Madagascar Map

 

 

 

         Map of the Indian Ocean

latest picture: November 2, 2011

• click a picture to see details

151  On the highland the land is brown

and dry. On the spots, where the water-

ways are not completely dried out, the

hardworking farmers plant rice. Here

close to Ankaramena between

Ambalavao and Ihosy

152  Herdsmen of the Bara tribe are

guiding their cattle until the abattoir of

the capital Antananarivo. The worth of

a Bara man is measured by the number

of zebus he possesses. Often they are

valued higher than his wife

153  We are on our way from Ambalavao

to the Isalo National Park near Ranohira,

sitting west of Ambalavao. All of a

sudden, an impressive towering rock

boulder near Mahasoa pops

up in front of us

154  The villages sandwiched between

barren mountain ridges look like fertile

oases on our East-West crossing: Ihosy

155  Now and then zebus (Malagasy cows)

are herded in the middle of the road. They

are one of the most identifiable symbols of

Madagascar. We usually stop to let them

pass what is appreciated by the herdsmen

156  After crossing the Ihosy river near

Ihosy, the road climbs up to the Horombe

Plateau – an endless prairie of golden yellow

grass in the “Wilde West” of Madagascar –

which ends at the Isalo massif at Ranohira

157  From our bungalow at the Isalo Ranch

in Ranohira – situated at the border of the

Isalo Nat. Park – we enjoy the sunset …..

158  ….. the setting sun is blushing

the mountain in a warm red color …..

159  ….. and the long-stemmed

flowers are silhouetted wonderfully

against the glow of the sky

160  The sand stone massif of the

Isalo National Park is towering harshly

against the blue sky. It recalls memories

of the Wild West of the USA

161  The endemic miniature Baobab

(Pachypodium rosulatum) with its

yellow blossoms grows at Isalo National-

park. Its enlarged trunk is serving as a

self-contained water reservoir

162  Striking geological formations

form different landscapes within the

315 sq.mi. of the Isalo National Park

163  The roof of a traditional hut

gets freshly thatched

164  Emil is relaxing in front of our

bungalow at the Isalo Ranch in Ranohira

165  Liliana is enjoying hiking between

the pinnacles of the Isalo National Park

166  We discover the colorful Rainbow

Milkweed Locust (Phymateus saxosus)

crawling up a spiny tree …..

167  ….. reaching the top, it peeks

out between the leaves

168  Madagascar is also home to many

species of chameleon: Giant Malagasy

Chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti)

Wonders of nature in the gullies of Isalo National Park:

169  Colonies of tiny adult flatid leaf

bugs (Phromnia rosea). At first glance they

look like clusters of delicate flowers

170  Orange-brownish bugs

(Libyaspis coccinelloides) – adults

– clustered together at a trunk

171  Flat white bugs (Libyaspis

coccinelloides) – young ones, a kind

of nymphs of the bugs shown on the

left – looking like laces

Also in the barren canyons of Isalo National Park delicate flowers are sprouting in many colors

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175  Outside of the bizarre Isalo National

Park we find ourselves again in the almost

endless prairie with its Bismarck palms

(Bismarckia nobilis)

176  We love to explore with our Land

Cruiser the narrow dusty sandy tracks

surrounding the Isalo NP. Guides are

always mandatory within the park borders

177  Bizarre rock formations tower

ghostly from the prairie on the

outskirts of Isalo NP

178  Exploring the surroundings of the

Isalo Nationalpark. Can nature be

more beautiful?

179  Lilac flowers of a Jacaranda tree

contrast wonderfully against the grey

rock formations of the Isalo NP

180  The white clouds sailing right above our

heads intensify the beauties of nature. “Free”

tracks, again outside of the Isalo Nationalpark

181  Ilakaka – a village in the middle of

the endless prairie between Ranohira and

Tuléar. Since in the nineties sapphires

were discovered in the region, the tiny

hamlet advanced to a prosperous town

182  Along the river at the outskirts

of Ilakaka City, earth dug up from

the open sapphire mines is piled for

miles, still being washed for hidden gems

183  The lizard remains stock-still when

we get closer. But as soon as we retreat,

it speeds away into the bush

184  A modern settlement was built in

the grassland outside of Ilakaka during

the sapphire boom – mostly consisting

of luxurious houses of the traders

185  Far from the modern world:

A traditional and impoverished

thatched village East of Tuléar

186  The village church of Andranohinaly,

surrounded by peaceful nature

187  A “camion brousse” – a 4wd bush

truck – is loaded at the bus terminal in

Tuléar. It drives to places, which are not

anymore reachable by a normal bush taxi

188  Bus terminals are always fascinating.

It is incredible how much and what is lifted

to the roof of the “bush trucks” and even

strapped to all sides; but it means supplying

the most inaccessible regions

189  Slowly but steadily also this

youngsters will reach some

when their destination

190  Not only in Morondava but also

in Tuléar we see the Baobabs, the bottle

trees, that can get as old as 1’200 years

191  After the dry and bleak plains, the

green river scenery is a pleasant sight

192  One more shot of one of our favorite

places, the Isalo National Park, on our

journey back from Tuléar to Fianarantsoa

193  Lonely and forgotten: A couple of

thatched huts in “no man’s” land, with-

out running water – without electricity.

Famine occurs frequently in this region

194  Everywhere where there is

a pond people hope that some

fishes get caught in their net

195  The morning glow rings in another

day with new encounters and adventures

196  At the Antaimoro Paper Factory

in Ambalavao a young woman is pressing

fresh flowers into the still damp paper made

from the bark of the Avoha bush. Once

dried in the sun, it is made into cards

197  In Fianarantsoa elaborated paddies

adorn a river valley, cultivated by the

Betsileo tribe, the third biggest tribe

of the island of Madagascar

198  The picturesque traditional hamlets of

the highland people are small and compact;

here North of Alak-Ambohimaha, some

20 miles North of Fianarantsoa along the

RN7. Often people are related in one

way or another to each other

199  West of Fianarantsoa, in the

Ranomafana National Park, the

Namorana River tumbles over

the Andriamamovoka falls

200  The Namorana River is meandering

through the stony river bed of the

Ranomafana National Park. This park

was set up in 1990 to protect the

golden bamboo lemurs (Hapalemur

aureus) that are found only here

201  A Common Brown Lemur

(Eulemur fulvus) eyes us curiously

on our guided tour through the Rano-

mafana National Park. It remains the only

close-up contact. The other species

are foraging high up in the tree tops

On our tour through the Ranomafana National Park we discover:

202  A carnivorous plant (Drosera

capensis). The insect is attracted by the

scent of the mucilage glands and gets stuck

203  A bird is resting on a tree branch

– how might it be called?

204  Delicate white flowers

grow on humid soil

205  In the Ranomafana National Park,

our LandCruiser crosses a “Traveler’s

Tree“ (Ravenala madagascariensis)

that got its name from the water

storage in its leaves

206  Lush green rice fields and scattered

brown highland huts against the backdrop

of a grey mountain range make the valley

20 miles North of Fianarantsoa very

attractive

207  Just more awesome paddies,

cultivated by farmers of the

Betsileo tribe near Fianarantsoa

208  We never get tired to admire

the peaceful hamlets of the Betsileo

tribe on our way back from

Fianarantsoa to Antananarivo

209  A load of grass is pushed by hand

on a very simple wooden cart along the

street. This “poor man’s mean of transport”

is common on Madagascar’s roads

210  Vehicles made of wood and in

every size are offered along the road

211  Oxen are chased around and

around in a circle to aerate

the soil for a new paddy

212  Three women have to do the

hazardous crossing of the river with

their harvested carrots .....

213  ..... where they are loaded

onto a wooden cart

214  Forests are continuously burnt down

to get wood for cooking, firewood to burn

bricks, and charcoal. 80% are already

irreversibly gone. Consequence: No

more forests – no more lemurs – no

more tourists – no income anymore!

215  A sad and distressing sight: Charred

tree stumps rise ghostly against the sky

216  At the entrance of villages loads

of bags with charcoal line the streets

waiting to be hauled away

217  Typical brickworks between

Fianarantsoa and the capital Antananarivo,

where with the already scarce wood

bricks are burnt to construct houses

218  Waiting for customers: Farmers

sell their fresh carrots along the road

219  Market life on an old bridge. In

rural areas there are not many shops.

Most goods are traded in local markets

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Personal adornment is important to the Malagasy. Big care is taken to the hats.

They are worn with pride. From baby to grandfather, almost everyone wears them in all kind of variations

• Madagascar part 1: Tamatave-Andasibe (Lemurs)-Antananarivo-Antsirabe-Miandrivazo
• Madagascar part 2: Miandrivazo-Morondava (Baobabs)-Antsirabe-Fianarantsoa-Ambalavao (Lemurs)
• Madagascar part 4: Antananarivo-Ankadibe (Lemurs)-Andasibe-Manambato-Foulpointe-Tamatave