The nights are crisp during Madagascar Augusts, and our accommodations lacked heating and a second blanket.
Arising at an early hour, I journeyed across the street from Feon'ny Ala and browsed through the gift shop.
On my return I took some pictures of our night's refuge.
First, reception and the dining room, where we enjoyed an excellent dinner and breakfast:
And some of our well-landscaped cottages, in the traditional Malagasy style:
And my particular abode:
Soon after breakfast we were on our way again.
We picked up the Babbses, who had been able to stay at Vakôna; they brought with them Vakôna-made picnic lunches.
On our way back to Tana, we stopped at the Reptile and Butterfly Farm to meet some other exotic creatures— and flora:
A crocodile . . .
. . . a charming chameleon, who delighted Jean while Meredith and Sarah were otherwise distracted . . .
. . . and another chameleon (can you spot him?) . . .
. . . and another . . .
. . . an another (all sorts of varieties!) . . .
. . . including this one, whose tail resembles the scroll of a violin . . .
. . . and if you watch closely, you'll see this chameleon deliver a lightning-fast tongue-lashing to an unsuspecting cricket:
Perhaps another floral interlude—
Now back to all creatures great and small, like . . .
. . . a millipede, tomato frog, a couple of geckoes, a boa, and a couple of tenrecs:
And how about a video in tenrecolor?
Chameleons aren't the only camouflage experts— can you find the butterfly?
Hint: it's a leaf butterfly.
Another here's a leaf gecko:
And how about this for a spectacular moth?
This is called a comet moth, also known as the Madagascan moon moth.
(Remember this moth!)
These two chameleons are reprising the standoff between Little John and Robin of Locksley:
While Maid Marian patiently awaits the outcome:
And, for the Grand Finale, some remarkable examples of an altogether exotic species:
To Be Continued!
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