Madagascar

The world’s fourth largest island has an astounding wealth of wildlife that’s found nowhere else on the planet. Adventurous travellers will be hooked from the start, as they sail to a beach hut, off-road to a jungle lodge or fly into a private reserve. Push through the undergrowth and creep past the baobabs to find seven species of lemur. Hike past razor-sharp pinnacles in Tsingy de Bemaraha reserve or discover buttress roots and breaching whales in Masoala National Park. Kitesurf over emerald seas or scuba beneath the surface to see shipwrecks, rays and rainbow corals. Taste rice cakes and homemade yoghurt, watch fluttering bats and sleep beneath the desert stars.