Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Turn to the Sea
With 5000km of coastline, 450km of barrier reef and 250 islands, no stay in Madagascar
wouldbecompletewithoutafewdaysontheisland'sshores.Diverswillrevelinthechoice
of sites, from underwater 'cathedrals' to shipwrecks, and will relish the chance to see rays,
whale sharks, reef sharks and many other kinds of sharks. Snorkellers will be awed by the
sheer grace of turtles and marvel at the rainbow of colours displayed by corals and fish.
For those keen to keep their heads above water, the idyllic beaches will prove hard to res-
ist. And once you've swayed in your hammock to your heart's content, you can join a loc-
al fisher for a pirogue (dugout canoe) trip, go sailing to explore nearby islands or board a
whale-watching boat to admire humpbacks breaching - one of nature's most majestic spec-
tacles.
Of Life & Death
Madagascar has been populated by successive waves of migrants from various corners of
the Indian Ocean, each bringing their own customs and beliefs. This cultural melting pot
has evolved into an intricate set of beliefs and rituals that revere ancestors' spirits. For trav-
ellers, getting accustomed to the central role that death plays in everyday life is often an
opportunity to reassess their own beliefs, and attending a
famadihana
(traditional exhuma-
tion and reburial) or a traditional circumcision ceremony can be the highlight of a trip.
There is much history to discover, too, from the 12 sacred hills of Antananarivo to the pir-
ate cemetery of Ile Sainte Marie and the vestige of Madagascar's industrial revolution in
Mantasoa.
Crystal-clear waters of La Mer d'Emeraude (
Click here
)
NIGEL PAVITT/GETTY IMAGES ©
