Baobab tree, Reniala Reserve

Two areas we visited while in the area were Zombitse National Park and Reniala Reserve. Almost immediately within Zombitse we came across a troop of Verreaux's Sifaka, one with a very young baby. For me, the highlights of Zombitse were threefold. One; seeing one of the largest chameleons in the world (in contention with the Parson's rainforest species), the Oustalet's Chameleon, two; having the best views of Paradise Flycatchers we had while in Madagascar, and three; coming across a very obliging Giant Coua near the car park. While in comparison, Reniala was lacking in wildlife it more than made up for it with a fantastic introduction to the plants that make the 'Spiny Forest' famous. Huge baobab trees stood up out the ground like giant Chianti bottles, some with holes cut out by local people as natural ladders up the tree to harvest the fruits. There were also flame trees, balsa trees, and the Compass Cactus so called because its stem always points south.