Thursday, June 30, 2011
Moving on again...back to Tana
June 30, 2011
Today, a few of us did some early morning bird watching and saw some gorgeous kingfishers and some moor hens, which are marsh birds that have duck-like bills and chicken-like feet. We then took a plane back to the capital of Antananarivo. After lunch at a restaurant on a hill, overlooking the city, we had a short driving tour of the city and walked through a flower market. Tonight is an early night because the plane leaves at 04:45 in the morning tomorrow to head to the southern part of the island...more from there!
Today, a few of us did some early morning bird watching and saw some gorgeous kingfishers and some moor hens, which are marsh birds that have duck-like bills and chicken-like feet. We then took a plane back to the capital of Antananarivo. After lunch at a restaurant on a hill, overlooking the city, we had a short driving tour of the city and walked through a flower market. Tonight is an early night because the plane leaves at 04:45 in the morning tomorrow to head to the southern part of the island...more from there!
Masoala and Nosy Mangabe Lemurs
The red colored one is the Red Ruffed Lemur - the only place in the world that they live is in Masoala....
The other lemurs are both the White-Fronted Brown Lemur - but only the male has the white face, the female is completely brown...
The other lemurs are both the White-Fronted Brown Lemur - but only the male has the white face, the female is completely brown...
Masoala and Nosy Mangabe
June 29, 2011
We awoke at dawn and took small motor boats down the river, passing the small fishing village along the way. There were several people in dug out canoes fishing with nets to catch shrimp in the river. We then boated across open ocean to the Masoala National Park, where the rainforest meets the sea. We took a walk and spotted the endangered red ruffed lemur. Then we boated to a small island called Nosy Mangabe. After a picnic lunch, we walked through the beautiful rainforest, crossing small streams and occasionally catching glimpses of the beach and ocean. We saw several frogs, some huge spiders, and some white faced brown lemurs. This species is sexually dimorphic with the males having a white fringed face and the females being entirely brown.
At night, a few of us walked around looking for nocturnal animals. We saw several insects and a small white frog with yellow feet. The night was clear and the stars were amazing.
We awoke at dawn and took small motor boats down the river, passing the small fishing village along the way. There were several people in dug out canoes fishing with nets to catch shrimp in the river. We then boated across open ocean to the Masoala National Park, where the rainforest meets the sea. We took a walk and spotted the endangered red ruffed lemur. Then we boated to a small island called Nosy Mangabe. After a picnic lunch, we walked through the beautiful rainforest, crossing small streams and occasionally catching glimpses of the beach and ocean. We saw several frogs, some huge spiders, and some white faced brown lemurs. This species is sexually dimorphic with the males having a white fringed face and the females being entirely brown.
At night, a few of us walked around looking for nocturnal animals. We saw several insects and a small white frog with yellow feet. The night was clear and the stars were amazing.
Tamatave to Maroantsetra
June 28, 2011
Our flight was changed to a later time today, so we slept a little later. In the early morning, we walked around the streets near the hotel before returning along the road that parallels the beach and features some French colonial buildings. Unfortunately, it was a rainy and gray morning. We saw young children eating noodles for breakfast, children gathering in a school yard, lots of people walking and a soccer match. The people here are a mix of Indonesian and African ancestry and the Malagasy language is the only one in the African region that belongs to the Polynesian language family. However, most people also speak French, which is left from the time of French colonization. In the late morning, we went to a market in Tamatave where they sell everything from furniture to produce to flowers to electronics in outside stalls.
After a flight to Maroantsetra, which includes a stop to pick up more people, we drove to the lovely Relais du Masoala Lodge. This area is in the north east of Madagascar and the lodge is right near the beach. You can hear the waves of the Indian Ocean as you lay in bed at night. We were able to take a short beach walk while it was still light and saw the dug out canoes that the fishermen use in this area.
Our flight was changed to a later time today, so we slept a little later. In the early morning, we walked around the streets near the hotel before returning along the road that parallels the beach and features some French colonial buildings. Unfortunately, it was a rainy and gray morning. We saw young children eating noodles for breakfast, children gathering in a school yard, lots of people walking and a soccer match. The people here are a mix of Indonesian and African ancestry and the Malagasy language is the only one in the African region that belongs to the Polynesian language family. However, most people also speak French, which is left from the time of French colonization. In the late morning, we went to a market in Tamatave where they sell everything from furniture to produce to flowers to electronics in outside stalls.
After a flight to Maroantsetra, which includes a stop to pick up more people, we drove to the lovely Relais du Masoala Lodge. This area is in the north east of Madagascar and the lodge is right near the beach. You can hear the waves of the Indian Ocean as you lay in bed at night. We were able to take a short beach walk while it was still light and saw the dug out canoes that the fishermen use in this area.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Blog updated...
So, are you can see, we have update the blog with a flurry of posts from the first 1/3 of the trip. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a way to re-order the posts to keep things in proper order, so just scroll back through if you want to read the text that corresponds with the photos...they may make more sense that way.
Tomorrow, we are off to the north of the island and are not expected to have great internet (or possible cell) service. So, there may be a lull in posting, but we'll see what awaits us up there..
Tomorrow, we are off to the north of the island and are not expected to have great internet (or possible cell) service. So, there may be a lull in posting, but we'll see what awaits us up there..
Day 3...At the zoo...
These are all taken of captive animals (hence the obvious fences in some of the photos, and the not so obvious one in others).
Red-Bellied Lemur (despite not really have a red-belly, that's their name)...
Black and White Ruffed Lemur...
Madagascar Buzzard (in a cage...has a broken leg and is hoped to be rehabilitated, but the outlook, sadly, is bleak for him) and a Crested Drongo (wild)...
Blue-Eyed Black Lemur (yes, his - males are black, females are brown - eyes are not that blue)...
Panther Chameleon...
White Fronted Brown Lemur...yes, he does have a dog collar on...he is a "free range" lemur at the zoological society, some of the lemurs that are allowed to roam free but return to be fed usually...
Red-Bellied Lemur (despite not really have a red-belly, that's their name)...
Black and White Ruffed Lemur...
Madagascar Buzzard (in a cage...has a broken leg and is hoped to be rehabilitated, but the outlook, sadly, is bleak for him) and a Crested Drongo (wild)...
Blue-Eyed Black Lemur (yes, his - males are black, females are brown - eyes are not that blue)...
Panther Chameleon...
White Fronted Brown Lemur...yes, he does have a dog collar on...he is a "free range" lemur at the zoological society, some of the lemurs that are allowed to roam free but return to be fed usually...
Day 2...Indri Indri
The big lemurs are the Indri Indri...the biggest of the lemur species.
The bird is a Madagascar Fody.
The bird is a Madagascar Fody.
Day 1 Night Walk
The small lemur is the Mouse Lemur...the world's smallest primate!!
The lizards are called Leaf-Tailed Geckos...they are different species, but they have flat tails that look, shockingly, like leaves.
The other lizard is a chameleon called a Gastrotenia.
The frog is a frog.
The lizards are called Leaf-Tailed Geckos...they are different species, but they have flat tails that look, shockingly, like leaves.
The other lizard is a chameleon called a Gastrotenia.
The frog is a frog.
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