Arriving at midnight in an airport not much bigger than a barn, yet overflowing with people demanding money from confused looking tourists, I didn’t really know what to expect from Madagascar. Fortunately, the capital, Antananarivo, didn’t reflect what the rest of the country had to offer. After spending 5 weeks in the dry forests and islands of Madagascar, studying the country’s lemurs, snakes and chameleons; scuba diving to measure the coral growth and speaking with the people who live and study there; I feel that I came away with a good understanding of how the country works as well as seeing the threats to its unique biodiversity. I am very grateful to the Go Abroad Fund for helping to fund this expedition and making it all possible.

Slum in Antananarivo

Island near one of the dive sites

Fishing boat

Nocturnal lizard

Travelling in Madagascar

Langaha snake

Coral watch survey off the coast of Nosy Be

Sifaka lemur

Chameleon near the camp

Bare knuckle boxing in Independence Day celebration

Route between field sites