A bientot Madagascar

It is our last day on the "Big Island" as the Malagasy call it and we are really gutted to be leaving this incredible country. Each step has brought a new surprise, and a new kind of cuddly teddy-bear. The great thing about this country is that almost everything you see here - animals, birds, reptiles, trees, flowers, Mike's dodgy beard - cannot be found or grown anywhere else in the world. Am slightly worried tho that Mike is now a fledgling twitcher (and Mike's mum doesn't trust twitchers).

Tourism is clearly in its nascent stages in this country so we feel as though we have had a very authentic trip. We can highly recommend this stunning, strangely diverse and unspoilt country. I will miss the varied landscape, grumpy chameleons and little children running after us shouting "Salut les vazahas!" (Hello Foreigners!). I leave safe in the knowledge that over a third of my photos are of lemurs. Very sad to be leaving but looking forward to exploring Southern Africa. First stop: Nambia.

PS A big thank you to the two lovely medics we met, Daniela and Alan, for great company and the new supply of shampoo, wet wipes and mozzie repellant. Thanks also for patiently enduring Mike's blow-by-blow account of his bout of splats.