We are getting used to flying in prop planes again and the Air Madagascar flight from ‘Tana to Majunga was uneventful. Our guide, Amedee, who goes by Eddie (“I’m Eddie”) and driver Vongy were waiting for us with the 4X4 van to take us to Blue Vanga Lodge, our home for the next three nights.
Vongy and "Eddie"
Rina from Cactus Tours must have taken us at our word when we said we didn’t need luxury. Blue Vanga is a new place, a collection of six brick and thatch huts and a restaurant just outside the park entrance. Our room is clean but spartan, the electricity works from 6:30 till 10 and the food at the restaurant seems positively inedible. Vongy called our leathery chicken “poulet sportif,” meaning “athletic.”
Lightning flashed over the distant horizon while our flashlight beams crissed and crossed like the scene in E.T. We were searching for creatures of the night in Ankarafantsika National Park, stop #1 on our Madagascar adventure. We saw one species of snake, two of chameleons and three lemurs, tiny ones of the mouse lemur variety. I was amazed that we could even see them, let alone get photos in the dark.
Rhino chameleon
Lemurs and chameleons are nice but we are here for the birding. Madagascar has nearly 300 species of birds, half of them endemic to the island. We will be up at five tomorrow for some early birding. Tally-ho!
