Domača Andapa in pravljični Marojejy NP, Madagaskar

Simpatično mestece Andapa, kjer sva v lagodju preživela tistih nekaj dni, je bila le odskočna deska za obisk najbližjega nacionalnega parka, parka Marojejy. Tistih nekaj dni, preživetih v mestecu, sva preživela predvsem ob druženju s super prijaznimi domačini, s katerimi smo se izmenično učili malgaščine in angleškega jezika, odkrivali okoliška prostrana riževa polja, nedotaknjene slapove ter iskali kameleone vseh možnih barv ter velikosti. Med vandranjem po okoliških koncih sva na srečo spoznala tudi gospoda Mosesa, najinega vodiča za park Marojejy, ki se je izkazal kot eden izmed najboljših vodičev, s katerimi sva imela opravka do sedaj. Park Marojejy je nekaj posebnega. Na Madagaskarju sva jih obiskala kar nekaj (Ranomafana, Isalo, Andasibe, Ankarana) a Marojejy nekako izstopa. Že dejstvo, da je bil do leta 1998 odprt le za znanstvenike, pove veliko. V njem sva imela možnost preživeti 3 dni in priznam, da bi kljub nešteto pijavkam, s katerimi sva imela opravka, z veseljem bivanje potegnil še za kakšen dan, dva ali kar teden dni. 🙂 Gorata pokrajina parka je neverjetna, kot nekakšen jurski park, ki zaživi predvsem zjutraj, ko sva iz tabora poslušala nepozabne glasove tropskega gozda. Gozd je dom nešteto endemičnih živalskih in rastlinskih vrst, ki jih najdemo le tukaj. Kraljica med vsemi je verjetno kar svilnata sifaka, ki velja za eno izmed petih najbolj ogroženih vrst primatov na svetu. Park je znan tudi po ptici “helmet vanga”, ki privlači biologe iz vseh koncev sveta ter neverjetni raznolikosti kameleonovih vrst – med drugim tudi najmanjšo vrsto na svetu – Brookesia. Skratka, če imate v planu Madagaskar – mogoče lahko v itinerary dodate tudi ta del otoka, ki je bil takrat praktično turistično nedotaknjen.

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The charming little town of Andapa, where we spent couple of days, was just a stop on the way to visit the nearest national park, Marojejy Park. We spent those few days in the town socializing with super friendly locals, learning Malagasy and English, discovering the spacious rice field, untouched waterfalls and looking for chameleons of all possible colors and sizes. While wandering around the area, we also met Mr. Moses, our guide for Marojejy Park, who turned out to be one of the best guides we had till now. Marojejy Park is something special. We visited quite a few of them in Madagascar (Ranomafana, Isalo, Andasibe, Ankarana) but Marojejy somehow stands out. The fact that it was only open to science until 1998 says a lot. We had the opportunity to spend 3 days in it and I admit that even thought there were so many leeches, I would happy stay there a day, two, maybe a week more. The mountainous landscape of the park is amazing, like a kind of Jurassic park, which comes to life especially in the morning, when we listened to the unforgettable voices of the tropical forest from the camp. The forest is home to countless endemic animal and plant species found only here. The queen of all is probably the silky sifaka, which is considered one of the most endangered species of primates in the world. The park is also known for the helmet vanga bird, which attracts biologists from all over the world, and the incredible diversity of chameleon species – including the world’s smallest specie – Brookesia. In short, if you have Madagascar in the plan – you can also add to the itinerary part of the island, which was then practically untouched by tourists.