I have just finished a 6 hour hike through the rainforest. I'm smiling because I'm not aware that there are leeches all over my legs having a banquet.
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| A futile attempt to dry my belongings. |
Let's Talk About Lemurs
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| Ring-tailed lemur |
Once upon a time, millions of years ago, Madagascar was part of the African continent. When it broke away, it took lemurs with it. Lemurs are primates that evolved in isolation on the island of Madagascar after the big divorce. There are actually about 100 different types of lemurs, but the entire species is considered endangered. Because the different lemur types often eat different types of food, they can co-exist peacefully in the same patch of forest. Too bad the same can't be said of the human species....
My first lemur-spotting was in Ramomafana National Park. After a long drive, we arrived at Hotel Cristo, outside the park. After dropping off my bags, we set off for a 'night walk.'
We drove into the little town that has grown up on the edge of the park, and waited for the guide. We didn't actually go into the park, just drove past the town and got out and walked along the side of the road, looking for lizards. True story.
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Leaf-tailed gecko,a master of camouflage
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Luckily I had booked two nights at the hotel in Ramomafana, because the first day it bucketed down. There was no point going into the forest to look for lemurs. They would be sensibly hiding from the weather. So I tucked in and drank tea and read two books. In the afternoon, the rain slowed down a bit, and I had a bit of a wander in the garden.
The next day the sun wasn't shining, but there was only a slight drizzle, so we set off to look for lemurs in the forest. My guide was the same man from the night before, Emile. Emile was one of the people who helped Dr.Patricia Wright discover the Golden Bamboo Lemur in 1986. Ramomafana Park was actually created to protect this particular lemur.
I love the rainforest. I'm always astonished by the creative genius of nature. Everything in the rainforest is there for a reason. Every creature and plant plays a part in the intricate dance of life.
Before we even entered the park, Emile showed me the most astonishing creature; another leaf-tailed gecko.
See it?
After a few minutes of walking, Emile heard or saw something and suddenly we were off the path, picking our way through undergrowth. We were on the hunt!!!
There are only about 600 Golden Bamboo Lemurs in the wild. They all live in this forest. They are the cutest creatures imaginable, and I am so lucky that I got to spend time watching a few. I could have stood there all day.
Who knew that a diet of bamboo shoots could lead to such a big bottom?
Emile the guide dragged me away, because there were more lemurs to see. More muddy paths to climb and descend. The next lemurs he discovered were red-fronted brown lemurs. These guys were much shyer, and stayed in the tops of the trees.
More slogging up and down muddy hills (I have to admit at this point I was wondering why the HELL I was torturing myself like this just to look at monkey butts) to discover the white and black lemur.
But I do it for this: to be able to see the wonders of nature in this incredible world of ours.
After the hike, I went back to the Hotel Cristo for lunch and to change before heading to Ambabavalo for the night. This is when I discovered blood caked all over my legs, and had to forcibly remove a stubborn leech from my knee. Later on I discovered blood on the back of my tshirt. I single-handedly supplied an entire army of leeches with sustenance that day!
Outside of Ambavalo, we stopped at Anja Park, where I got to spend time with a group of ring-tailed lemurs. And some reptiles, and a gorgeous Madagascar Hoopoe.
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