Awesome African Adventure. Day 38 – May 15, 2025

Ranomafana Rainforest

Bit of a glitch with the photos today. I haven’t got them in any particular order so I will just leave them in a jumble. Also I can no longer remember which chameleon is which. Suffice to say they are all amazing and taken in a very wet rainy night.

Popped my head out this morning to check our view. The climb UP to our bungalows does result in a great view across the Namorona River and up into the mountains with a few misty clouds thrown in for good measure. Down for breakfast at 7:00, then off to Ranomafana NP for our Rainforest Walk. Suzie has taken some time out and stayed home today.
Diamond is our guide, Tojo, our spotter.
Here’s what we saw
Leaf tailed gecko.
Toilet paper plant and good for stomach ache. (Use leaves to wipe and chew for tummy ache)
The bamboo grows 8-10cm a day and is main staple diet of Bamboo Lemur.
Pygmy Kingfisher
Micronesia flower (red) iPhone.
Golden Bamboo lemurs. Such hard work to get a shot. Our guide and spotter helped out by taking some shots and videos with the iPhone.
Red fronted brown lemur – were high in the trees, the light was behind them.
Satanic Leaf tailed gecko Uroplatus phantasticus again.
Red fig
Green orchid
Tiny white toadstool on a tree
More fungus on iPhone.
Some brachea red flowers
More fungus
Milne Edwards Sifaka – again high in the trees and hard to capture. There always seemed to be leaves, branches, moss or a tree trunk or seven between them and my lens! It was quite steep and slippery and there were a few people around. Tojo and Diamond kept finding better spots – the climb and soft steep footings made it hard physically. The difficulty focussing on lemur in amongst all the greenery made me a little queasy, but we kept on trying. Until a bird flew over and they all came lower (out of harms way) and started calling the warning call and bouncing and leaping around the trees around us. There are some ok pics and videos- thanks a whole bunch to Diamond, Tojo and Benj.
Common Sunbird Asity
Leaf tail gecko
Cauliflower tree has a flower growing from trunk.
Giraffe beetle. Male with long neck.
Fig fruit huge black

It was some hard going up and down the hillsides in the Ranomafana rainforest. Our spotter Tojo had gone ahead to find the lemurs for us. It’s a big park and lots of space.

As per the list above we saw quite a few things – but it was hard work for the photography in the dull light. And we were all puffing and struggling at times. However hard work pays off and we saw some amazing sights.
The Milne Edward Lemur was amazing to watch. They started up high in the trees and hard to see and take pictures of. They were moving around the tree tops and causing water to rain on us. Then a warning call was let out amongst the group of lemurs, there was a bird of prey overhead. So they started leaping from tree to tree and coming a bit lower to escape the watchful eye. Which meant more accessible to us. The guide and spotter took my phone and got some good shots and videos. Diamond in particular is very good at the iPhone.
Four hours later we left the park, a little damp, leg sore and weary but having seen a lot of things.
After lunch back at the lodge we ladies visited the silk and cotton weaving cooperative and watched a few ladies weaving. Mary and I made a purchase and donations too. (35 000 Ariary plus an 10 000 donation) Both the makers of our items were there working so Mary and I got to meet Patrice for mine and Fanja for Mary. It’s intricate work in a dark building but they are happy.

Next stop we parked in a paddock beside the village.
We crossed over the Namorona River after passing a few stalls selling Banana chips, peanut brittle and sesame brittle. There were remnants of a concrete and steel bridge which had been wrecked in a cyclone about 8-10 years ago.
We crossed over and had a look at the thermal station. A small hot thermal pool for free use.
A number of locals were stripped off getting a massage/wash. Then there was a heated swimming pool full of kids – all wearing obligatory bathing caps.
We watched a herd of Zebu cross the river, move under the bridge and either walk or swim across to the opposite bank and up the bank going home.

Back home for 45 minutes downtime before our night walk with Diamond again. It’s really proper raining. We drove up the road and got out – Diamond and Benj were both spotting chameleons. We attempted some photos with camera and I handed the phone over to Diamond – he used to be a photographer before he was a guide. He can make the iPhone do things we can’t. His big light also helps. He was just so good. I spotted a couple of chameleons in the rainy dark night as well. We got back in the car and drove for a bit and then Phil and I got out as Diamond had spotted some more.
Mary was wet and stayed in the car. We then walked up to the car again and headed back down the mountain to home. Here’s the list we saw tonight.
Oshaugnessy Chameleon female.
Gastrotinea female
Gastrotinea male with horn
Glawi – small
Oshaughnessy baby
Blue leg crypticum
O’Shaughnessy male two horn
O’shaughnessy male
Blue leg male (crypticum)

It defies belief, the colours are so vivid, we saw 9 different individual chameleons and a couple more a little too far into the forest or up above our reach.
They were amazing, each in its own way, the rain added the touch of water droplets caught on their bodies too.
Home again by 7:30 for dinner. I picked a ripper tonight. Pork and white haricot beans in a sauce with plain rice and a Banana Flambé for dessert.
Then up the bloody steep hill to our rooms with a view to shower and pack.