Glossary

These are words frequently used throughout the journal and in some pictures.

4x4
Short term for a four wheel drive jeep (pronounce "quatre-quatre", "cut-cut" in English).
Baobab
A typical Malagasy tree which looks like it was turned upside down with the roots pointing up.
Djembe
An African type of hand drum. Not very typical for Madagascar, actually.
Famadihana
A big and important Malagasy celebration in which the deceased are moved from one tomb to another.
Lemur
The cutest monkeys in the world, only exist in Madagascar and in zoos.
Pirogue
A canoe-like means of transportation, made out of a big log. Very shaky and scary on rivers with crocodiles.
R4
Renault 4: The most common type of taxi in Madagascar.
Sisal
A plant used to make strings. Has somewhat lost its importance with the popularity of plastic strings.
Taxi-brousse
The "bush taxi", usually taken to travel long distances. There are many types, from the widespread Renault 504 to huge trucks.
Tsingy
Interesting rock formations found in some reserves in Madagascar.
Vazaha
The Malagasy word for "white man". Probably the most frequently heard word by tourists.
Zebu
The Malagasy cattle, hump-backed, providing very little milk and meat but almost outnumbering the Malagasy population. Near-sacred to the Malagasy and generally only eaten at ceremonies.