Uzbekistan - Samarkand Registan Square
Foto: The Tsingy Rouge rock formations (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Madagascar - First, I visit the Tsingy Rouge rock formations. These remarkable rock formations lie about thirty kilometers outside Diego. The road there, the RN6, is even worse than the roads in the south. There are many potholes in the asphalt, and Ga-bi, my driver, drives more beside the road than on it. It’s no surprise that 4x4 vehicles are needed here. At the turnoff to the Tsingy Rouge, the road deteriorates further. The last stretch is a dirt road. I drive between high walls of sand. Ga-bi tries to drive as fast as possible over the bumpy road to reach the Tsingy Rouge before sunset. It’s supposed to be especially beautiful when the evening light falls on the rock formations. On some parts, he simply cannot go faster—the road has been eroded by rainwater. After 45 minutes, I arrive at the Tsingy Rouge. I’m still on time for the sunset, but due to the clouds, the sun has disappeared. Why does it have to be cloudy today? I descend to the rock formations. Turning the corner, I see white/red mineral-like pillars standing against the slope. What a remarkable sight. Because the valley is slowly being eroded by natural forces, the special sandstone rocks emerge. Bruno explains that the minerals originally formed on the seabed and were pushed up over millions of years. The sandstone pillars are fragile. A simple fence protects the beautiful rock formations. Contact with people can damage the stone. A little further lies the Tsingy Canyon. From above, I look down into a valley with white/red sandstone pillars. Twilight falls, and a very light drizzle even falls from the clouds. Quickly, I get back into the 4x4 Nissan and drive back to Diego Suarez.
Andasibe Nature Park
Madagascar - I wake up to a loud noise. It’s still dark outside. It takes me a moment to realize it's the call of the indri-indri. Their cry echoes loudly through the forest. I have the impression they’re sitting right above my hut. I check my watch—it's 4:30 ...
Avenue of the Baobabs
Madagascar - A striking landscape of more than 1000-year-old baobab trees lines the unpaved road of the Avenue of the Baobabs, causing many travelers on the road between Morondava and Belon’i Tsiribihina to stop and be amazed. The trees, about a dozen of them, are ...
Isalo National Park
Madagascar - At seven o’clock, I leave the grounds of Hotel de Isalo. In the village, Toussant gets in. He has brought two helpers, Mark and Names. They ride along to the park entrance. The last three kilometers are on an unpaved road. Faly carefully drives the ...
Les Trois Baies
Madagascar - I walk to the main street of Diego Suarez for breakfast. On the terrace of the Grand Hotel—by far the most luxurious hotel in the city—I order a breakfast menu. Back at the hotel, the 4x4 vehicles are already waiting. Bruno welcomes me again. He will ...
The colorful streets of Antananarivo
Madagascar - I walk out of the hotel and climb the long staircase to the Place de l'Indépendance. It’s busy under the trees on the square. From here, I can see the lower-lying center of Antananarivo. I see the bustling Analakely Market—a maze of parasols. I try ...