Off to Madagascar, at last!!!!

I had been in constant contact with Chris Coates over the months of planning and kept him up to date with all developments so he could make the required arrangements. He was able to tailor the trip to suit just the two of us and managed to pull off a splendid trip despite all the challenges thrown  his way. We had started our trip in Nelspruit staying with Friends prior to traveling to Madagascar, and whilst there we visited Kruger national park and saw the big 5, we helped out for a day at a game farm darting and relocating Impalla. We bottle fed baby Rhino and played with a baby Hippo named Emma, Greg tubed down the river and played on a rope swing in a deeper pool, we went epic right from the start.

We then traveled to Johannesburg where we joined Chris Coates and Richard Leonard for our trip to Madagascar’s Spot X and Castor bank, Richard was along to help capture all the action on video. 
The fun started as soon as we tried to check in for our flights courtesy of Air Madagascar.  We had flight delay after flight delay just getting to Madagascar. Then once we arrived some 18 hours late we were taken to an old hotel for a few hours rest until our flight to Nosy Be. We all boarded the plane ok but then had an unscheduled stop at an unknown airport once on the way to Nosy Be, apparently there were people there that wanted to go to Nosy Be, so we stopped for them?. 

Transport to the mystery hotel.

Checking in for the flight to Nosy Be. 

Air Madagascar plane.

The airport was that out of the way I think it had been forgotten, there were even 2 old WWII biplanes rotting away at the edge of the apron complete with rotted canvas hanging through wooden wing skeletons. I tried to take a photo of them but the local police got a little upset at the sight of my camera so I thought better of it.

When we finally landed at Nosy Be our Skipper was waiting for us and we quickly loaded all our gear into the vehicle for the trip to the lodge. We traveled through the town of Hell-Ville yes that is what it is called, and over rough roads and a wooden bridge until we reached a quiet bay on the Southeast side of the island. Here we were introduced to the owner of the lodge and were given a welcome drink, before being shown to our rooms. 

The streets of Hell-Ville.

Crossing a wooden bridge on the way to the Lodge.

The beach at the Lodge.

Day Gecko

We were staying at the lodge for a few days prior to boarding the yacht, this would give us a chance to check our gear and pick the best weather to spend our time out at sea. Almost immediately Greg spotted a Day Gecko and was pleasantly surprised to find they were very common. We relaxed for a couple of hours before we ate a late dinner and retired to our rooms for a good nights sleep beneath mosquito nets and whirring ceiling fans, the sound of waves gently lapping the shore sending us off to sleep.