Last week I introduced Stuart who is spending a year traveling through Africa. We had last heard from him in Botswana trying to avoid grumpy hippos. He's arrived in Madagascar and had a wet week; apparently it rains a lot in Madagascar this time of year.

Tuesday, June 27: "I hired a push bike for the day, from the staff in the hotel and rode north for 20km's through the pouring rain. The road was full of holes and mud. I rode all the way to La Crique ... As I was waiting for my snack to be delivered a group of whales passed right in front of where I was sitting!"

Tuesday June 28th: "I arrived at the small mainland port of Soamuerana-Ivango. From there I caught a bush taxi to Toamasina, also known as Tomatave. The taxi was a small minibus, with a door that was hanging off. The seats were far too close together, so I had no leg room, and they put far too many people in it..."

You can get more details by reading Stu's blog and following his travels through Ambodifotatra, Fianarantsoa and Manakara.