Travel blog
The iconic Golden Cliffs and Pillars of the Twelve Apostles are located 7 km from Port Campbell. They are protected by the Doce Apóstoles Marine National Park that covers 7500ha and runs along 17 km of impressive coastline. The beauty of the water above the …
There is no doubt, it is to think about Australia and in addition to the image of a kangaroo and a koala, the Sydney Opera House appears in your head. So much so that it is the number one tourist destination in the country, it …
The Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park is one of the most famous on the island and travel to Madagascar, sculpting around the gorges of the Manabolo River an impressive stony forest of huge and pointed calcareous needles, the Tsingy , local word meaning pinnacle.
These karst towers are the product of the erosion of millions of years on the calcareous plate lifted by the drift of the continents, when Madagascar separated from Gondwana from which South America, Africa, Australia, Hindustan and Antarctica, the old block detached in turn from the supercontinent Pangea.
Exotic tree species sank their roots among the gray rocks providing the most striking contrast note with their bright green foliage inhabited by exotic birds, extravagant chameleons and agile lemurs that leap over the sharp rocks as if they stepped on soft sand.
Chopped by small savannas, the dry deciduous forest sheltered a good number of endemic species, dozens of reptiles and amphibians, a hundred birds, five different families of bats and a dozen lemurs.
More than six hundred types of plants adapted strongly to tropical weather. Dry on the calcareous and humid surfaces inside the canyons, the vegetation slyly fought the aridity, retaining the water in the thorns, fattening its trunks, slowing the vegetative system before the rains or even shrinking to dwarf shrubs.
Such a place could not go unnoticed by the globalized desire to protect the most unique natural spaces on the planet. The Bemaraha Plateau, bounded to the north by the steep cliffs of the Manombolo River and by gentle slopes to the west, was declared World Heritage by Unesco in 1990, and seven years later the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park was created with a restricted area of integral protection: in total, more than one hundred fifty thousand hectares.
The visitable park occupies the southern half, where the impressive Tsingy abound. The motivations to explore it range from scientific study to spiritual contemplation, through bird watching, trekking and educational, ecological or simply tourist excursions.
The adventure begins by driving in 4 × 4 along reddish dirt tracks through forests, muds and fords that do not always surpass the first, and riding cars on barges that cross the great brown water rivers. The entrance to the park depends on the state of these routes, whose accessibility is conditioned in turn by the season. The impracticable rainy season runs from November to April.
Although seen from the air these formations could be completely impenetrable, there are some ferrata routes, quite respectful of nature, that cross them through narrow caves, unsuspected natural corridors and deep gorges.
All this thanks to the implantation of steps carved in the rock, ladders, cables and ropes to which to attach with the carabiners incorporated to the harness supplied, and even the small suspension bridge that, oscillating disturbingly on a vacuum of seventy meters, joins a pair of peaks to reach the viewing platform that crowns the path.
There are seven circuits to choose from, from the easy two kilometers in one hour, to those between three hours and two days, which are enriched with visits to old shelters and tombs, canoe sailing through the Manabolobe, rappelling down to a well limestone and even speleological explorations through underground galleries.
The luxury of the big five stars is something unknown for these lands that lack electricity: electric generators work only a few hours a day, refrigerators are gas and hot water is obtained from solar energy. We must therefore not expect the exquisite comforts of other destinations, but, instead, authenticity and contact with nature in the wild are guaranteed.
The following offer a refreshing pool, a luxury in these hot latitudes.
The Orchidée du Bemaraha: It has a handicraft boutique, massage room, billiards and bike and quad rental, has opted for a varied cuisine: French, Creole, Chinese and exotic.
Proud of its three stars, the Vazimbahotel offers a sports area and a kinesitherapy room.
The four duplexes of the Olympe du Bemaraha are designed to enjoy as a family, although they also have bungalows and double rooms of high and medium standing, a small boutique and a large octagonal restaurant with panoramic terrace.
Lake Hillier is a Lake of pinkness in the Middle Island, the largest island of the archipelago Recherche, near the coast of Esperance. Esperance also is the gateway to the national parks Cape Le Grand, Stokes and Cape Arid. Esperance is about 720 kilometers southeast …
The island of Tasmania is completely different from Australia to find on the mainland. You will not find arid deserts, but rugged mountains, rolling green hills and raging rivers furrowing the landscape of the island. Tasmania is one of the most picturesque islands in the …
This is one of the wonders of the world. The Great Barrier Reef, which stretches from Cooktown in the north to Bundaburg in the south, is a mass of coral reefs and islands that make up the largest marine park in the world.
Unfolding from Cooktown in the Tropical North Queensland to Bundaberg in the south, there are many access points to the Great Barrier Reef Coral. As you walk up and down the coast of Queensland, you can see the full extent of this fantastic place known as the eighth wonder of the world.
The Marine Park Authority Great Barrier Reef Coral controls and protects the area, which reaches 215,000 square miles (345,000 square km) of water around the reef. It is the largest marine park in the world. In these protected waters, fish are curious and friendly. Coral reefs, like underwater jungles, bloom in warm tropical waters and give life to a diverse and dense population. Divers estimate that it would take a thousand dives to see the most interesting aspects of the reef. You can also see everything from a glass bottom boat or from a semi-submersible vessel, can go snorkeling or diving among the stunning single expansion of this underwater garden, where visibility extends up to 60 meters (197 feet) and where the water is replete than 2,000 varieties of tropical fish. It is a place that travelers should visit must.
You can snorkel around the reef. For those who want to learn, there is no better way to do that in these warm and clear waters.
The Great Barrier Reef is a habitat for many species, it is possible to find a lot of fish estimated 1500 different species and more than 4000 species of molluscs. In addition to some 400 species of coral. Endangered species, it is also possible to find in the barrier, species such as dugong and the large green turtle.
The Barrier Reef has been affected by global warming that affects the planet earth and it increases more and more. Corals are very sensitive species to changes in ocean temperature. On the other hand the effects of overfishing and pollution have made the barrier is damaged, reducing the ecosystem that houses it. To continue with these actions, the Barrier Reef will continue to lose fish, aquatic flora, etc.. Starfish «crown of thorns» which are deteriorating worldwide corals also begun to affect the Great Barrier, as the starfish, when they have reached adulthood, they consume what they measure, ie if a starfish has a diameter of 60 cm. daily consumption same hard coral.
Then there are artificial disasters created by humans:
It was only a year ago, 250 tons of oil escaped from a container ship, the Pacific Adventurer, and stained the beaches of the east coast Australian Sunshine Coast and Bribie Island and Moreton.