December 28: Ranomafana NP

We were up early ready for our 7 am start with Emile our guide and his off sider the spotter.  We were on foot and crossed a set of rapids on a rickety foot bridge. Climbing upwards we saw many wonderful endemic species including 7 types of  lemur (including the rare Golden Bamboo and Greater Bamboo lemur) ,3 types of tree frogs and the amazingly camouflaged Satanic faced leaf tailed gecko - only some 2cms long and disguised as a dead leaf!!

Nikki discovered how hardy bamboo is after bashing he head into it as she fell down on a mud patch. 

A highlight of the day was watching a group of ten hybrid lemurs play in the trees and commune with us. One  even climbed down to look at his own photo! 

These little fellows are so playful, family oriented and sociable - focused on jumping from branch to branch to get the next juicy piece of fruit. Their little faces a cross between a monkey and a cat with those big eyes!

We must have climbed and descended some 12 odd kilometres in that visit rewarded with a sighting of a pair of red vontsiras at the end.