Madagascar

A new, thoroughly updated 13th edition of Bradt's Madagascar, the leading and most comprehensive guide to this unique island nation, written by Hilary Bradt, who first visited in 1976 and has returned roughly 35 times, and Daniel Austin, who has visited more than 15 times and continues to travel there annually. Bradt's Madagascar is by far the most thorough guide to the country in English and includes contributions from over 50 experts in a book which has been the most authoritative guide to the country for three decades. It covers national parks and protected areas and includes itineraries to suit all interests and budgets, plus details of around 1,000 hotels and restaurants.

Madagascar is fascinating not only zoologically and botanically, but culturally, linguistically, historically and geologically. This vast island is the fourth largest in the world and also the oldest, which partly explains why it has evolved into an incredible hotspot for biodiversity, with a truly unique flora and fauna that is more than 80% endemic to the island, and with new species being described virtually on a daily basis. Madagascar is also the only place where you can see wild lemurs. Almost a quarter of the world's 450-or-so primates exist only here. And Madagascar is the world's largest grower of vanilla orchids, the bulk of which is supplied to the USA for flavouring ice cream and Coca Cola.

With Bradt's Madagascar you can visit tropical rainforest and seek out its incredible flora and fauna; explore otherworldly limestone spires, most famously at Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park – Madagascar's most striking landscape; discover the beach-fringed islands around Nosy Be, fabulous for scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking, whale-watching and fishing; and make the most of a host of adventuring and sporting possibilities, including surfing, windsurfing, rock climbing, tree climbing, caving, river trips, mountain biking and hiking. Also covered are the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ambohimanga; the renowned Avenue des Baobabs, one of the country's most photographed scenes, and information on the best birdwatching spots: Madagascar has almost 300 avian species, with a high proportion of endemics, including five whole endemic families.