Located in the Indian Ocean , 400 kilometres off the east coast of Africa, Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world with a surface area of 587,000 square kilometres . Madagascar broke away from the African continent 180 million years ago.

A major attraction for tourists and naturalists are the islands’ plants and animals – most of them unique to Madagascar. 80 per cent of the native plants are endemic; all of the island’s animals are found nowhere else (except those introduced by man) and over half of the island’s birds and 90 per cent of Madagascar’s reptiles are not found anywhere else. This haven, on the one end , has been preserved owing to the island’s split from the African continent millions of years ago and due to the late arrival of man only 2000 years ago and , on the other end , has followed an unique evolutionary way which may include elephant-birds, giant lemurs and pygmy hippos.

The population of Madagascar is estimated to be only 16 million people with nearly half aged under 15 years old.

75 per cent of Madagascar’s population live below the poverty limit and only 10 per cent of households have electricity and running water while only 2 per cent have a WC.

The tourism is considered by the new government as a major priority and is a source of income generating foreign currencies revenues and jobs, increase socio-economic mobility of the Malagasy people. Attracting at the present time 200,000 overseas tourists , the main objective of the Malagasy government is to reach 500,000 visitors in 2007.

Madagascar has a tropical climate: Summer : November – March; Winter : April – October with daytime temperatures varying from warm to hot throughout the year.

Ancestral tradition still plays a large part in cultural beliefs among the 18 Malagasy tribes. Their belief is that relatives and parents play a spiritual guide role upon their deaths and shape their future destiny.

Madagascar has three main climatic/floristic zones: the eastern rainforests; the western tropical dry deciduous woods and the semi-arid south.

There are more species of palm trees , bamboo and orchid in Madagascar than in the entire African continent. There are 9 species of baobab trees to found in the world seven of which are endemic to Madagascar.

Madagascar offers diverse and spectacular scenery to the visitor including semi-desert mountains ; rainforests; deserted beaches and island archipelagos linked by coral reefs under clear waters.

The capital of Madagascar is Antananarivo, also known as Tana which stands on 1250 metres above sea level in the central highlands , there is a population of around 3 million. The city is set in a basin surrounded by 12 hills. Whilst the surrounding countryside is largely devoted to growing rice, the city itself has many markets, a museum, botanical gardens and cultural centres , many restaurants and a vibrant nightlife.

Wildlife highlights include:

Perinet : home to the largest lemur, the Indri and 8 other species of lemurs . Also claims a world record for frog diversity with over 100 counted species and reptiles including the enormous Parsons chameleon.

Mantadia : contains primary rainforest inhabited by rare wildlife including the diadem sifaka, ruffed lemur .

Ranomafana National Park : The thundering white water of the Namorona River dominates the upland rainforest in the south-eastern highlands and protects 12 species of lemur, including the bamboo lemurs, ruffed and red-bellied lemurs and the amazing Milne-Edward’s diadem sifaka.

Masoala National Park and Nosy Mangabe Island: Protects the largest remaining Malagasy lowland rainforest. The area, much of which remains unexplored, contains a bewildering diversity of plants and animals. In the Bay of Antongil, the uninhabited island reserve of Nosy Mangabe is a bastion for the ruffed and white-fronted lemurs and the bizarre aye aye.

Montagne d’Ambre National Park: A large forested volcanic massif was the first Malagasy conservation project to involve local people in planning and management. Apart from rare wildlife, the area is breathtakingly beautiful with several crater lakes and waterfalls.

Kirindy Forest: This dry and tropical forest is the world’s most threatened habitat type and provides a world record for primate density. Wildlife includes giant jumping rats and fosas, Madagascar’s largest predator. The forest is also home to three of the endemic Malagasy baobabs.

Other places of interest for wildlife include: Berenty Private Reserve; Ifaty Spiny Forest; Isalo National Park; Ampijoroa Forest Station; Ankarana Reserve; Lokobe Reserve; Nosy Tanikely; Andringitra National Park; Andohahela National Park; Marojejy National Park and the Tsingy of Bemaraha.

The island’s beaches provide not only some of the most beautiful and unspoilt places to relax in the Indian Ocean but also includes some diving sites in magnificent coral reefs which have not suffered from pollution thereby promoting a rich and diverse marine life. Major beach and dive centres include: the Nosy Be Archipelago; Ste Marie island ; Ifaty; Morondava; St Augustine’s Bay and Anakao among others.