 The amazing wildlife of this mesmerizing island-continent is disappearing at a frightening rate, and such a tour will be one of very few remaining chances for butterfly enthusiasts to see the exceptional species that evolved here. The lepidoptera of Madagascar includes many species of almost unrivaled beauty, like the large day-flying Sunset moth Urania ripheus, marked with brilliant iridescent green, blue and red on a black background, with multiple tails; and the incredible Comet moth Argema mittrei - brilliant yellow with huge red ocelli, a 9" wingspan and 8" long red tails. Malagasy butterflies are generally larger, more vividly colored, and seem to have much more exaggerated wing shapes. The majority of the Malagasy "subspecies" can in fact be reclassified as genuine endemic species. The island is certainly famous for its lemurs, rare birds and plentiful reptiles and frogs (especially chameleons), of which you will also observe during the course of any tour.
Kirindy is an excellent location for butterflies, with an estimated 90 species, including the beautiful Acraeids A.igati and Pardopsis punctatissima, many attractive Precis/Junonia species and several beautiful Colotis Orange-tips and Purple-tips and this area is considered to be very under-recorded. Kirindy is perhaps best recognized for its extraordinary flora, which includes three of the six endemic baobab species. It is the best place for viewing night wildlife.
At the famous Perinet rainforest reserve you may explore the marshy places at Ampasipotsy and Torotorofotsy, the Maromizaha rainforest, the fantastic primary rainforest of Mantadia national park as well. It is Madagascar's richest area for butterflies, with 180 species recorded, such as the very attractive Charaxes zoolina, the stunning yellow and black Graphium cyrnus, the shimmering blue-banded Papilio mangoura, several charming Heteropsis species (Satyrids with strangely pointed wings), the gorgeous Aterica rabena (black marked with white on the forewings, and gorgeous red hindwings), the stunningly pretty Map butterfly Cyrestis elegans, and several lovely long-tailed Lycaenids, Iolaus and Hypolycaena.
At Ranomafana, and the adjacent Vohiparara, you will experience another outstanding butterfly locality, with at least 135 butterflies including the stunning Acraea hova, 3 Saribia species (long-tailed Riodiniids), the spectacular scalloped Hypolimnas dexithea, 2 extremely pretty Graphium species evombar and endochus, a lovely white Satyrid Masoura ankoma, and many stunning Nymphalids in addition to the fabulous mauve Salamis anteva, and several Charaxes species, among which are Charaxes analava with its fascinating cryptic underside, and the enormous Charaxes andranodorus, which has surely the most beautiful underside of any butterfly in the world. There are also more than 100 birds, a plethora of marvelous frogs and 12 lemur species.
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