Madagascar

Madagascar is located in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa. It is the world's fourth largest island, covering a total area of 587,041 square kilometres.

The country is divided into six provinces, each named after its capital: Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toliara, and Toamasina also known as Tamatave - the province in which Bushhouse is located.

The continent separated from Africa 165 million years ago, and since then its flora and fauna have evolved according to its own fantasy, like nowhere else in the world: Lemurs are known worldwide, but the red island (on account of its vividly coloured soil) is home to several endemic species of chameleons, fossas, frogs, birds, snakes, jumping rats, baobabs, carnivorous plants, orchids and many more strange "living beings"! With the lemurs, 80% of its flora, 40% of its birds, 98% of its reptiles being endemic, Madagascar is a naturalist's promised land! The same is true for the Malagasy people, about 17 million: a unique blend of African and Asian, whose culture resembles no other worldwide. The population is divided in 18 ethnical groups. The nomad Vezo fisherman swears only by the sea, the zebu is everything to the Bara of the desertic south, while land is the gretatest wealth for the Betsileo of the malagasy "altiplano". The relative isolation of the island due to geography and recent history, kept the traditional way of living, rites and the ancestral beliefs, very lively and genuine. For the traveller avid to find something different, a dream! Madagascar has it all: deserted beaches, tropical forests, mountains, spiny forests, rice-terraced highlands... Specialists agree that Darwin, had he not been in Galapagos, would have written his theory on evolution in Madagascar.

Till beginning of 19th century, Madagascar was divided in several kingdoms, corresponding to the ethnical puzzle, amongst the most powerful, those of the Merinas (central highlands), Antekarana (North) and the Sakalavas (North West). Andriaponimerina, a Merina King, unified the various Merina tribes and started conquering the other kingdoms: the Betsimisaraka (East), the Boina (Sakalava's kingdom of the North West), the Betsileo lands and many others fall under Merina's domination. Andraiponimerina's dream of unifying Madagascar will be fully achieved by his son Radama I, when the latter marries Princess Rasalimo, daughter of undefeated King of Menabe. Andriaponimerina's dream is fulfilled "the limit to his rice terrace is the sea".

Madagascar gained independence in 1960 and became a communist governed country in 1975. As of 2002, a new president and governement was elected. The former president, currently in exile in France, was sentenced to 10 years of penal labour on corruption charges.

The current administration has implemented a fully democratic system, including an anti-corruption ministry, which has improved Madagascar's international relations, and opened the country to foreign investments and tourism.

The official language of this country is Malagasy, however French is spoken by everyone. English is widely understood, especially in the capital and by tourist establishments. At Bush House, Malagasy, French, English and German are spoken fluently.


Madagascar | Pangalanes