Secrets of the Eighth Continent
Madagascar
© Miavana
Madagascar is often called the Eighth Continent, but this label falls short. How do you name a place where savannahs fade into plateaus, rainforests spill into beaches, giants rise skyward while the smallest chameleon rests on your thumb? Here, adventure fades gently into ease. Madagascar isn’t just an island. It’s nature’s greatest plot twist.
Baobabs and beyond
Find yourself beneath the Avenue of the baobab trees and the world suddenly feels small. Their massive trunks rise like pillars, ancient guardians of centuries past. At sunset, their shadows stretch across the earth, and it feels like stepping into a cathedral of nature. Travel north and you reach the Tsingy Rouge: tall red laterite formations carved by rain, rising like flames against the sky, as if the land itself had frozen in mid-motion.
Whispers of the Rainforest
Whispers of the Rainforest
Madagascar keeps its secrets well. Masoala National Park, reached only by boat, hums with life after dark. The sea sighs against the shore, insects trill, and unseen creatures call through the trees. More than 85% of the island’s species exist nowhere else, and hundreds more are still being discovered. Visit between June and September, when humpback whales pass the coast in a timeless migration.
Wild at heart
Nowhere else feels quite so alive. Lemurs leap through emerald forests, their golden eyes full of curiosity. Tiny chameleons balance on the edge of a leaf, shifting colours like thoughts. In hidden coves, turtles nest beneath moonlight, while in the open sea, whale sharks drift slowly past the reef. Every sound reminds you this island breathes on its own rhythm.
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© Oliver Fly Photography
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© Miavana
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© Miavana
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© Miavana
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© Chris Schmid
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© Oliver Fly Photography
The Malagasy rhythm
Eighteen ethnic groups, one island spirit. In Madagascar, people celebrate life through dance, song, and flavours steeped in spice. The cuisine blends French touches with tropical freshness – coconut, ginger, and a hint of pepper. Locals switch easily between Malagasy, French, and regional dialects, a sign of connection rather than difference. Fly in via Addis Ababa or head for Nosy Be – your gateway to this world apart.
Where wonder lives on
Where wonder lives on
Madagascar isn’t just a destination – it’s a revelation. Time slows, horizons stretch, and nature shows you its most playful side. Whether you come for the baobabs, the reefs, or the lemurs’ laughter, you’ll leave with something far rarer: a sense of wonder reborn.
By: Nina Bardolia (-Müller) November 2025
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