Spiny Desert

July 2, 2011

We arose before sunrise today and drove to a preserve where we walked among the baobab trees and spiny forest looking for birds. The baobabs can live for 5,000 years and get very large. The oldest one in this area was about 1,500 years old. The bark has a distinct orange-red color and they grow in interesting shapes.

After returning to the hotel, we took advantage of the fabulous weather and walked along the beach. It was low tide and the ocean is shallow all the way out to the coral reef. As we walked towards the fishing village on the beach, we saw children wading in the shallows and collecting mollusks. Further out people in small boats, some with sails, were fishing and singing. There were crabs and several nice looking shells on the beach as we walked. After lunch, we had some time to relax before heading back to the park for an evening walk. We saw the adorable grey mouse lemur scampering around in a high tree and the ground roller, which has striking blue wing feathers, roosting for the night.