In the middle of the afternoon, we met up at the hotel to head out for a guided walk in the Reniala Reserve, a nearby dry thorn forest. After the rainforests and greener landscapes of the previous days, this was another very different side of Madagascar’s natural environment.

The south-western spiny forest is a rather unusual ecosystem, shaped by a hot and dry climate with very limited rainfall. Its plants have developed all sorts of adaptations to survive: small or seasonal leaves to reduce water loss, sharp spines for protection against browsing animals, and, in some species, thick stems and branches capable of storing water. Some of the characteristic plants look almost like cacti, although they belong to different families of plant, some of which only found in Madagascar.

This turned out to be a particularly enjoyable nature walk. Unlike some of our previous excursions, where the focus was usually on spotting fast-moving animals high up in the trees or somewhere in the distance, here there was just as much to discover among the plants. Our guide provided plenty of interesting explanations, helping us appreciate the peculiar shapes and survival strategies of the vegetation around us.

And we were lucky with the wildlife, too. We came across several chameleons and geckos, spotted a sifaka and various birds – and even managed to find a few scorpions.

A knowledgeable guide, an unusual ecosystem and more wildlife than I had expected. Definitely a different side of Madagascar.