Wed, Sep 11 -Off to Morondava

Bob and I got up at 6:30 and had some yogurt, crepes, and coffee, and organized our gear. We’re going to leave a couple of suitcases here at Au Bois Vert as we’re only going to be gone two nights in Morondava.  Our two check-through bags were picked up at 8:45 and we met up with Tuvo, our driver from the first part of the trip, and drove over to the airport with David and Fano.  

This time I put my camera and binoculars around my neck as they had always caused my carry-on to be overweight (David would hustle me through so it wouldn’t be weighed).  This time, of course,  there was no one at the weigh station, so no problem!  

We had three hours until our flight to Morondava.  I bought a NYT and the tiny cafe supplied us with coffee and pastries.   After a while Fano and David consulted and decided that we should head straight to the Avenue of Baobabs from the airport and onward to our hotel in the Kirindy Forest, and therefore we should buy some more food as there’s no place to eat on the road.  So we bought zebu pizzas (not bad) and orange Fanta to hold us over.  (We have been eating so much, that a little starvation wouldn’t

too be bad!)

We boarded at 11:30 and took off early at noon and were served cokes and peanuts.  We flew west to the coast and landed at 1 PM disembarking into warm tropical air, a change from the cool highlands.

Coastal Highway

Fano found our Toyota Land Cruiser and our new driver and we took off east from the coast and  airport and then north on the highway to Kirindy.  This area is not very well developed and the highway is a single dirt lane! 

After 45 minutes we suddenly saw huge Baobabs,   the Adansonia grandidiera species.   We had arrived at the famed Avenue of Baobabs, a natural area where many baobabs grow among various villages and agricultural fields.  It was now 2 PM, and according to custom not the time to view the trees, but there were no tourists there and the sun had moved enough so the there were wonderful shadows stretching across the road, Plus zebu carts, and villagers walking along, creating a lovely scene.

We got out and walked the main stretch of trees, bought a beer at a stand and then continued on in our car.

Baobab fruit 

We entered the dry scrubby forest and drove for a couple of hours.  We started seeing a lot of traffic coming towards us and figured it was people from our hotel, dashing back to see the Baobabs at sunset - in a crowd - glad we stopped when we did!

We arrived at the Relais du Kirindy - a collection of huts modeled on the huts of the locals, but with bathrooms and beds.  Bob and I moved into bungalow #4 and unpacked a bit and relaxed.

#4

I took a shower and noticed out the back window a glowing red setting sun next to a beautiful baobab and dressed enough to dash out and try to photograph it!

We met up with David and Fano at the bar and had our usual Nosy Be dark rum and coke before sitting down poolside for a really delicious dinner of veggie soup, tuna-like fish with creole sauce and peanut ice cream!

We’ll meet at 5:30 tomorrow for an early walk, rest during the heat of the day, and then out before and after dinner for night walks and maybe see some of the wonderful critters of this area like the Great Jumping Rat!!!