Ambarinanahary, Madagascar

Madagascar, the fourth-largest island in the Indian Ocean, is located off the southeastern coast of Africa. It was once part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, surrounded by landmasses that would eventually become Africa, South America, Antarctica, India, and Australia. Over millions of years, tectonic shifts caused these landmasses to drift apart. Madagascar remained attached to what is now the Indian subcontinent until it, too, began to separate. As India drifted northward toward its collision with Asia, Madagascar broke away and gradually settled into its current position.

This long period of geographic isolation allowed Madagascar’s plant and animal life to evolve in a unique way. Around 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth, including the lemurs, the elusive fossa and a kaleidoscope of chameleons, many of which are endemic.

The island’s flora is just as amazing, from the towering baobabs, which look like upside-down trees with their roots sticking in the air, the spiny forests that have grown prickles to protect themselves from hungry herbivores and the traveller’s palm with its huge fan-shaped leaves. 

This island's terrain is also remarkable, ranging from lush rainforests and cool highland plateaus to dry, spiny, desert-like forests. Surrounding the island are long stretches of white sandy beaches, lapped by sparkling blue waters. This variety of landscapes has helped shape its biodiversity, with some species adapting to humid forests while others thrive in dry, arid regions. The shifting climate across the island, from hot and tropical to dry and arid, dictates what plants grow where and which animals call those places home.

More than 30 million people call Madagascar home, which is relatively high for an island nation. Over two-thirds of the population is under the age of 15. Most people live in rural areas, with agriculture as the main source of livelihood. Although vast stretches of land remain underdeveloped, population growth is increasing pressure on natural resources. Deforestation and land conversion for farming contribute to habitat loss, which in turn threatens many of the island’s unique species.

However, local communities and international organisations are actively working to protect the forests through various efforts, such as developing sustainable farming practices, planting trees, restoring habitats, and safeguarding critically endangered species.

As I travel along the lemur-shaped route – a playful nod to the island’s most famous resident – I’ll be making my way through national parks and otherworldly landscapes in search of the iconic ring-tailed lemur. Along the way, I plan to learn more about these curious creatures, sample the local cuisine, explore the lively capital of Antananarivo, and admire the region’s arts and crafts. I might even hug a baobab and ponder whether it truly looks like an upside-down tree. More than anything, I hope to walk away with a deeper appreciation of this fragile and vulnerable island, with its incredibly rare and remarkable ecosystems.