JENMAN Madagascar Safaris offers travel enthusiasts an exceptional opportunity to become acquainted with the spectacular endemic plants of Madagascar’s forests. Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world and hosts an outstanding range of habitats, from the lush rainforests of the east coast to the dry central uplands and low-lying spiny deserts of the south-west.
Spend eight adventurous days discovering the wilderness and splendour of tropical rainforest and pristine waters of the Masoala Peninsula in the northeast of Madagascar on this private lodge tour.
Over 80% of life here is endemic, including around 9,600 species of plants. This includes 6 of the world’s 8 species of baobab, 40 species of endemic aloe, unique plant families such as the traveller’s palm and a staggering 850 species of endemic orchid! Mention must be made of the bizarre thorn-covered Didiereaceae, perhaps the most intriguing plants of all and a totally endemic family that occurs nowhere else on earth!
Our pioneering holiday packages focuses on this unique flora as JENMAN Madagascar Safaris explores Ifaty’s spiny forest, look for orchids in the lush moss-draped rainforests of Mantadia National Park, and enjoy Madagascar’s wonderful scenery and other unique wildlife.
Isalo National Park in the southwest is renowned for its bizarre sandstone landscape of canyons, rocky pillars and other extraordinary wind-sculpted shapes and is home to the endemic Tapia trees and the bizarre rock-clinging Elephant’s Foot. The Isalo Aloe, along with Feather Palm and the Dwarf Baobab can also be found here.
The lush rainforests of Andasibe are extremely rich in endemic orchid and palm species but are also home to the beautiful Indri. It’s the largest and most vocal of the lemurs with a mesmerising and haunting sound that is sure to leave a lasting impression. Few images evoke Madagascar more than the Allée des Baobabs. Flanked by majestic baobabs, it comes into its own at sunrise or sunset when the trees cast their long shadows on the red dust road and neighbouring paddy fields.
There are nearly 1000 species of orchids in Madagascar (and counting), 90% of which are endemic. Many are very rare, with a short flowering season, and it is this ephemeral beauty that makes seeing wild orchids so special. Orchids are most common in the humid forests of the eastern seaboard such as Parc National de Ranomafana.
Madagascar’s national parks are excellent, with knowledgeable guides and good infrastructure for visitors; part of the park fees also help fund community projects.
