Tana Zoo

One day we went to the Zoo (Parc Zoologique Tsibazaza). We took a real taxi to get there as it is faster and easier to find. Taxis are funny… first thing the driver does is go to a service station and get a top-up which is only just enough to get you wherever you need to go. They are pretty crappy and you always think they are going to fall apart in the next second. You are also well advised not to smoke in it as they usually have a leaking bottle of petrol laying around in the front of the car for in case they misgauged. Whenever they go downhill they simply turn the motor off. I think Malagasy people would die if they didn't have a horn as they are constantly tooting it, which makes a trip in the car very noisy. They also drive like crazy, pushing in everywhere, overtaking in turns is their favorite and if there is a lot of cars standing in their lane they also go to the opposite one no matter if there are cars coming. Once our driver went fast into a turn and another guy sitting in the front nearly fell out as the doors aren't always shutting properly. I lost a few years of my lifetime in a taxi I believe. The Zoo was pretty nice, very nice setup with lots of plants. At first I was a little disappointed as the first animals we saw were average goats and I thought… well now that seems like an adventure ^^. The first reptile I found was actually a dead chameleon… my mood really dropped by then. BUT when we got to the botanical garden section we found a wild chameleon, I was thrilled to find one in the middle of the city. Of course I took heaps of pictures seeing it was my first chameleon in Madagascar… not that I took less photos of the followings ones, but it sounds like a good excuse ^^. Generally the Zoo (as expected) has too small enclosures, but at least they are clean and well looked after. The main reason why I came to the Zoo was the nighthouse. They had nocturnal lemurs there and the absolute highlight for me were the two Aye-Ayes !!! Of course it is sad to see them in captivity, but it was still good to actually see them in real. Luckily I had my nightvision with me and was able to watch them very well. I enjoyed it big times. I wish that the Zoo would put a little more effort into getting bigger enclosures, but I am still quite positively surprised. I also visited the land tortoises and gave them a good pet in memory of Harriet. They enjoyed it a lot and I guess they never really had anyone pet them before. I also managed to take a photo of a beautiful butterfly that you find everywhere in Madagascar.