Madagascar's teeming fertile forests and geographical isolation have served to preserve and propagate 'nature's design laboratory' in a mix found nowhere else on earth.

The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 hit Madagascar's east coast near the towns of Manakara, Sambava and Vohemar, destroying infrastructure and leaving close to 1000 people homeless. No deaths were recorded.

You needn't totally forget about notions of idyllic tropical islands, but there's more to do here than lazing on a sandy beach and dipping into crystalline waters to peek at coral reefs now and again. Cut off from the African mainland for millions of years, Madagascar's forests are a naturalist's damp dream; they've preserved oddities and developed specialisations found nowhere else on earth, and you can get among them in a spectacular collection of accessible national parks.

With fascinating tribal cultures and ceremonies and an intriguing assortment of fady (local taboos) thrown in to perplex visitors, Madagascar makes for a truly rewarding experience.

Full country name: Republic of Madagascar (Repoblikan'i Madagasiraka)
Area: 594,180 sq km
Population: 16.97 million
Capital City: Antananarivo (Tana) (pop 4,000,000)
People: Eighteen major ethnic groups, including Merina (27%), Betsimisaraka (15%), Betsileo (12%), Tsimihety (7%), Sakalava (6%), Antaisaka (5%) and Antandroy (5%)
Language: Malagasy, French
Religion: Christianity and Islam
Government: republic
Head of State: President Marc Ravalomanana
Head of Government: Prime Minister Jacques Sylla

GDP: US$12.3 billion
GDP per capita: US$800
Annual Growth: 4.8%
Inflation: 10%
Major Industries: Agriculture, meat processing, soap, textiles, cement, automotive assembly, petroleum products
Major Trading Partners: France, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Singapore

Reproduced with permission from the Lonely Planet website www.lonelyplanet.com
© 2005 Lonely Planet