Madagascar anyone?

[Linus]

I am thinking of planning a holiday to Madagascar. It seems like a great place to see a variety of unique wildlife and some great scenery too.

Has anyone been? Would love to hear about it. Also would love to hear from anyone who has been to the galapgos islands....or anywhere interesting in terms of the flora/fauna.


Thanks

 

[Hickson]

Ummmm....I've been to Zimbabwe, Belize (twice), PNG, Palau and Micronesia. What did you want to know?



HIx

 

[Linus]

Well I'd like to have a holiday that is sort of animal focused...herps focused if possible. I have never been to Africa or South America so I thought Madagascar or galapgos would be a good start but if someone can recommend any partciular country for creature viewing/interaction I'd like to hear about that too.

I am also intersted in Micronesia and Palau Hix. Did you do some diving there? I have heard it is some of the best in the world

 

[Hickson]

Palau is fantastic, the visibility in the water on a bad day is about 40 feet. I had a guy with a boat drop me off and I camped on an uninhabited island for 3 or 4 days, about 60 miles from town. Just fabulous. And I went on a boat trip to Ulong island - I've been on the beach where the current series of Survivor had one of their tribes based.

In Yap you can dive with Manta Rays, and in Truk there are something like 60 ships to dive on. Reptiles in the islands tend to be small lizards, sea turtles, and crocodles. And, of course, Brown Tree Snakes on Guam.

Zimbabwe was great for birds and lareg mammals, but I was there in July - Winter and the temp was only 28-30 Celcius during the day, too cool for herps so didn't see much at all. And I wouldn't recommend Zimbo as a holiday with the present political climate.

PNG was great and so was Belize, but I wasn't looking for herps in either place (although I did see one or two).

Check out my albums in my gallery at http://www.aussiepythons.com/module...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

I really need to add some more to it.



Hix

 

[Snake Catcher Victoria]

linus said

Well I'd like to have a holiday that is sort of animal focused...herps focused if possible

here here...madagascar is amazing from what ive seen
galopagos islands...awesome..i would go in a heartbeat if circumstances let me..

 

[Snake Catcher Victoria]

those hornbills are amazing birds aye hix..fantastic in closeup and in flight

 

[Fuscus]

Madagascar has heaps of chameleon species (between half and 2/3 of all species and they are supposed to be easy to find. If not there are lots of chameleon farms which export for the pet trade. Unfortunalty they have heaps of exotic species as well, there are eucalyptus forests there

 

[Snake Catcher Victoria]

not to mention all the other wildlife thats there..lemurs and such,amazing crazy looking animals..off subject a bit,,i was wondering if the flying fox here could be a lemur sub sp...cos its not a real bat is it??? just curious

 

[Linus]

In Yap you can dive with Manta Rays, and in Truk there are something like 60 ships to dive on.

I have read about the manta rays in yap. That would be fantatsic to dive with them. they are enormous aren't they like wing span of 15 feet??

Madagascar has heaps of chameleon species

Yeh I've never seen a chameleon in the wild and I really think they are the coolest lizard by far so that would be a highlight. I would also love to see some of the lemur species.

 

[Hickson]

they are enormous aren't they like wing span of 15 feet??

Yup. And there were at least a dozen of them, only a few metres from us. must find the photos and scan them.

i was wondering if the flying fox here could be a lemur sub sp

No, it's not a lemur. Not by any definition or taxonomic description.



Hix

 

[Linus]

must find the photos and scan them.

Yes please!

 

[Linus]

must find the photos and scan them.

Yes please!

 

[Hickson]

those hornbills are amazing birds

They sure are, but the Asian ones are even more spectacular IMO.



Hix

 

[westaussie]

if you want to see herp I would recomend Australia

 

[Snake Catcher Victoria]

your right wa nothing quite like the red desert to quench your herping obsessions,,,a bit cheaper than madagascar for us here to..big shortage of chamelions and lemurs though...

 

[Linus]

haha yes I thought someone would say that westaussie.

It's a good point and i love travelling in Australia but have had the majority of my holidays here so would like to see something new.

 

[NCHERPS]

Linus,

How about the Amazon or Costa rica?

There is a company based in the USA which has been specialising in Flora and fauna related holidays, with a special enthusis on Herp trips.
They have some top field herpetologist's as guides, many are well known and have written countless book's and papers.

Go to www.greentracks.com

Good luck with making your decision. So many places to visit, it's hard to choose just one isn't it.

Neil

 

[Linus]

Wow that looks pretty good Neil. Thanks for the link. Have you done something like this?

 

[instar]

In Yap you can dive with Manta Rays

I live with 3 females, I get plenty of 'Yap' right here 24/7 ! :lol:

love to visit Galapagos though, big tortise fan !!!

 

[Hickson]

Hix