Lodge de La Saline

Western Madagascar is a melee of seemingly incompatible elements: primary forests and mangroves, vast salt fields, Dr Seuss-like baobabs, and impossible-to-walk-on tsingy limestone formations. It's surreal and perplexing, and totally irresistible. Lodge de la Saline, en route between the beachside town of Morondava and the tsingy, is a fabulous stopover in an interesting setting. Constructed principally from local and recycled materials, with its own organic garden coming on nicely, the lodge strives to keep a small footprint. It also has an especially fruitful relationship with the local community, providing employment and healthcare to largely isolated villagers.