The giant female Golden Orb spider. So large compared to the male that it often mistakes its partner and her young for prey. Known to make one of the strongest webs; walking into one is said to be an unnerving experience.
Click here to view a shawl made from the web silk of over a millon golden orb spiders (displayed at the V&A Museum London 2012)
The beautiful Namorona river and waterfall showing a local lad on the slippery rocks
View of the rainforest from a road stop.
The Madagascan 'dancing lady' orchid; these human shaped flowers 'dance' in the breeze.
A carnivorous plant clinging to the rock face.
The leaf tailed gecko. The master of camouflage, changing its skin colour depending on the nature of the tree bark. It's spatula-like tail rests on the tree trunk and the gecko faces downward to prevent its eyes reflecting light and attracting predators.
The rare golden bamboo lemurs are a rich golden brown in colour, diurnal and prefer bamboo shoots which although rich in protein have high levels of cyanide that would be lethal for animals of similar size. They were only discovered in 1985.
A male red fronted brown lemur. Live in troops of approx 5-15 individuals with equal number of males and females.
A juvenile blue legged chameleon does not show the characteristic features of the adult form.
Various examples of Oustalet chameleons. Males are a dull grey brown colour but females are more colourful, often green. They can grow up to 650 mm in length.
Wild figs growing on the trunks of trees and forest floor. The flower of the 'orchid tree'.
The ring tailed lemur lives in caves rather than trees. The female gives birth every 3 yrs around September; note the babies clinging to the belly or back of the female.
Highly sociable, they mark out their own territory, protect it and sleep in the same cave. If a member of the family dies of natural causes, other members bury the deceased.
If a baby falls from his mother's back onto the ground it is considered weak and is therefore abandoned - the law of natural selection.
The ring tailed lemur is often seen with paws outstretched warming itself in the sun or huddling together if the air temperature drops.
Highly mobile they can jump up to 2 metres from tree to tree.
Grey headed lovebirds
Scenes of the highlands on the journey to Isalo.
Local children on the road to Isalo.
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