I often remember my June 2019 Madagascar trip with fondness.

When I touched down, I was instantly greeted by fantastic hosts who pridefully showed me the highlights of their country.

One of the many notable stops was Nosy Ambariovato, located northwest of the island. Nosy Ambariovato was paradise for me and my eyes, thanks to its blue sapphire sea and beach community. I spent a few days here greeting the locals in a coastal village that survives off fishing and trade with the mainland. My time with the youngsters was precious; they were curious to see their portraits on my screen after shooting.

Soon after, it was time to fly to Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. From here, we drove towards Andasibe - an outstanding rainforest park on the island’s east side. This lengthy journey took approximately four hours, and we had plenty of time to enjoy the sights of rural rice fields and seasonal fruit vendors dotted along the roads.

The next area featured two protected parks - the Perinet Reserve and the Mantadia National Park. The latter is famous for having the largest population of living lemur species named the Indri lemur. These are known for their black and white tails and teddy bear-like faces. Listening to the Indri lemurs communicate via song in the vast forest was an extraordinary experience.

My adventure continued over the next few days, walking through the rainforests, and seeing countless exotic animals. From woolly lemurs and grey bamboo lemurs to common brown, black and white ruffed lemurs. We even spotted ringtailed lemurs and silky sifaka lemurs, who are extraordinary jumpers but sadly critically endangered.

Next on our schedule was visiting Lemur Island at the Vakona Private Reserve. So, I jumped into a little canoe and started to explore. Here I was lucky to encounter an intrigued red ruffed lemur close to the shore - this was definitely my favourite one.

We also experienced night-time trekking in the forest, and this was a completely different type of magic! Thanks to my expert guide on the tour, I managed to spot the elusive furry-eared dwarf lemur. This sighting was lucky, but it wasn’t the only one. I also spotted a colossal cricket up close, enjoying the dark evening.

I even had the pleasure of photographing two different types of chameleons hanging onto a nearby branch. As these are endangered, I’m extra thankful forthe glimpse.

A big thank you to all the staff from Tsara Komba Lodge, Mantadia Hotel, drivers, and guides for your kindness. It was a trip to remember!