woods and the semi-arid south - with an unsurpassed diversity of plant species. The tours can be arranged for the orchid enthusiast, who will be drawn by the 1200 varieties found in the rainforests, and special botanical and natural history tours.
Madagascar temperatures are moderate, usually peaking above 30°C (86°F) in summer with only slight seasonal fluctuation. The average temperature drops as your Madagascar travel takes you inland to the central plateau, so does the amount of rainfall, except from December to March, which sees a very stormy wet season.
Madagascar is made up of six provinces - Antsiranana , Mahajanga , Toamasina, Antananarivo , Fianarantsoa and Toliara. Top destinations for Madagascar travel are Antananarivo, Mahajanga, Morondava, Nosy boraha, Antsirabe, Taolanaro, Perinet and others. Antananarivo , or Tana, as it is more commonly known, is the capital city of Madagascar and is situated in the central highland region of the island.
With an international airport and easy access to Toamasina on the east coast, and many locations in the south, Tana is where most tourists begin their visit to Madagascar. It is like many other African capitals: crowded, polluted and noisy, but it does have some parts worth exploring. Southwest of Analakely is where the post office, banks, restaurants and nightclubs are.
Uphill from there you can find the ruins of Rova, the former Queen's palace. The hub of the lower town is Araben ny Fahaleovantena, bookended by the railway station and the Hotel Le Glacier. This district is known as Analakely and is packed with permanent street markets.
Other popular Madagascar travel destinations include the islands of Nosy be and St. Marie off the coast of Toamasina, Morondava for its avenue of baobab trees, the magnificent harbor of Antsiranana, and Port Daulphin.
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