Africa’s high peaks are silent guardians of the landscape. So, too, on Madagascar. Separated from the mainland more than 90 million years ago, the island’s diverse flora and fauna, including endemic aloe vera species, are endangered by slash-and-burn methods. But there is hope, as sustainable tourism aims to combat poverty and large-scale reforestation is taking place. With her attempt to scale the Tsaranoro massif, ice climber Ines Papert shows us the beauty of this unique landscape. NGOs, meanwhile, are working to protect the primary forest and its wildlife.