I knew when I left it wouldn’t be easy.
That the days of this ambitious trip (3 weeks across the country) would be long, the nights short, the sometimes exhausting road and the discomfort really there. But that didn’t scare me. To get back to the bottom of things, to face a genuine experience, you have sometimes to go out of your comfort zone.
In this case, it was to be taken literally.
A friend of mine would say “put the church back in the centre of the village”, that is, go back to the important things, put the essentials back at the heart of the journey, and somehow deserve an exceptional nature. Swallowing the miles, learning patience between car breakdowns, adapting to circumstances, not wanting to control everything, improvising, and savoring. To find a gaze of wonder, almost childish, before the unknown.
1
First meet with a whale shark
I had never swam with such an impressive mammal, and for a good reason, since it's the biggest fish in the ocean. There’s bound to be some apprehension when it seems to be coming right at you, but the shark is actually more afraid of us than the other way around; it’s harmless. And beautiful, with its unique patterns, which allow scientists to differentiate one individual from another.
2
The sunset on the beach of Nosy Iranja
Not all sunsets are equal. There, the blue light of the sky gradually changes into an orange depth that transforms the trees into shade and postcard, while the last amber rays are reflected on a veil of cloudy cotton. You’ll have to remember that while home.
3
The bright eyes of the microcebs in the night
… that are reflected in our flashlights. Half plush half animal fantastic, hard to find cuter than this little lemur who hides in the trees to escape from its predators.
… and the island's very special fauna..
4
Anjohibe caves
Being alone on a tourist site has become a real luxury. How appreciable ! The fact that they aren't very accessible (several hours and with a 4x4 vehicle) - like many other sites in the country -, or their confidentiality, means that you won't meet many people there.
You’re only going to see part of a huge underground network that hasn’t been discovered yet. There's an atmosphere of adventure, secrets and exploration. And the vines, to which hang like Tarzan, add to the folklore.
An indispensable guide not to get lost and end up in fossils !
5
The diversity of the landscapes
From the rice fields of Tana to the great plains. From the red Tsingys to the long beach strip of Nosy Iranja, through the canyons and forests.
Nature is queen, you breath, you come back to the essential, without fuss, without superfluous.
Unfortunately this nature is, as often, in danger, and nibbled little by little. If there is already not much left of the original primary forests, deforestation due to slash-and-burn farming (tavy) yet illegal, to the use of wood for cooking or for coal, to the bush fires (doro tanety), and overfishing, make the situation much worse.
The red tsingy
The site is not very extensive but is no less impressive. It seems to be part of the scenery of a western or an episode of Stargate.
Again, not many people.
Be careful not to rely too heavily on the Tsingys, they are friable.
The Emerald Sea
We can say that it's well named ! I didn't have that image of Madagascar at all a few years ago. I would never have imagined such a landscape. How not to regain faith (in what you want) by looking at this expanse of pure blue. Even without being fond of the beaches, this beauty touches, savours and soothes.
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