Madagascar: Nov 01—21, 2008

A fascinating and unique island-country featuring a huge variety of endemic birds, reptiles, mammals, and plants; expect endemic bird families, lemurs, and critically threatened habitats.

"Unique" is an adjective often used to describe Madagascar. This huge island began to split from the African continent during the age of dinosaurs and has evolved independently ever since. An amazing variety of different life forms have evolved from a few colonizing ancestors.

This is island evolution gone wild; there is no other place like it. Few other places are as threatened as the natural environments of Madagascar. A sense of urgency exists to visit Madagascar as intense human settlement and population increases lead to the destruction of large areas of the native habitats.

Six families of birds are endemic to the Madagascar region—the Mesites, Ground-Rollers, Cuckoo-Rollers, Asities, Madagascar Warblers, and Vangas—and we should see representatives of each. An endemic subfamily of large cuckoos, the Couas, form an important section of the avifauna. We usually encounter 100 or more of the 130 endemics and near-endemics. November (before the rains break) is the best season for observing the avifauna, with much breeding activity.

The lemurs are the most famous of Madagascar's wildlife. Primitive primates ranging in size from tiny mouse lemurs (at 11 inches, the smallest of the primates) to the child-size Indri, are appealing animals found throughout the forests. Of the 52 surviving species, some are colorful, social, and diurnal whereas others are drab, solitary, and nocturnal. This tour visits several major lemur reserves, and we will see a good variety of them.

The flora of Madagascar is surprisingly rich including over 1,000 species of orchids and many spectacular flowers that are popular in tropical gardens worldwide.

Among the highly endemic reptile fauna is an array of weird and colorful chameleons plus day geckos and skinks.

Good accommodations; easy to moderate terrain; moderate trail walking; cool to hot weather.