
Where to go whale watching in South Africa
Finding the gentle giants of the sea
If you were to travel in a straight line from Madagascar’s south coast, you wouldn’t hit any land until Antarctica. That’s pretty cool – but what’s even cooler are the bizarre landscapes of the Mandrare Valley. We’re talking spiny forests, enclaves of exotic flora, baobab-scattered basins and of course, more than a smattering of the island’s most iconic wildlife. The region is probably most famous for the Berenty Reserve, one of Mada’s first ever eco-tourism destinations and now the protector of a swathe of tamarind gallery forest and one of the best places to see habituated ringtail and Verreaux sifaka lemurs at close range. The area is also the stomping ground of the pastoralist Antandroy people who have a complex network of taboos and tradition that are fascinating to watch at play.
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The Mandrare Valley showcases southern Madagascar at its most magical – a realm where ancient baobabs tower over spiny forests ruled by acrobatic lemurs. Dawn walks through the Ifotaka Community Forest reveal ring-tailed lemurs and Verreaux's sifakas performing aerial displays, while nearby Berenty Reserve guarantees even more primate encounters. Beyond wildlife, Mandrare's soul lies in cultural connections with local communities who share traditions unchanged for generations through vibrant markets and mesmerizing dance performances. As sunset silhouettes those iconic baobab sentinels against the flowing Mandrare River, you'll understand why this remote corner of Madagascar captivates every traveler lucky enough to discover it.
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