{"id":3763,"date":"2014-01-07T12:29:12","date_gmt":"2014-01-07T20:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interspace-design.com\/blog\/?p=3763"},"modified":"2021-06-25T09:53:50","modified_gmt":"2021-06-25T16:53:50","slug":"lemurs-wildebeest-wild-african-safari-adventure-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interspace-design.com\/blog\/lemurs-wildebeest-wild-african-safari-adventure-part-2","title":{"rendered":"Song of the Lemurs"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was a lot of fun seeing the inquisitive ring-tailed lemurs<\/a> and athletic\u00a0dancing sifakas<\/a> in Madagascar’s\u00a0Berenty Private Reserve<\/a>. Next up: looking for the\u00a0Indri<\/a>\u00a0lemurs, whose soulful songs echo in the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park<\/a>, some 3 hours outside\u00a0the capital of Tana.<\/p>\n

Unlike the semi-arid spiny forests of Berenty National Park,\u00a0Andasibe is a rainforest with abundant biodiversity, including many endemic and endangered species. We sprang for the Vakona Forest Lodge<\/a> as its Lemur Island promised a close encounter with several species of lemurs.<\/p>\n

\"Madagascar<\/a>
We traversed the lush countryside again on our way to Andasibe.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Blessed by abundant rainfall, the rice paddies in Madagascar yield as much as 4 crops a year. Outside the urban centers, those lucky enough to claim land through homesteading manage to eke out a living through subsistence farming.<\/p>\n

\"Madagascar<\/a>
Malagasy child outside thatched hut.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The locals though poor are extremely resourceful. Homes can be built from whatever material is at hand, so they can be anything from bamboo, brick to stucco. We find many of the people, especially the children, to be a cheerful lot.<\/p>\n

\"Row<\/a>
Row houses in the Malagasy countryside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Malagasy homeowners take great pride in their properties’ appearance and these vibrantly colored houses are a perfect example.<\/p>\n

\"Brown<\/a>
Brown lemurs on Lemur Island at Vakona Forest Lodge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The brown, ruffled, woolly and bamboo lemurs on the Island were purportedly abandoned pets and therefore used to human contact. The troops greeted us with overwhelming enthusiasm since we came bearing gifts of bananas. These rambunctious lemurs clambered all over me on sight of food but their soft furry paws sure tickle!!<\/p>\n

\"Velvet<\/a>
A striking bird with green lashes!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As is often with birds, the male Velvet Asity<\/a> is more colorful in order to attract the attention of the females: the jet black bird sports emerald green ‘eye lashes’ which are actually wattles. All asities are endemic to Madagascar.<\/p>\n

\"Giraffe<\/a>
Our naturalist guide showed us several giraffe weevils around the Vakona Lodge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Found only in Madagascar, the name\u00a0giraffe weevil<\/a> refers to the long neck of the male which is handy in fighting and nest building.<\/p>\n

\"Frog<\/a>
Frog in Vakona Lodge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There’s plenty of wildlife at the Vakona Lodge even sans-guide. We found this colorful small frog inside a bromeliad by the dining room entrance.<\/p>\n

\"Dining<\/a>
Dining room at Vakona Lodge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dining room at Vakona Lodge, memorable primarily as the scene of my second \u2013 and most serious \u2013 bout of food poisoning on the trip. Another meal of romazava<\/a>, a stew made with zebu, accompanied by salsa, this time washed down by coconut rhum arrang\u00e9<\/a>, did me in again. Apparently the offending\u00a0bacteria were unfazed by the rum’s high alcohol content…<\/p>\n

\"Rhum<\/a>
Rhum arrange, Madagascar’s home brew of rum flavored by fruits and spices.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For someone who’s not partial to swigging hard liquor, rhum arrang\u00e9 is ‘rot gut’ personified. But it is the island nation’s favorite home brew, and you can find the rum infused with any combination of\u00a0fruits, roots and spices, generally for a month or more.<\/p>\n

\"Painted<\/a>
Found only in Madagascar, the iridescent Painted Mantella faces the continued threat of habitat loss.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Not sure if it’s legal to handle the Painted Mantella<\/a> in the park, but I assume our guide was angling for a bigger tip\u00a0by showing us this poisonous frog.<\/p>\n

After the morning hike, I took a turn for the worse from my zebu stew encounter and the resulting fever of 103 F with chills necessitated a detour to the local hospital. Having tested negative for malaria, I was given prescriptions and summarily discharged. The total bill for the emergency room visit, test, as well as medications for fever and turista came to 200,000 Malagasy ariaries, a whopping $90 USD! Yes we’re definitely not in Kansas and the\u00a0US medical system anymore\u2026<\/p>\n