Blue-leg chameleon and small bamboo lemur

Another long journey today, ten hours to Ranomafana.  But we are never bored as the countryside is stunning, consisting of  fertile terraces and valleys, interspersed with huge granite boulders. There is a stretch of indigenous forest, the last remaining in this area; Madagascar has lost 80% of its forest thanks to mankind. It has been replaced with fast-growing eucalyptus and pines for building and firewood. Colourful lantana line the way. Everyone is working in the fields, preparing for planting,  watering potatoes by hand in their geometric raised-bed rows.  Ducks and geese waddle round all villages – apparently they return every night, a natural homing instinct.

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