The island nation of Madagascar has always been surrounded by an aura of mystique.

It’s the fourth largest island in the world, and an internationally renowned biodiversity hot spot with 90% of its wildlife found nowhere else on earth.

The most commonly identified species is the lemur, and there are more than 100 species of these incredible creatures ranging in size from just 30 g for the Madame Berthe's mouse lemur to as much as 9.5 kg for the Indri or Babakoto lemur.

But then there’s the gaudy chameleons; geckos who camouflage themselves as leaves; insects that look like giraffes; the fossa that looks like a cat; a frog that looks like a tomato; cockroaches that hiss; fluffy white owls, and streaked tenrecs that appear to have spines rather than fur.

Throw in some great walking trails and a taste of the local culture and you’ll come away with unforgettable memories of this island paradise.