Madagascar is located in the western part of the Indian Ocean, facing the African continent across the Mozambique Strait. It is the largest island in Africa and the fourth largest island in the world. More than 100 million years ago, Madagascar separated from Gondwana. Far away from the biological competition on the mainland, many rare species survive and multiply in a stable and comfortable environment. Today, many species on the island of Madagascar are unique to the world.
After the great success of the cartoon “Madagascar” and several successive sequels, the animal star lemur who stole the limelight in the movie was regarded as the mascot of Madagascar. Lemurs are one of the oldest primates in existence, and their ancestors have witnessed the rise and fall of dinosaurs. Today, lemurs have been included in the list of endangered animals in the world.
The most eye-catching lemur is the ring-tailed lemur. The black and white tails are the hallmark of this group of big-eyed elves, and they are also a striking signal that they connect with each other when they walk in the grass or woods. In the early morning, ring-tailed lemurs like to open their arms facing the rising sun, and warm their bodies from the cold in the long night. Therefore, they are also called “worshipers of the sun.”
In the Isalo National Park in southwestern Madagascar, visitors can take photos with ring-tailed lemurs. In Andasibe National Park adjacent to the capital Antananarivo, you can also listen to the “singing” of the big lemur. Andasibe National Park itself is a rainforest, where two groups of large lemurs belong to different families. The height of an adult lemur is similar to that of a five or six-year-old child, and it is the largest of the lemur species in Madagascar. The loud call is characteristic of the big lemur, and its loudness can reach several kilometers away. When visiting Andasibe National Park, you can stay in a hotel built next to the rainforest. In the early morning, you will be awakened by the “singing” of the big lemur, and then you will start your rainforest adventure.
Relying on the chameleon hidden in the forest with changeable colors, Madagascar’s largest carnivore, the horse island mongoose, the rare tortoise Aganoka tortoise in the world… Madagascar is worthy of being a paradise for wild animals. Not only that, there are also eye-opening strange flowers and trees growing on this land. The most typical is the baobab tree, which is regarded by the locals as the “sacred tree” and has the reputation of “wasteland water tower”.
The scientific name of the Baobab tree is Bobab tree, also known as Homo saccharum. In the dry and rainless grasslands of the heating zone of Madagascar, the baobab tree survives tenaciously with its unique branch structure, witnessing the earth’s years and experiencing the vicissitudes of the world. It has smooth bark, loose wood, hard surface and soft inside, which is good for water storage. In the dry season, wild beasts on the grassland will bite baobab trees to quench their thirst, and travelers who travel long distances can also dig holes in the trees to get water. Under some baobab trees, there are still remains of ancient human activities. Nowadays, local residents still gather around the baobab trees to hold traditional ceremonies.
The port city of Morondava is a great place to watch the baobab trees. There are 7 different kinds of baobab trees growing on the avenue of baobab trees here. The trees are about 800 years old and can reach up to 30 meters in height. The smooth and straight trunks are straight into the sky, and the crowns of the trees with their teeth and claws are like tree roots. In the afterglow of the setting sun, they are like giants standing on the edge of the earth, silently guarding the ground under their feet. Vigorous and magnificent, distant and vicissitudes of life, this picture often becomes a precious memory that has been fixed in the minds of tourists for a long time.
