Lying isolated in the middle of the Indian Ocean just off the coast of Southern Africa, Madagascar is the world's fourth largest island, and is about the size of Texas or France. Because this island is so isolated from the rest of the world it has become home to some very interesting evolutionary oddities that are unique to the island. Probably the most famous of which, well at least after the animated film 'Madagascar' was released, is the lemur. And for those of you who are thinking that the chances of you seeing some unique creature that you'd never seen before are pretty slim, you'd be wrong. Consider this little-known fact; of all the 250,000 species that inhabit Madagascar a staggering 70 per cent are unique to the island. Furthermore the animals there have not yet learned to fear man, meaning your chances of getting a close-up view of them are far better. There are few places in the world where you will have photo opportunities like this, the Galapagos Islands being one of them.
Here are just a few of the fascinating creatures that Madagascar is home to; the fossa, a carnivorous animal that looks like a cross between a puma and dog; the tenrec, a hedgehog-type creature, and many brightly coloured lizards including geckos and chameleons. As you would expect, Madagascar also has an
astonishing array of scenery that these curious animals call home, so anyone who is a keen hiker will not be disappointed. From the high peaks of Andringitra, (the highest of which is 2,658 metres, or around 1.65 miles, high), to the rich forestry and grasslands of the Grand Canyon esc Isalo and the extensive cave systems of Ankarana that are home to many crocodiles, there certainly is a lot to explore. And for those of you that are more interested in relaxing you'll be pleased to hear there are plenty of white, sandy beaches and scenic coral reefs too.