Czech Expedition Society is only Czech member of Royal Geographical Society, London.

MADAGASCAR natural history and filming expedition to Masoala peninsula. Masoala peninsula is definitelly largest area of rain forest canopy on the Island. It was not made any serious scientic research yet in many parts of peninsula. Our international team planning to follow river on rubber boats and help to open this fascinating area to the world. Team consist of naturalists, ecologists and filmakers. We would accepted a few additional members of team who might help us. No special skills are required.
Expedition is planned for November 2000.

NEW  The 2001 Total Solar Eclipse on Madagascar

The next total eclipse happens on June 21, 2001 and passes over southern Africa. The 2001 track starts in the South Atlantic off the coast of Uruguay, passes 240km north of the island of St Helena, crosses Africa and ends at sunset in the Indian Ocean to the east of Madagascar. The shadow first enters Angola in the early afternoon with a center line duration of 4.5 minutes. The path of the eclipse then continues eastward, through Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. At that point, the central duration drops to three minutes with the late afternoon Sun 23° above the horizon. Swiftly crossing the Mozambique Channel, the path intercepts southern Madagascar where the central duration lasts just 2.5 minutes with a Sun altitude of 11°. The path ends two minutes later in the Indian Ocean. A small part of coastal Angola will be lucky enough to see two eclipses 18 months, with the second one occurring on the 4th December 2002.

NEW  MADAGASCAR- a natural paradise

Madagascar lies 250 miles off the coast of Africa. Separated from the Africa mainland for some 160 million years ago, the island has developed in its own ecological niche and today it is unique and extremelly diverse natural island. It is offten called lost world of the Indian Ocean offer excellent opportunity for naturalists and ecologists - an island sanctury for fauna and flora species found nowhere else on earth. About 80% of its plands, 40% of its birds and mammals, 90% of reptiles and amphibians occur nowhere else in the world.
Not just special fauna and flora but also fascinating culture of local tribes (18 totally) which centres around ancester worship. This is a fascinating island and one of only parts of world which few travelers visit. It gives you real feeling of the first travellers.

Days 1-3 Via Paris to Antananarivo, capital of Malagasy republic. Arrival to the capital late evening and accommodation in comfortable hotel in the centre. Sightseening around city and transfer to the south. Overnight in town of Antsirabe spa town.
Days 4-5 Ranomafana national park. Beautifull rain forest park established in 1990 to protect the newly discovered golden bamboo lemur. Pleasant climate, streams and varied habitats. Ranomafana protected mountain rainforest covers an area of 41000ha. Altitudes is between 800 -1200 m. The are dominated by the Namorona river. This is one of the most important mammal sites in Madagascar. You may see there golden bamboo, greater bamboo, grey bamboo, brown mouse lemurs. There are also here tenrecs and fosa. Night excursion will be arranged on second night.
Days 6-8 Isalo Massif. This upland desert features impressive rocks and special plants as for ex. Pachypodium. Isalo is quite unlike any other areas in Madagascar. Its appeal is the remarkable landscape of eroded sandstone formations. The sandstone has been eroded into strange shapes of impressive gorges and canyons. From animals you may seen for ex. ring-tailed lemurs, Verreaux´s sifaka, red-fronted brown lemur, Madagascar kestrel, Chameleons and beautifull frog discovered in 1992 Scaphiophryne gottlebei. The park covers over 81 000 ha of the Isalo Massif.
Days 9-11 Arrival to Tulear and transfer a few miles to the south. We will get to beautifull place called La Mangrove - site on coast near ANAKAO bay. The area is very flat and dominated species of Baobab is Adansonia rubrostipa. Mammals includes for ex. ring-lailed lemur, grey mouse lemur, tenrecs, Madagascar fruit bat, etc. Not far from there is fishermen village without impact of tourists. The place offer excellent opportunity for scuba diving. All equipment can be hired and intructor hold PADI certificate. Visit of botanical garden specialized in local flora and excursion to spiny forest are highlights of the area. Last day transfer to Tulear airport and flight to Tana.
Days 12-14 Transfer to Perinet or Andasibe reserve. This is definitelly best place for Indri lemurs and also for many reptiles and amphibians. Perinet is example of montaine rainforest. It covers an area of 810ha at altitudes between 930 to 1040 m. The most important lemur is Indri (the largest species of lemur) but you can also see brown lemur, grey bamboo, eastern woolly, brown mouse, greater dwarf lemurs. If lucky diademed sifaka and black and white ruffed lemurs in neighbouring national parks. Perinet is marked as one of the best place for reptils and amphibians - for ex. Parson´s chamelon, Calumma sp. , Uroplatus sp., Brookesia sp., Mantella sp., etc
Transfer back to Tana and international flight back to Paris.

There is also opportunity for extension to NOSY MANGABE SPECIAL RESERVE for another 3 days.