Daniel Austin's fascination with Madagascar began long before he managed to muster the funds to go and see the island first hand, on what he planned to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip before submitting to the inevitability of getting a `proper job'. The trip changed the course of his life and he has returned every year for nearly two decades since, often for three months at a time. Now occupied full time with all things Malagasy, he leads small-group tours to the island (w danielaustin.co.uk), gives occasional lectures on Madagascar, is secretary of the London-based Anglo-Malagasy Society (page 138), founded the Madagascar Library (w madagascar-library.com) and co-authored other books about the island including Bradt's Madagascar Wildlife.
Hilary Bradt's career as an occupational therapist ended when potential employers noticed that the time taken off for travel exceeded the periods of employment. With her former husband George, she self-published her first guidebook in 1974 during an extended journey through South America. While building up Bradt Travel Guides during the next few decades she supplemented her income by leading tours to South America and Madagascar as well as writing and lecturing on travel.
She received an MBE in 2008 and other awards have followed, but nothing compares with walking out of the presidential palace in Antananarivo under the upraised swords of a guard of honour (see box, below) ! LOCAL CONTRIBUTOR Based in Antananarivo, Ony Rakotoarivelo has been a major contributor to this guide since the seventh edition in 2001. In addition to this and working with the Malagasy children's charity Ankizy Gasy, she is an independent travel consultant helping anglophone tourists to plan their trips to Madagascar and occasionally guiding them herself.
You can find her contact details on page 176.
