Boston Flora

Tag: Madagascar

  • Wednesday, January 15 – Friday, January 31 – Madagascar to Mauritius

    This is an extraordinary cruise for those who love the natural world and all its wonders. The star is Madagascar, a thousand-mile island boasting an impressive variety of spectacular landscapes from pristine coral reefs and coastal mangroves to virgin rain forests and native groves of Baobab trees. Geographically isolated for millions of years, nearly all of Madagascar’s intriguing animals and plants are found nowhere else on Earth, including nearly 100 varieties of lemurs. Madagascar’s people are also unique, having descended from Malay-Polynesian mariners, slaves from Africa, as well as traders from Arabia, India, and Portugal. To maximize the time in Madagascar, this expedition begins with a private charter flight from Johannesburg to Tulear, Madagascar, thus avoiding the two-day crossing of the rough Mozambique Channel by ship.

    Led by a team of expert naturalists, including Former US Ambassador Peter W. Galbraith, enjoy 10 full days of exploring Madagascar’s numerous marine reserves and national parks from the comfort of the newly refurbished, 95-passenger MS Serenissima. Leaving the wonders of Madagascar behind, arrive at Reunion Island, a paradisiacal French outpost, to explore its white-sand beaches, spectacular dormant volcanoes, and Creole character. Disembark on the island of Mauritius, the perfect ending to your voyage, taking in this island’s cultural riches or geologic wonders before transferring to the airport for flights to the U.S. The trip is co-sponsored by Harvard Alumni Travels, the Archaeological Association of America, Dartmouth Alumni Travel, and National Trust Tours. For complete information visit https://alumni.harvard.edu/travel/trips/madagascar-cruise-2020

  • Thursday, October 2, 6:00 pm – Saving Lemurs from Extinction

    Primatologist and MacArthur Fellow Patricia Chapple Wright, Professor of Anthropology at Stony Brook University, and recipient of the 2014 Indianapolis Prize for her extraordinary contributions to conservation efforts, will discuss her work protecting the lemurs and ecosystems of Madagascar. Wright will share her experiences engaging the Malagasy government, community stakeholders, and scientists in a team effort to integrate conservation with development projects, including one collaboration that led to the establishment of Ranomafana National Park, a World Heritage Site in southern Madagascar. This Harvard Museum of Natural History event is free and open to the public.  The Thursday, October 2 lecture will begin at 6 pm in the Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford St.  Presented in collaboration with the Indianapolis Prize. Free event parking available in the 52 Oxford Street Garage.

  • Saturday, October 4 – Sunday, October 19 – Madagascar With New England Wild Flower Society

    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

    http://www.amazingplacesonearth.com//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Isalo-National-Park-Pool.jpg

  • Tuesday, October 9 – Friday, October 26 – A Madagascar Expedition

    Isolated off the east coast of Africa, Madagascar is an extraordinary country and one of the world’s highest conservation priorities. Here, the proportion of unique species may be incomparable on earth—an evolutionary heritage of tremendous interest to travelers, botanists, conservationists, and scientists, alike. During Pacific Horticulture’s 18-day expedition, led by an outstanding Madagascar guide, you will explore reserves in diverse habitats, including Perinet and Mantadia National Park (below) in the eastern moist montane rainforests; Lokobe Reserve on the island of Nosy Be, some of the last rainforest in the northwest; and renowned Berenty Reserve in the south, which edges the spiny forest with bizarre woody and thorny plants reminiscent of plants in the American desert southwest. We will also see a profusion of lemurs in these reserves, plus chameleons and countless birds unique to the country.

    The Pacific Horticulture Madagascar tour will be escorted by Steve Gerischer, a professional landscape designer and part-time teacher and lecturer, president of the Southern California Horticultural Society, and PHS board member.  For more information contact Betchart Expeditions. Reach them by phone at 800-252-4910 or at Betchart Expeditions.