Madagascar is a fascinating tourist destination, providing the tourists with a remarkably enriching experience of their lifetime. It is a charming wonderland for nature lovers with its abundant natural reserves in the form of exotic and rare plants and animal life. Madagascar is referred to as being the “eighth continent” by the ecologists, as it got separated from the neighboring continents about 160 million years ago. This long isolation has made it a living laboratory of the earth with regard to evolution and it has led to a unique collection of plants and animals, most of which are endemic to Madagascar.
Madagascar is officially known as the Republic of Madagascar and it is an island country in the Indian Ocean, situated off Africa’s southeastern coast. The country’s main island is also known as Madagascar and it is the world’s fourth biggest island. The history of Madagascar is glorious and colorful. According to the archaeologists, the humans arrived here in the period from 200 to 500 AD. As per the local legend, Madagascar was inhabited by the race of white pygmies-Vazimba. The initial inhabitants could have been the seafarers of Southeast Asia, from the archipelago of Malayo-Indonesia. The Bantu settlers also came around the same time. The recorded history of Madagascar started off in the 7th century with the arrival of the Arabs. The European traders came around the 15th century and started settling around the 17th century.
Madagascar was ruled by the Merina Kingdom in the 18th century and it was toppled by the French in the early 19th century. Madagascar became independent in 1960 and has faced many political upheavals ever since. Madagascar is a poor country and is one of the developing countries. The infrastructure is not all that developed, so this is not a tourist destination for all people. If you wish to go to Madagascar, then you must plan your trip beforehand. You can avail guidance from Bradt Travel Guide to Madagascar, or book with specialized tour operators like California’s Cortez Expeditions, or utilize the group organizer services of UK’s Rainbow Tours. You may book the expedition of luxury Madagascar vacation special scheduled for September 2008 and explore the untold beauty of Madagascar.
Even if Madagascar does not offer you all the luxuries like other noted tourist destinations, you will be delighted to experience its outstanding landscapes, the extraordinary Malagasy culture, fascinating history, unrivaled wildlife and incredible people. Madagascar is like no other place on earth and you will enjoy the trip as the most unforgettable experience of your lifetime. It is a land full of adventure and you can go for white water rafting in the remote rivers, surfing on deserted breaks, strolls on dazzling beaches, mountain trekking, hang-gliding, mountain biking, camping, spelunking in caves infested with crocodiles and diving with sharks and so on…..the list is endless. The birders will surely have a great time in Madagascar- the island has over 260 species of birds, of which 115 are endemic. The other exotic wildlife includes lemurs, viverrids, fossa, tenrecs, bats, rodents, frogs, chameleons, vivid insects and fish along with interesting marine life. Madagascar is home to nearly 12,000 plant species. You will be thrilled to take a vacation to Madagascar.
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