Lemurs Galore
Laundry Faux Pas
I fear that I made a terrible mistake. Yesterday I decided to hand wash a few items of clothing (2 pairs underwear, 1 bra, 1 pair socks, 1 pair shorts and 3 tshirts). Most of my travel clothes are chosen for their quick dry qualities as well as versatility. I hung them to dry outside but being in the heart of a rainforest it is very humid, and then it started to drizzle so we brought them in. By the time I went to bed they were still very wet.
This morning they are still wet so I do what I can with the blow dryer; hang the t-shirts off the air conditioner and drape the underwear and bra over the metal bedside lamps.
After breakfast we meet up with our guide Zack. He chuckles when I mention my laundry washing in a rainforest.
Analamazaotra Reserve
We head to Analamazaotra Reserve which is an 810 hectare rainforest sanctuary that is part of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. This is the world’s most famous place to see Madagascar’s largest lemur, the Indri. The Indri is a huge black and white lemur that cannot survive in captivity, so you cannot see them in zoos. They have a loud, whale like howling cry that is haunting and really amazing to hear. This park is home to several habituated families.
Our guide from last night’s forest walk, Natasha, is guiding us again. With over twenty years of guiding park walks she is fantastic. She convincingly imitates the different lemur calls.
We see the weaver bird as we enter the park.
Our first sightings are of the smallest of the daytime lemurs called the Bamboo Lemur. They live on bamboo leaves.
We pass a fish farm on our way deeper into the park. A baby Boa Constrictor slithers past us on the path.
Indri
And then we hear them before we see them, the call of the Indri. They are eating high up in the trees but slowly they start to come down closer.
One of the Indri only has one eye, probably due to fighting Natasha says. The Indri only have short stubby tails unlike most of the other types of lemurs. Click here for a short video.
We are staring up so long into the tree canopy that my neck starts to hurt and I need to take some breaks to move my head around. Natasha refers to it as lemur neck.
Other Sitings
We head to another area where we see a family of Sifaka, the second largest lemurs.
On our way back to check out the Indri one more time, Natasha spots a Leaf Tailed Gecko. I don’t know how she does it because it blends in so well with the tree bark.
We get our best Indri sightings at the end of our visit when several Indri come quite close to the ground.
The rainforest is filled with beautiful, colorful flowers, some which are common in gardens back home.
Lemur Island
We have lunch nearby before Zack takes us to Lemur Island in the Vakona Reserve. This is a world famous, private wildlife sanctuary comprised of a number of small forested islands surrounded by water that keeps the lemurs in since they can’t swim. We get to the island in under a minute by canoe. We have a sanctuary guide with us. 
These lemurs are all habituated and have no fear of people. Some of them even seem to be putting on a show on for us in their beautiful island paradise.
We first see the Black and White Rough Necked Lemur. One female is actually lounging like she is waiting for her close up.
We see more Bamboo Lemurs and in another area Sifakas are chowing down on some berries in a tree.
A Greater Vassa Parrot flies overhead and lands directly above us.
Brown Lemurs are also on the island. There are a number of real hams in this group. Click here for a short video of a mama with her baby.
There is one very curious brown lemur. Click here for a short video.
Back at the Hotel
I am exhausted and we head back to the hotel.
Normally most of the hotel’s clean your rooms only when you request it. I am horrified to see that our room has been cleaned and beds made; my underwear still hanging on the bedside lamps and my t-shirts hanging off the air conditioner. Yikes.
We relax (I actually nap) and we enjoy another supper in the beautiful dining room.
