Cockroaches and spiders live on the bat droppings
Ankarana National Reserve, near Antsiranana, northern Madagascar.
Ankarana Special Reserve is a protected area in northern Madagascar created in 1956. It is a small, partially vegetated plateau composed of 150-million-year-old middle Jurassic limestone. With an average annual rainfall of about 2,000 millimetres (79 in), the underlying rocks have been eroded to produce caves and feed subterranean rivers - a karst topography. The rugged relief and the dense vegetation have helped protect the region from human intrusion and exploitation.
Beginning in the 1960s, expatriate Frenchman Jean Duflos undertook a huge amount of exploration of the cave systems and subterranean rivers of the massif, much of it on his own or with visiting speleologists. Around 100 kilometres (62 miles) of cave passages within the massif have been mapped. La Grotte d'Andrafiabe, one of the most accessible caves, comprises at least 8 kilometres (5 miles) of horizontal passages. Indeed, the massif contains the longest cave systems in Madagascar, and probably in the whole of Africa.
This large underground network of caves and rivers is a home to 14 species of bats, as well as giant eels, endemic blind shrimps and crocodiles. Rock spires and dropping water contribute to the atmosphere.
The cave walls were covered in spiders - very big spiders - some with really strange webs and dangling cocoons.
Centuries ago in the course of the war between local Ankarana tribe and Merina tribe kings used to hide in the caves and some possibly died there. Locals strongly believe that their spirits still hover somewhere in the caves so loud noises are banned. Even menstruating women are not permitted to enter, according to the local fady or taboo. Our guide turned off his torch for a few minutes to allow us to feel the spirits ... it was a very powerful moment. We were also aware that there could be creatures that we could not see.
Cockroaches and spiders live on the bat droppings
Ankarana National Reserve, near Antsiranana, northern Madagascar.
Ankarana Special Reserve is a protected area in northern Madagascar created in 1956. It is a small, partially vegetated plateau composed of 150-million-year-old middle Jurassic limestone. With an average annual rainfall of about 2,000 millimetres (79 in), the underlying rocks have been eroded to produce caves and feed subterranean rivers - a karst topography. The rugged relief and the dense vegetation have helped protect the region from human intrusion and exploitation.
Beginning in the 1960s, expatriate Frenchman Jean Duflos undertook a huge amount of exploration of the cave systems and subterranean rivers of the massif, much of it on his own or with visiting speleologists. Around 100 kilometres (62 miles) of cave passages within the massif have been mapped. La Grotte d'Andrafiabe, one of the most accessible caves, comprises at least 8 kilometres (5 miles) of horizontal passages. Indeed, the massif contains the longest cave systems in Madagascar, and probably in the whole of Africa.
This large underground network of caves and rivers is a home to 14 species of bats, as well as giant eels, endemic blind shrimps and crocodiles. Rock spires and dropping water contribute to the atmosphere.
The cave walls were covered in spiders - very big spiders - some with really strange webs and dangling cocoons.
Centuries ago in the course of the war between local Ankarana tribe and Merina tribe kings used to hide in the caves and some possibly died there. Locals strongly believe that their spirits still hover somewhere in the caves so loud noises are banned. Even menstruating women are not permitted to enter, according to the local fady or taboo. Our guide turned off his torch for a few minutes to allow us to feel the spirits ... it was a very powerful moment. We were also aware that there could be creatures that we could not see.