Day 13: The adventure concludes

Today would be the final day in Madagascar before embarking on the long journey home. After breakfast we drove to the outskirts of Antananarivo where we explored local villages and walked between the rice paddies and agricultural land. The rural areas of the island's central high plateau are charming and offer a welcome break for anyone wanting to exchange the chaos of the city for some tranquility. In addition to agriculture the locals here make a living from silk weaving, which is one of the country's most honored craft traditions. Silk weaving unites communities and for generations women have created lambas (silk shawls/scarfs) and their craft has been shared with their daughters. Each lamba has a distinguished pattern, colour and use depending on the region of Madagascar. The lamba has cultural significance and can be seen throughout the country, worn in different ways and even utilised as a prop when performing traditional dances. A Malagasy proverb gives insight into the lamba, “When one is angry it is wrapped around the waist to free one’s hands to fight, when one sleeps it serves as a blanket, when one goes out it is worn as clothing, when one dies it becomes a shroud.”

After a couple of hours walking through villages and along rolling land, up and down steep steps at the side of the terraced land we arrived at a local farm where we would stop for lunch. We were greeted by the owner of the farm restaurant and showed around the area where I was delighted to meet a pig. The farm restaurant was small, only hosting two tables but it was beautifully decorated and completely unexpected. The owner smiled as he poured us passion fruit juice and piled platters of food onto the tables, all prepared from local produce. I'd been struggling with my appetite all week; a combination of an unsettled stomach and the thought of more rice and beans but here the food helped my appetite return. The food included fresh salads, barbecued vegetable skewers, strips of zebu steak, pasta and potatoes followed by fresh fruit and cinnamon tea. I ate the most I had managed all week and was really happy Hery had taken us here.

After lunch we headed back to Antananarivo and our hotel, where I packed and prepared for the journey ahead. It's easy to envisage

Madagascar purely as an island paradise, with dancing lemurs, magnificent baobab trees and tropical beaches. However, the country is far more complex than this simplistic tourist expectation, but this is what makes visiting here so unique. Madagascar can be referred to as "advanced level Africa" and requires a little preparedness unlike some more popular developed African destinations like Kenya and Tanzania. Prepare yourself for poor infrastructure, long journeys, poverty, travel sickness and toilet stops with audiences in "appropriate bushes". Aspects of the country are saddening from the obvious corruption meaning the government does not support rural communities with healthcare and education, the destruction of critical habitats leading to widespread endangered species and the devasting effects of climate change forcing a huge proportion of the country into famine. Despite the potential in the country, tourism is still relatively low and a huge proportion of tourists visit only the north of the country where resort style accommodation can isolate them from the true realities of the country. Hopefully the future can trend towards sustainable tourism that both supports the local economy and the wildlife. It is now clear to me why Madagascar is referred to as "The 8th continent" as it is not comparable to anywhere I've visited. The wildlife and the landscapes are unique and beautiful, the cultural identity of the people is strong and the Malagasy people are friendly and welcoming, giving the country a safe feel. It has been an extremely varied trip - from the remote villages of the Central Highlands to the lush trails of the rainforests, to spotting many species of lemurs and chameleons and hiking through granite mountains to the summit of Pic Imarivolanitra and witnessing surreal sandstone landscapes before winding up in paradise at Ifaty Beach. Despite this, Madagascar is a large country and this trip has merely scratched the surface. As always thank you for following my adventure, I hope I've provided a balanced account of Madagascar and you feel you have a slightly greater insight into this unique, complex and beautiful country.

See you for the next adventure!

Amy xx