Photo Essay: Avenue Du Baobab, Madagascar
The world’s fourth largest island, Madagascar separated first from the African continent 135 million years ago, and then the Indian subcontinent 88 million years ago. Its plants and wildlife have been evolving in complete isolation ever since.
Although not found only in Madagascar, the baobab tree creates striking scenery on the island’s west coast and plays an important role in the region’s ecosystem and the mythology of its people. And there’s no better place to see it than lining this dirt road a few miles northeast of Morondava: Avenue du Baobab.
During my visit, I learned that overland travel is brutal in Madagascar. There are no good roads from the south of the country to the north, and if you don’t have the funds to fly, you’ll need to take a long, bumpy ride. The good news is, natural attractions like the Avenue du Baobab make every minute of the trek worth your time when you finally get there.