Giant jumping rat at Kirindy Forest
Kirindy Forest's dry deciduous woodland, with its tangle of baobabs and thorny scrub, is one of the best places in western Madagascar to find the giant jumping rat, a nocturnal specialist that shares this Menabe habitat with fossa, narrow-striped mongoose and red-fronted brown lemur. Photographing this elusive rodent demands patience after dark, when the reserve's arid understorey comes alive with activity. Travellers joining the Madagascar Wildlife & Rainforest holiday typically visit in November, giving photographers a genuine chance to capture this rarely-seen species on camera. A slow shutter approach and a good spotlight are essential companions for a productive night in Kirindy.
