It has rivers, waterfalls, clear lakes, caverns, savannah and desert and, towering above the northernmost region, the lofty, rugged Mount Maromokofro. But what most people associate with Madagascar is lemurs, because this is the partly protected home of 90 percent of all the lemurs in the world.
The island is huge, over 1000 miles long and 350 miles wide, and lies 250 miles off the coast of East Africa, just south of the equator. It's sparsely populated and few roads cross it, but it's a rewarding experience for intrepid explorers.
Its rare and flamboyant birds and plants attract birdwatchers and botanists from all over the world. Tours and treks are available through its national parks.
It's not all wilderness. The capital, Antananarivo, ('The City of a Thousand Warriors') is a lively spot with a steep maze of narrow streets and, sprawling out from the central plaza, the Zoma, the largest open-air market in the world. You'll find everything for sale here from strange fruit, carved stone, handicrafts and beans as well as the national snack, koba, a mix of banana, peanuts and rice, as well as the ubiquitous seafood salads of lobster, crab, ginger, coconut and lime.
Beach-lovers must head to the islands along the north-west coast. Nosy Be, a protected lemur reserve with fabulous beaches and coral reef is the largest, and the base for exploring dozens of smaller islands like Nosy Boraha, (Sainte Marie), and even uninhabited islands scattered nearby.
Those with more energetic inclinations should head to Toliary, (Tuléar) for scuba diving along a reef which some say is second only to Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
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