Madagascar is a land of staggering natural beauty and immense biodiversity. The island’s varied landscape ranges from the highlands of the central plateau, where temperatures are cool and coffee is grown, to the humid, tropical rainforest of the east coast and the spiny desert of the west. More than 80% of the country’s wildlife is found nowhere else on earth, including lemurs, chameleons, baobab trees and the world’s largest colony of bats. Visitors can explore this unique ecosystem on foot, by mountain bike or 4WD, or by boat on the island’s many rivers and lagoons. The Malagasy people are warm and welcoming, and traditional music, dance and crafts can be found in villages throughout the country.