Madagascar

The world's fourth-largest island drifted away from Africa 160 million years ago — 90% of its wildlife exists nowhere else. The Avenue of the Baobabs near Morondava, lemur-packed Andasibe-Mantadia rainforest, the jagged limestone tsingy at Bemaraha (UNESCO), and Nosy Be beaches off the northwest coast. Road network is sparse and slow — internal flights via Madagascar Airlines save days. Antananarivo (Tana) is the highland capital and transit hub. Best visited April-November (dry season).