Page 169 - Off the Tourist Trail - 1000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives (Part 1 of 2)

165

NATURAL WONDERS

A distinctive-looking ring-tailed lemur in the lush rain forest
of Madagascar
Leopard lazing in a tree at night, South Luangwa National
Park, Zambia
A mandrill with its characteristic nasal colorings, Lopé National
Park, Gabon Madagascar
Luangwa Valley
Lopé National NEED TO KNOW
NEED TO KNOW Park LOCATION Madagascar is
-BLF .XFSV the fourth-largest island in
LOCATION The Luangwa Valley
is in eastern Zambia, close to %&. 3&1 ,BTBNB the world, and lies in the .BIBKBOHB
$0/(0 Indian Ocean off the .P[BNCJRVF
the border with Malawi. NEED TO KNOW $IBOOFM
The gateway town of $IJOHPMB southeast coast of Africa "OUBOBOBSJWP 5PBNBTJOB
Mfuwe is about 310 miles -6"/(8" ."-"8* LOCATION Lopé National $".&300/ AREA 226,655 sq miles
(500 km) northeast of 7"--&: Park is in Central Gabon, in the (587,040 sq km) ."%"("4$"3
;".#*" $IJQBUB
the capital, Lusaka province of Ogooué-Ivindo, some &26"503*"- 0ZFN KEY WILDLIFE 'JBOBSBOUTPB
(6*/&"
.POHV -VTBLB .0;".#*26&
AREA 5,290 sq miles 125 miles (200 km) from the Lemurs, fossas, 'BSBGBOHBOB
-BLF ,BSJCB -JCSFWJMMF 5PMJBSB
(13,700 sq km) capital, Libreville .BLPLPV leaf-tailed geckos, *OEJBO
-JWJOHTUPOF
KEY WILDLIFE Leopards, ;*.#"#8& AREA -01² panther chameleons 0 DFBO
Thornicroft’s giraffes, hippos, elephants, puku antelopes 1,895 sq miles (4,910 sq km) /"5*0/"- 1"3,
KEY WILDLIFE ("#0/ .PBOEB
Western gorillas, mandrills, Madagascar is one of the world’s most important
forest elephants and buffalos,
Africa at its most primal, this southern extension sitatungas, monkeys "UMBOUJD $0/(0 biodiversity hotspots. Once linked to Africa and
of the Great Rift Valley, named after the Luangwa 0DFBO the Indian subcontinent, the landmass became
River, is rendered inaccessible by flooding for an island some 60 million years ago, and since
several months each year. Its spectacular One of the oldest, largest and most ecologically then its wildlife has evolved in virtual isolation.
concentrations of buffalos, hippos, zebras, and significant preserves in West Africa, Lopé National Almost 1,000 vertebrate species are unique to
elephants, and some 14 antelope species, are Park – inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site Madagascar, the most famous of which are its
protected in two national parks, South and in 2007 – is also one of the most accessible to 68 species of lemur – small, gentle, wide-eyed
North Luangwa. The larger and more developed moderately intrepid travelers. Primates are the primates that include the indri (whose distinctive
southerly park is notable for night drives, which main point of interest. The rain forest in the park call sounds like a banshee), the dancing Verreaux’s
repeatedly strike gold when it comes to leopards, is the world’s most important refuge for the sifaka, and the demonic-looking aye-aye. Other
genets, civets, and other nocturnal creatures. mandrill, a large baboon-like primate with a bizarre species unique to the island are the
North Luangwa, though not accessible on a striking red-and-white nasal pattern and fangs tomato frog, nymphomaniac vasa parrot, giant
budget, is one of Africa’s greatest wilderness that would make a vampire recoil. Lopé also hissing cockroach, 2-ft- (0.6-m-) long Oustalet’s
areas, studded with a few small camps that supports around 4,000 western gorillas, high chameleon, fossa, giraffe-necked weevil, and the
specialize in walking safaris. densities of chimpanzees, and 400 bird species. astonishingly camouflaged leaf-tailed gecko.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION PRACTICAL INFORMATION PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Getting There Fly in to Mfuwe, where you will be met by someone from Getting There The gateway village to the park is Lopé, which is Getting There The main point of access is the capital, Antananarivo, which has
your lodge, or the operator running your safari. accessible by paved road, rail, or chartered light aircraft from the an international airport and many operators that organize countrywide
When to Go The dry southern winter (May–Sep) is best for game viewing capital, Libreville. tours. Public transportation is an option for those with lots of time.
and also the most comfortable time of year temperature-wise. The parks When to Go July and August are the best months for mandrill viewing, and When to Go The driest months (Jun–Nov) are the best for walking and
usually close in the southern summer due to flooding. August and September are best for gorillas and most other wildlife. wildlife viewing. The cyclone season (Feb–May) should be avoided.
Website www.zambiatourism.com Website www.wcs.org/international/Africa/gabon/lope Website www.madagascar-guide.com

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