The New England Wild Flower Society invites you to join them to explore the natural heritage and unique flora and wildlife of Madagascar in October, 2014. This 16-day expedition offers travel enthusiasts an exceptional opportunity to become acquainted with the flora and fauna of Madagascar.
Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, isolated from the African continent for 30 million years. It is home to at least 12,000 plants—a high percentage that are unique to the country. Ninety‑five percent of the lemurs and reptiles, 80 percent of the flowering plants, 98 percent of the palms, and more than 100 birds are found nowhere else.
Leading this tour will be Herilala Jonah, a superb Madagascar naturalist. Representing the Society will be staff member John Burns.
The itinerary includes:
• Antananarivo & the Lemur Park. Visit the capital city of Madagascar and this private reserve established in 2001 for lemur education and conservation.
• Perinet Reserve, in the eastern rain forests. Look for the largest of the lemurs, the indri, noted for its ear-shattering cries and agility in traveling through the rain forest canopy. Explore the moist forest with trees covered in epiphytes, ferns, and large lianas with bamboo below.
• Berenty Reserve, an internationally acclaimed wildlife reserve in the semi‑arid south. Enjoy the unique spiny desert plus a profusion of ring-tailed lemurs, sifakas, lepilemurs, and flying foxes.
• Reserve de Nahampoana, an excellent botanical reserve near Fort Dauphin.
• Isalo National Park, an extraordinary landscape in the southwest with arid sandstone ridges sculpted by wind and water, with lemurs and endemic plants.
We hope you will join us for this adventure, and discover the magnificence of Madagascar in 2014!
For more trip information, you can download the trip brochure by visiting http://www.newfs.org/images/learn/Madagascar%20brochure%20from%20Betchart-%20final.pdf. Or contact:
Betchart Expeditions, Inc.
17050 Montebello Road
Cupertino, CA 95014-5435
Tel: (800) 252-4910 or (408) 252-4910
Fax: (408) 252-1444Email: info@betchartexpeditions.com
