Madagascar is, above all, a nature destination. While there are certainly interesting man-made facets of the country — including colonial towns, native crafts, and sleepy coastal villages — Madagascar is an eco-traveller’s dream. From endless jungles filled with endemic plants, rare birds, and endangered animals, to the white-sand beaches of the Malagasy islands and limestone karst formations of Ankarana, the island is an explosion of nature at each turn. Cut off from the African mainland 165 million years ago, Madagascar evolved in isolation, leading to many unique and endemic species. The hands-down superstars of this wild performance are the endangered lemur, of which 90 percent of the surviving global population is found only here.

Separated from mainland Africa and India during the Mesozoic Era, Madagascar has been called the “land that time forgot” for its incredible biodiversity.