A possible NEW lemur species discovered!

We almost fell off our seats when we heard the news... A new species of lemur? We had to find out more!

The lemur was first spotted by Russ Mittermeier in 1995 during an expedition in the northeastern part of Madagascar, but it wasn't until October 2010 that he could finally return to find this lemur again.

"I was surprised to see a fork-marked lemur there, since this animal had not yet been recorded from the region," he said. "I immediately knew that it was likely a new species to science."

So, what makes this lemur different? The answer is simply the unique, feathery structure found under its tongue. Mittermeier believes that the lemur species has adapted uniquely to the forests of Dairana and that this feathery structure is used to assist in lapping up nectar. This is definitely not very common amongst other lemurs...

"This is yet another remarkable discovery from the island of Madagascar, the world's highest priority biodiversity hotspot and one of the most extraordinary places in our planet." Mittermeier says. "It is particularly remarkable that we continue to find new species of lemurs and many other plants and animals in this heavily impacted country, which has already lost 90 percent or more of its original vegetation."

Click here to read the full article.
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Fanatical about Fishing

If you (like us) love all things fishy, then our NEW Madagascar Fishing Package is for you. Spend your holiday deep-sea or even fly-fishing in the tropical waters around Nosy Be. With its calm clear waters and coral reefs... teeming with marine life, you are sure to have an incredible fishing experience!

Your friendly skipper Fergus, will take you to the best fishing sites... He knows all about the many fish species and their whereabouts according to season. Some of the exciting areas you might visit include Nosy Be, the Mitsio Archipelago and Kalakajoro.

Nosy Be is renowned for its high fish densities (due to the underdevelopment of commercial fishing) and you will find an abundance of local game fish including sailfish, trevally, dorado, king mackerel, barracuda, wahoo and tuna.

Sail 70 km north of Nosy Be and you will come across the Mitsio Archipelago. Consisting of 12 islands, the Mitsios is an exceptional fishing and diving destination with a diverse array of reef fish, such as eels, barracuda, kingfish and tuna. Beautiful beaches make the islands a dream destination for day excursions.

Depending on the season, another exceptional fishing destination that you will visit is Kalakajoro Island. Kalakajoro is home to fish eagles, beautiful coral beds, and spectacular fishing. Just 3 km off the beach you will find a continental drop off with abundant Tuna, Barracuda, Sailfish, and Giant Kingfish.

After 3 days of non stop fishing, take some time to relax on the white sandy beaches of Nosy Be and enjoy some optional excursions such as quad biking, scuba diving, snorkelling off Tani Kely Marine Reserve, a trip to the lemur sanctuary at Nosy Komba or exploring the island by motorbike. There is also a day excursion to Hell-Ville were you can go sight-seeing and curio-shopping.

This incredible package is priced from just EUR 1 435 / USD 1 830 per person (excluding flights). For more information email us on info@jenmansafaris.com.
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Mad about Madagascar - the adventures of Nick Garbutt

Legendary wildlife photographer Nick Garbutt recently completed his 20 year quest to explore the mysteries of Madagascar. Nick began a love affair with Madagascar in 1991 and has never looked back since. He has made an incredible 25 trips deep into the forests of the island and has collectively spent over three years documenting some of its most stunning species. Nick started his journey hoping to bring awareness about Madagascar's beauty to the world. During his exploration he noticed the fragile nature of Madagascar's ecosystems, and now hopes to bring it to the attention of the world. What a noble cause and one that we support 100%!

His wildlife photographs and environmental stories have been published in renowned international magazines such as Africa Geographic, BBC Wildlife and Wanderlust. In 1996 he was a prize-winner in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition and in 2000 won the highly prestigious Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Wildlife.

Are you wondering why he chose Madagascar? Here are some excerpts from his website that show his passion for the world's fourth largest island:

"Madagascar is like nowhere else" says Garbutt. "Millions of years of isolation have created a parallel world where weird and wonderful creatures survive." And we have to agree with him!

"Separated from mainland Africa by 350km of sea and 160 million years in time, Madagascar is a parallel world, unlike any other. The island's long geographical isolation has effectively turned it into a living laboratory of evolution."

"The vast majority of its species have evolved in splendid isolation, following paths far removed from blueprints elsewhere. Most of them are endemic - in other words, they live nowhere else on earth. The mammals illustrate this perfectly as every single one of the island's native terrestrial mammals is endemic (not including bats that can fly). Most famous are the lemurs, Madagascar's unique primates, of which there are over 90 described species and perhaps more awaiting discovery."

Congratulations Nick, what an amazing accomplishment! If you would like to find out more about all that Madagascar has to offer, visit our website www.travel2madagascar.com.
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Learn to dance from some very talented lemurs!

A lot of people don't know this, but there is a certain species of lemurs that can dance (and they are much more graceful than most people we've seen on the dance floor!). It's a very unique and interesting thing to witness... almost surreal! Imagine walking around a National Park and suddenly out pops a lemur showing of its moves?! One can't help but laugh! So, next time you are out on the town, why not take some inspiration from these dancing experts...

To watch the video, click on the image to take you to YouTube.
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