Most Inspirational Moment
- Tsingy National Park: this was an amazing hike. It was very hot during the day (38C) but with plenty of breaks and water it was very memorable - Wildlife: So abundant and incredible to see, from all the lemurs (ring-tails, sifaka, indri, red-fronted brown, fork masked, mouse, bamboo) geckos, chameleons (lots of chameleons!), fossa, plenty of birds and owls - Isalo and ranomafana National Parks - Alley of the Baobabs
Thoughts on Group Leader
Claudia was amazing and very accommodating of our group. She was always laughing and had a smile on her face, despite all of our questions and different requests. She had plenty different tricks and tips to keep us all happy, including early starts to get ahead of other tours, where best to stop and pick up different souvenirs, and plenty of stories and advice about our travels.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go with an open mind and take some time to slow down (Mura-Mura!) Madagascar goes on its own time, we never had to wait too long for anything but there was always something to watch or soak in the culture. I would definitely have packed more long sleeves and loose flowing clothing. While it was warm it was also very sunny and the longer clothing was better for the rainforest hikes, night walks and when there was no shade. Make sure to bring your regular travel medications (imodium, motilium, antihisamines, bite cream, electrolytes etc). I used a bit of everything at one point and you're better to have it than need it. Everyone's tummy was a little upset at some stage or another but nothing to cause too much concern. The food isn't too exciting but still tasty - most dishes come with boiled rice and vegetables. Make sure to bring a wide-brimmed hat, head torch and travel pillow. I used these 24/7 and were very appreciated. I also had a small fan to help keep me cool. I had a 70-200mm camera lens. The wildlife gets lovely and close so anything bigger isn't really needed. I stocked up on plenty of batteries and memory cards as power isn't always a given. We had short outages most nights (keep your headtorch handy!) I had a small power bank to keep my phone charged for videos during the days. Some of the hikes are a little tough with some high steps or climbing, so any preparation before with your fitness will help make it more enjoyable. There are plenty of stops for wildlife and water breaks so you never feel too pressured.