Miandrivazo to Morondava, Baobab Alley and night walk at Kirindy Reserve - Thursday the 31st of May Headed off from our hotel at 8 AM since had a fairly long drive today as well but was a beautiful morning and some nice scenery, which we all 3 enjoyed. After 2 hours the driver offered to stop in a small village by a local market so Heather and I went for a walk here which was really interesting. We were the only white people around and everyone was very curious to look at us and get a bit closer but most of them were also quite shy - so had to get there confidence before we could take some pictures. Some kids followed us around the whole way and in the end I tried to give one of the small boys my cap, which I wanted to get rid of anyway. However he was too shy to take it - but instead a little girl was quick and grabbed it - so she ended up getting it instead - clever girl.

Heather found a beautiful pink hat, which the driver helped her to buy - since it was hard to communicate - so now she has got the feminine look back. We stopped for lunch in the interesting village Morondava, which is also the place our driver lives. Morondava is also overlooking the Mozambique Channel and we had a beautiful lunch at the restaurant Bleu Soleil just by the beach, where we properly had the best lunch so far. I got some amazing prawns in a coconut/saffron sauce, Heather got some grilled prawns and Dan got a fish in tomato sauce - so we all had seafood now being just next to the sea. After lunch we had time for a walk on the beach to watch all the activity mainly by the fishermen and also to walk up a small road by the beach where we came across a really cool taxi and they had some stalls so I managed to buy my first souvenirs. Got picked up by our driver at 2.30 PM and we did a small stop at the harbour area where we saw the big export of peanuts to China being prepared by a lot of hard working women. Also did a brief stop by the house of our driver - so met his mum, wife and 2 of his 3 kids.

Our highlight of the day was our first view of the Baobab Alley, which we will pass again in 6 days for the sunset - so this time was a daylight visit. However it was really beautiful to see all these massive and very old Baobab trees - also known as the 'Roots of the Sky' or the upside down trees - since they look like they have been planted with the roots sticking out instead of the tree tops. Some of them were really massive and can be up to 1000 years old. Did a walk in the "alley" and were lucky that we only saw one other tourist - so was pretty empty at this point and easy to get some good pictures. Later on we also stopped by a Sacred Baobab tree, which was enormous and where you had to take your shoes off before walking up to the tree - since the locals use it for some religious beliefa. One example is that the women would bring rum and sacrifice a goat for the tree to ask for help with pregnancy.

Our destination of the day was the Kirindy Reserve where we would stay the night in the Kirindy Forest Lodge. For the first time we got 2 separate rooms - since they didn't have any triple room facilities - so I got my own little forest hut for the night. When we arrived at the lodge there were 2 wild fossas hanging around - so our first close up experience with them in the wild - but kept a fair distance since they can be quite aggressive and not a cat you want to fight with.

At 6 PM we were meeting our guide who took us on a 2 hours night walk 2 KMs from the lodge - so got our driver with us as well - who drove us all to the starting point. The forest is well known for quite a few nocturnal lemurs and our guide promised that we should see at least 3 species and he also kept this promise. The first one we saw was the Grey Mouse Lemur and it is really tiny - so very impressed that he found that one. The 2 other species I cannot remember what was called - but was a great night walk and the best one we have had so far.

We were once more the only guests at the Kirindy Forest Lodge - so were on our own when we got back in time for dinner. Had a few beers as well but the staff were quick to close up the bar and disappear (obviously not that interested in just serving 3 people) so just before 10 PM we ran out of beer. However we had also been told that the main electricity would be turned off at 10 PM, where the lights would switch to solar panel and you could no longer charge stuff - so pretty much time to escape to our huts. Just got back to my hut and was at the toilet when the guide came shouting for us that the Giant Jumping Rat - which is unique for this area and only comes out at night - was in the Parking lot - so I quickly got ready to go out and see this. However suddenly all the light went out and it was pitch black in my hut so obviously things were not switching to solar panel immediately. Had to blindly feel my way through the hut in search for my torch - but luckily found it - so I could run out and see this special animal. Got to the parking lot in time to see 2 of these rats. It basically looks like a huge mouse with big ears and then it jumps around like a rabbit - so the name 'Giant Jumping Rat' kind of makes sense. Unfortunately it was impossible to photograph since it moves really quickly and doesn't like the light from the torch - but was pleased to just see it. Heather and Dan didn't hear the guide shouting so unfortunately missed this. After the last animal experience of the day - I went back to the hut to write some diary before going to bed. Didn't get the best night of sleep since had a noisy animal outside my hut for an hour in the middle of the night - so kept me awake - but never found out what it was.