{"id":9056,"date":"2017-10-19T00:43:59","date_gmt":"2017-10-18T23:43:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/?p=9056"},"modified":"2018-10-12T11:42:46","modified_gmt":"2018-10-12T10:42:46","slug":"explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/","title":{"rendered":"Explore Madagascar Overland: sometimes the longer route is better"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe data-src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/237418319?app_id=122963\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" frameborder=\"0\" title=\"Explore Madagascar Overland\" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-large wp-image-9058 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/map-1-474x483.jpg\" alt=\"Blue Ventures Overland Tour\" width=\"474\" height=\"483\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/map-1-474x483.jpg 474w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/map-1-64x65.jpg 64w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/map-1-350x357.jpg 350w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/map-1-65x65.jpg 65w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/map-1-1300x1326.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/map-1-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/map-1-300x306.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/map-1.jpg 1569w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 474px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 474\/483;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/volunteer\/madagascar\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blue Ventures\u2019 Madagascar expeditions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> formally start and end in the southwest coastal city of Toliara, but international flights arrive and depart from the capital of Antananarivo, more than 1,000 kilometres away!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/volunteer\/madagascar\/overland-tour\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Overland Tour<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is an opportunity for Blue Ventures volunteers to make the journey from Antananarivo to Toliara (and\/or back again!) a truly unforgettable experience. Not only are you driving through beautiful scenery and fascinating places, but you also get the opportunity to see some of Madagascar\u2019s most iconic wildlife.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I recently accompanied Blue Ventures volunteers on the Overland Tour South from Antananarivo to Toliara, and got to experience first-hand why this isn\u2019t an opportunity to miss!<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Travelling to the other side of the world for an expedition with people you\u2019ve never met before is an exciting but also understandably nerve-wracking prospect. What will the other volunteers be like? Will you have things in common?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"pull-right\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blue Ventures marine conservation expeditions attract a wide variety of people from all walks of life, but they also invariably bring like-minded individuals together. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the moment of our departure from Antananarivo the conversations flowed as we all started getting to know each other and shared our excitement at the amazing scenery we were travelling through. That first day of driving passed by in a flash.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dave, our driver and guide, was a fountain of knowledge, and seemed to know an interesting fact about everything we passed. He was also very happy to stop when we wanted to take a closer look at something, be it rice paddies, fruit stalls or dramatic scenery.<\/span><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 296px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 448px; height: 300px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/tana\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9063\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/tana.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1067\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon PowerShot G7 X&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1486808201&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;12.762&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;250&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Antananarivo | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/tana-536x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/tana-725x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/tana-444x296.jpg\" width=\"444\" height=\"296\" align=\"left\" title=\"Antananarivo | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 444px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 444\/296;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Antananarivo, Madagascar&#8217;s capital city<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 447px; height: 300px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_0401\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9062\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0401.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1067\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;6.3&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon PowerShot G7 X&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1486991065&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;11.847&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;250&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Overland Tour | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0401-536x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0401-725x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0401-443x296.jpg\" width=\"443\" height=\"296\" align=\"left\" title=\"Overland Tour | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 443px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 443\/296;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Our wheels for the next 1,000 km<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_9061\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9061\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9061 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/group.jpg\" alt=\"Overland Tour | Photo: Ben Honey\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/group.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/group-98x65.jpg 98w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/group-536x357.jpg 536w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/group-725x483.jpg 725w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/group-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/group-1300x867.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/group-300x200.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1067;\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-9061\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Blue Ventures volunteers, Dave, and a passing cyclist! | Photo: Ben Honey<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"pull-right\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anja Reserve was created in 2001 with the support of the <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.undp.org\/content\/undp\/en\/home.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">United Nations Development Programme<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to help preserve the local environment and wildlife, and to provide additional employment and income to the local community. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second day began with a fascinating visit to the traditional <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antaimoro<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> paper factory in Ambalavao, before a short drive through increasingly spectacular rock formations to the community-run Anja Reserve. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We were led into the undergrowth by three guides who all had an astounding talent for finding the reserve\u2019s resident wildlife. With their help we navigated our way through the dense foliage, spotting chameleons, an alligator and some peculiar invertebrates along the way, before encountering what we\u2019d all desperately been hoping to see&#8230; Ring-tailed lemurs!<\/span><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 409px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 618px; height: 413px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_4675\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9064\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4675.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1067\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon PowerShot G7 X&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1486972508&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;17.222&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;250&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0166666666667&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Antaimoro paper factory | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4675-536x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4675-725x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4675-614x409.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" align=\"left\" title=\"Antaimoro paper factory | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 614px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 614\/409;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">The Antaimoro paper factory<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 277px; height: 413px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_0335\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9068\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0335.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1067,1600\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon PowerShot G7 X&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1486972758&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;8.8&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;320&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.001&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Antaimoro paper factory | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0335-238x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0335-322x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0335-273x409.jpg\" width=\"273\" height=\"409\" align=\"left\" title=\"Antaimoro paper factory | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 273px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 273\/409;\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_9065\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9065\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9065 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4702.jpg\" alt=\"Anja Community Reserve | Photo: Ben Honey\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4702.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4702-98x65.jpg 98w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4702-536x357.jpg 536w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4702-725x483.jpg 725w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4702-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4702-1300x867.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4702-300x200.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1067;\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-9065\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Heading into Anja Community Reserve<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 409px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 618px; height: 413px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_4722\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9066\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4722.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1067\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;3.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 70D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1487012477&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;60&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Chameleon | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4722-536x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4722-725x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4722-614x409.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" align=\"left\" title=\"Chameleon | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 614px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 614\/409;\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 277px; height: 413px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_0245\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9067\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0245.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1067,1600\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;3.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon PowerShot G7 X&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1486884492&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;36.8&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;125&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.01&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Nephila inaurata (red-legged golden orb-web spider) | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0245-238x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0245-322x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0245-273x409.jpg\" width=\"273\" height=\"409\" align=\"left\" title=\"Nephila inaurata (red-legged golden orb-web spider) | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 273px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 273\/409;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Nephila inaurata (red-legged golden orb-web spider)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 309px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 467px; height: 313px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_5024\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9072\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5024.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1067\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 70D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1487018752&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;60&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00025&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Ring-tailed lemur | Photo Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5024-536x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5024-725x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5024-463x309.jpg\" width=\"463\" height=\"309\" align=\"left\" title=\"Ring-tailed lemur | Photo Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 463px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 463\/309;\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 428px; height: 313px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_5096\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9075\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5096.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1165\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 70D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1487019230&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;60&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0002&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Chameleon | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5096-490x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5096-663x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5096-424x309.jpg\" width=\"424\" height=\"309\" align=\"left\" title=\"Chameleon | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 424px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 424\/309;\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9059 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5058.jpg\" alt=\"Ring-tailed lemur | Ben Honey\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1280\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5058.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5058-81x65.jpg 81w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5058-446x357.jpg 446w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5058-604x483.jpg 604w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5058-2000x1600.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5058-1300x1040.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5058-300x240.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1280;\" \/><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 359px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 432px; height: 363px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_5037\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9073\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5037.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1342\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 70D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1487018817&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;60&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00025&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Chameleon | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5037-426x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5037-576x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5037-428x359.jpg\" width=\"428\" height=\"359\" align=\"left\" title=\"Chameleon | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 428px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 428\/359;\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 463px; height: 363px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_5057-2\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9060\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5057-2.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1250\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;3.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 70D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1487019040&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;60&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Ring-tailed lemur | Photo Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5057-2-457x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5057-2-618x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5057-2-459x359.jpg\" width=\"459\" height=\"359\" align=\"left\" title=\"Ring-tailed lemur | Photo Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 459px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 459\/359;\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling on top of the world after this remarkable encounter, we continued our trek through the reserve, scrambling up one of the rocky outcrops before pausing for a breather at the summit whilst appreciating the magnificent view. <\/span><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 345px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 496px; height: 349px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_4943\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9077\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4943.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1123\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon PowerShot G7 X&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1486980323&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;8.8&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;250&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Anja Community Reserve | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4943-509x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4943-688x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4943-492x345.jpg\" width=\"492\" height=\"345\" align=\"left\" title=\"Anja Community Reserve | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 492px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 492\/345;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Feeling on top of the world in Anja Community Reserve<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 399px; height: 349px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_4971\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9078\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4971.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1399\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;6.3&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 70D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1487017604&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;17&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Anja Community Reserve | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4971-408x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4971-552x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_4971-395x345.jpg\" width=\"395\" height=\"345\" align=\"left\" title=\"Anja Community Reserve | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 395px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 395\/345;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Climbing down from the viewpoint<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the fascinating parts of the Overland Tour is seeing how the flora and topography of Madagascar changes as you travel through it. The journey from Anja Reserve to our next destination, Isalo National Park, saw the iconic red soil start to fade and the areas of forested highland give way to long stretches of grassland with rice paddies, large herds of zebu cattle and a vast sandstone ridge looming over the horizon.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We began our Isalo trek the next day by climbing the ridge, and we were rewarded at the top with views of epic canyons and sandstone formations. Our guides entertained us as we walked with a wealth of stories and botanical knowledge, often stopping the group to show us all a particular species or tell us the cultural relevance of the things we were seeing. <\/span><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 296px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 448px; height: 300px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_5195\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9082\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5195.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1067\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 70D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1487095643&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;53&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.003125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Isalo National Park | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5195-536x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5195-725x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5195-444x296.jpg\" width=\"444\" height=\"296\" align=\"left\" title=\"Isalo National Park | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 444px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 444\/296;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">The dramatic landscape of Isalo National Park<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 447px; height: 300px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_5134\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9079\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5134.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1067\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;7.1&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 70D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1487090990&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Isalo National Park | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5134-536x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5134-725x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5134-443x296.jpg\" width=\"443\" height=\"296\" align=\"left\" title=\"Isalo National Park | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 443px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 443\/296;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Rice paddies on the plains<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_9080\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9080\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9080 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5156.jpg\" alt=\"Isalo National Park | Photo: Ben Honey\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1128\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5156.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5156-92x65.jpg 92w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5156-507x357.jpg 507w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5156-685x483.jpg 685w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5156-1300x916.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5156-300x211.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1128;\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-9080\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Zebu cattle being put to work<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 296px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 448px; height: 300px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_5201\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9083\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5201.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1067\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;7.1&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 70D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1487096557&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;32&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.002&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Isalo National Park | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5201-536x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5201-725x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5201-444x296.jpg\" width=\"444\" height=\"296\" align=\"left\" title=\"Isalo National Park | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 444px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 444\/296;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Trekking in Isalo<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 447px; height: 300px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_5219\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9084\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5219.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1067\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;9&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 70D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1487096827&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;46&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.002&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Isalo National Park | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5219-536x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5219-725x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5219-443x296.jpg\" width=\"443\" height=\"296\" align=\"left\" title=\"Isalo National Park | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 443px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 443\/296;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Meike admiring the view<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_9085\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9085\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9085 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5228.jpg\" alt=\"Isalo National Park | Photo: Ben Honey\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5228.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5228-98x65.jpg 98w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5228-536x357.jpg 536w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5228-725x483.jpg 725w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5228-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5228-1300x867.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5228-300x200.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1067;\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-9085\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">That&#8217;s where we are!<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After a couple of hours on top of the ridge we descended into a deep forested valley, and were rewarded for our efforts with some more incredible endemic wildlife encounters! Red-fronted brown lemurs appeared out of nowhere, leaping around the rocks and trees with characteristic and very endearing little grunts, and one of our guides showed an impressively keen eye by spotting a brown leaf chameleon.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We cooled down from all this excitement with a refreshing swim in one of the naturally occurring pools, a blissful experience after our very sweaty hike!<\/span><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 373px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 563px; height: 377px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_5407\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9087\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5407.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1067\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 70D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1487107059&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;60&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Red-fronted brown lemur | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5407-536x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5407-725x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5407-559x373.jpg\" width=\"559\" height=\"373\" align=\"left\" title=\"Red-fronted brown lemur | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 559px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 559\/373;\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 332px; height: 377px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_5506\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9089\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5506.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1406,1600\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 70D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1487107640&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;60&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.01&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Red-fronted brown lemur | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5506-314x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5506-424x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5506-328x373.jpg\" width=\"328\" height=\"373\" align=\"left\" title=\"Red-fronted brown lemur | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 328px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 328\/373;\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9088 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5440.jpg\" alt=\"Red-fronted brown lemur | Photo: Ben Honey\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5440.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5440-98x65.jpg 98w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5440-536x357.jpg 536w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5440-725x483.jpg 725w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5440-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5440-1300x867.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5440-300x200.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1067;\" \/><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 303px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 459px; height: 307px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_5552\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9090\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5552.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1067\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 70D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1487108271&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;60&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0166666666667&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"A brown leaf chameleon | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5552-536x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5552-725x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5552-455x303.jpg\" width=\"455\" height=\"303\" align=\"left\" title=\"A brown leaf chameleon | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 455px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 455\/303;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">An amazingly camouflaged brown leaf chameleon<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 436px; height: 307px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_5232\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9091\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5232.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1122\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;3.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon PowerShot G7 X&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1487077131&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;8.8&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;125&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0166666666667&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"One of Isalo&#8217;s naturally occurring pools | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5232-509x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5232-689x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_5232-432x303.jpg\" width=\"432\" height=\"303\" align=\"left\" title=\"One of Isalo&#039;s naturally occurring pools | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 432px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 432\/303;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">One of Isalo&#8217;s naturally occurring pools<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That night, our last before reaching Toliara, we were treated to some music and dancing whilst we ate our evening meal. The rhythm was so infectious, and the spirits of the group were so high, that despite the long day we couldn\u2019t resist getting up and joining in.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_9093\" style=\"width: 312px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9093\" class=\"wp-image-9093 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0548-302x357.jpg\" alt=\"A baobab tree in the spiny forest | Photo: Ben Honey\" width=\"302\" height=\"357\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0548-302x357.jpg 302w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0548-55x65.jpg 55w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0548-408x483.jpg 408w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0548-1300x1538.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0548-300x355.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0548.jpg 1353w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 302px) 100vw, 302px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 302px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 302\/357;\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-9093\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A baobab tree in the spiny forest | Photo: Ben Honey<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The next day saw the scenery change again as we neared the coast. There was a buzz of excitement in the group the first time we saw a baobab, but before long it was a regular occurrence to see these amazing trees with their bizarre swollen trunks surrounded by the cactuses and octopus trees of the spiny forest.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On our arrival in Toliara we were greeted by the Blue Ventures Field Scientist, and bid a fond farewell to the intrepid Dave. The Overland Tour was officially over, but the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/volunteer\/madagascar\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">marine conservation expedition<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was about to begin!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The base of Blue Ventures\u2019 expeditions is the remote coastal village of Andavadoaka, so we had to abandon our minibus for some sturdy 4x4s. This last stretch of our journey was quite a bumpy ride along narrow sandy tracks that wound through the spiny forest. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The feeling of remoteness increased by the hour, and our anticipation grew with it, reaching a new high when we turned a corner to see the vivid turquoise water of the Indian Ocean dotted with traditional fishing pirogues.<\/span><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 296px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 448px; height: 300px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/img_0527\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9092\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0527.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1067\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;10&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon PowerShot G7 X&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1487413456&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;11.594&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;125&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"On the road to Andavadoaka | Photo: Ben Honey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0527-536x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0527-725x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_0527-444x296.jpg\" width=\"444\" height=\"296\" align=\"left\" title=\"On the road to Andavadoaka | Photo: Ben Honey\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 444px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 444\/296;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Pirogues in a turquoise ocean on the road to Andavadoaka | Photo: Ben Honey<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 447px; height: 300px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/explore-madagascar-overland-sometimes-longer-route-better\/dcim100mediadji_0011-jpg\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9095\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/DJI_0011.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1068\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;FC220&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;DCIM100MEDIADJI_0011.JPG&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1499423676&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.73&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.000625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;DCIM100MEDIADJI_0011.JPG&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"The volunteer cabins | Photo: Emre Erduran\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/DJI_0011-535x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/DJI_0011-724x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/DJI_0011-443x296.jpg\" width=\"443\" height=\"296\" align=\"left\" title=\"The volunteer cabins | Photo: Emre Erduran\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 443px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 443\/296;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">The volunteer cabins | Photo: Emre Erduran<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_9096\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9096\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9096 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_6624.jpg\" alt=\"The main street of Andavadoaka\" width=\"1600\" height=\"989\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_6624.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_6624-100x62.jpg 100w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_6624-577x357.jpg 577w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_6624-745x461.jpg 745w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_6624-1300x804.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/10\/IMG_6624-300x185.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/989;\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-9096\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The main street of Andavadoaka<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our arrival in Andavadoaka that afternoon took us all by surprise. Suddenly, we were driving between rows of wooden houses, and our drivers were shouting <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">salama<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in greeting to their friends and family. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Passing the pirogue-lined beach, our 4x4s climbed the dunes on the outskirts of the village, coming to a halt before a line of cabins with a stunning view over the ocean.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One journey was at an end, another about to begin.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/volunteer\/madagascar\/\">Volunteer in Madagascar<\/a><\/h3>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Special thanks to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/team\/matthew-judge\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Matt<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for producing the film, and to all the volunteers for being such excellent companions!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our Madagascar volunteers have the opportunity to experience some of the country\u2019s spectacular scenery and iconic wildlife before their expedition even begins!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":9060,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[622,471],"tags":[666,551,550,665,546],"class_list":["post-9056","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-madagascar","category-volunteer-expeditions","tag-endemic-species","tag-film","tag-lemur","tag-overland-tour","tag-volunteer"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - 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