Tue, Sep 3 - Exploring Lake Tsimanampetsotsa National Park.

Crazy Baobabs

We arose at 4:15 AM and the hotel kindly gave us a full breakfast.  We walked to the back of the hotel bungalows to the de-sal plant the owner has set up. There we loaded onto two 4x4 trucks with seating for four.  Fano and his son,Yavey, who is studying tourism at the University in Tana, came along.  His son squeezed in between Bob and me in the back making a tight fit!  I had a nice time discussing his education with him and we bounced along for two hours on a sandy road heading for the Lake Tsimanampetsotsa National Park.  

Madagascar Sand Grouse

We finally reached the park boundary and got out to stretch.  There was a full-sized statue of an Elephant Bird, sadly extinct.  

We drove on a ways and stopped to see great views of Lafresnaye’s Vanga, a black and white bird with a very large bill.  Unfortunately my “good” camera, a Fuji S1 with an 50x lens is working erratically, zooming to both extremes without stopping  where I want it to, and having the shutter release button jam!  Too frustrating, so I switched to my little Canon which does a pretty good job.

Madagascar Octopus Tree

We parked at a camping ground and took off on a hiking trail on an eroded limestone ridge.  Here we encountered Elephant Foot trees, more large rubrostipa  Baobabs, and descended into a grotto where we could see Mascarene Martins nesting in the cave and pink blind fish swimming around in the turquoise water.

Mascarene Martins 

Blind Pink Fish

Our guides showed us the fabulous Grandmother Baobab tree, carbon-dated to 1400 years old!!  

Giant Banyan figs thrust their long roots into a sinkhole below, while Vasa parrots ate the fruit.  A true wonderland of strange plants and animals!

Vasa Parrot

We drove to the large shallow soda lake with a large population of flamingos and stilts. There a picnic lunch was set up for us with containers of cold rice with mild chili and sweet peppers, and bags of fruit and water.  We started back and returned to the hotel by 2:30.  Most of us settled in for beer and dessert (orange flan), before relaxing until dinner at 7.  Howling wind again this afternoon, so no beach walk.

View from our room

We gathered at seven for the List, rum & cokes - a very large gecko on the ceiling peed on David as he settled in with a beer!!  Trials of living in the tropics!  The usual great dinner, this time of cold fish with caramelized onions and raisins - odd combo, but it was delicious - for a starter - and then a platter of lobster, shrimp and fish - Wow!  Fresh tropical fruit tart for dessert