Day 1 – Departure

Today you will start your adventure, you will fly to Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital city.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 2 – Arrival in Antananarivo

‘’Manao ahoana’’ & ‘’Salama’’ Welcome to tropical paradise. You will be welcomed & greeted by your guide or representative on arrival Antananarivo Ivato International Airport. You will travel to your hotel. Travel time approximately 10 minutes depend on the road traffic.

Superior

Madagascar • Antananarivo & the Central Highlands

San Cristobal

otel San Cristobal is a unique and outstanding international standard hotel complex located in a quiet,...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 3: Antananarivo to Morondava

Today in the morning you will be transferred to airport for your flight to Morondava. You will fly from Antananarivo to Morondava.  Your flight time will be approximately 80 minutes.  Upon arrival you will travel to Kirindy Reserve.

The west of Madagascar is known for its dry climate and deciduous forests as well as natural wonders. Morondava was the centre of the once powerful Sakalava Kingdom and today is a thriving rice growing area.

Kirindy is situated 50 kilometres northeast of the town of Morondava, it is a privately managed forest by a Swiss NGO dedicated to selective and sustainable logging (Centre de Formation Professionelle Forestière).

At Kirindy Reserve you will take a walk to spot the nocturnal wildlife around 6pm as it offers the best wildlife spotting experience including Giant jumping rat, lemurs, chameleons and Fossa. You will be back for dinner around 8pm.

Location: – Kirindy           Hotel: Relais du Kirindy

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 4: Kirindy to Tsingy

Today you will do a day walk in Kirindy. Kirindy comprises of one of the most outstanding and threatened wildlife habitats in Madagascar: the dry deciduous forest, whose extension has been reduced to 3 percent of their original extent. Dominated by majestic baobab trees and a forest canopy of 14 m altitude, this protected area of approximately 100 square kilometres is the only place where the world’s smallest known primate, the giant jumping rat, occurs. This animal can hop like a miniature kangaroo but is also seen walking on all four limbs.

Kirindy is the best place in Madagascar to observe Fossas, especially during the mating time between October and December. It is also home to seven species of lemur. The most common are the common brown lemurs and the Verreaux’s sifakas. The remaining species are nocturnal: the rare Coquerel’s giant mouse lemur and pygmy mouse-lemur, fork-crowned lemur, Gray mouse lemur, western fat-tailed dwarf lemur and red-tailed sportive lemur. Several bats, tenrecs, mongooses and rodents complete the mammal population. 40 birds, 50 reptile and 15 amphibian species are also found in this magnificent forest.

You will then travel to Bekopaka and en route you will try the best Malagasy food in Belo’s “Mad Zebu” Restaurant. Your total travel time to Bekopaka will be approximately 6 hours.

Location: – Tsingy          Hotel: Soleil du Tsingy

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 5: Tsingy

After an early breakfast you will be exploring the Tsingy Bemaraha National Park or Grand Tsingy. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  This is one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the world. An extensive area of limestone massif has been eroded into impressive karst pinnacles. This geological wonder is a monument of karst limestone that comprises karstic landscapes and limestone uplands cut into impressive ‘tsingy’ peaks and a ‘forest’ of limestone needles, the spectacular canyon of the Manambolo River, rolling hills and high peaks. The undisturbed forests, lakes and mangrove swamps are the habitat for rare and endangered lemurs.

You can trek the soft circuit with your guide. Tsingy Bemaraha is a treasure trove for nature lovers with a high rate of endemism and diversity. The scientists estimate that the general endemism of this park is 86.7% and the ecoregional one is 47%. 11 species of lemurs can be found here including Deken’s Shifakas, red-fronted brown lemur, Cleese’s woolly lemur and more.  Five families of bats and 103 species of birds can be spotted.  The index of the reptiles and amphibians is as large, as Bemaraha possesses 34 species that are all endemic. These are just a first taste of what can be discovered on this unique island.

Location: – Tsingy              Hotel: Soleil du Tsingy

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 6: Bekopaka to Morondava

Early in the morning you will take a pirogue trip on the Manambolo River gorge. This river marks the entry way to the Tsingy. Crossing of the Manambolo River by dugout canoe showcases an array of landscapes, gorges and canyons. You will visit the caves where you can look out for the fish eagles, waterfowl, Humblot’s herons and purple herons.

After breakfast you will travel to Belo en route to Morondava’s  “Alley of Baobabs or Avenue of the Baobabs’’. We will have lunch in Belo and continue our journey to the avenue of Baobabs. Travel time will be approximately 8 hours.

“Alley of Baobabs or Avenue of the Baobabs’’ is one of the Madagascar’s picture post card images. Baobabs (Grandidiers) are usually solitary trees, standing tall and proud in the midst of empty spaces. Yet in Baobab Alley, they cluster together forming an avenue of columns that border the dirty road. The Baobabs are tall trees with its massive trucks, crooked branches and furry fruit. Baobabs have adapted to the dry and hostile environment. The secret of the baobab’s success in surviving in harsh environments and the reason for its massive trunk is that it has little wood fibre but a large water storage capacity. Each tree can hold up to 300 litres of water, enabling it to live through long periods without rain. The life-cycle of these unique natural oddities is as impressive as their bulk – most live over 500 years.

We will stop to see the sunset at the Avenue of the Baobabs.

Location: – Morondava             Hotel: Cote Palisandre

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 7: Morondava

An early start today as you are off to see the sunrise from Avenue of the Baobabs, a breathtaking sight!

Afterwards, you will have the rest of the day at leisure.

Location: – Morondava             Hotel: Cote Palisandre

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 8: Morondava  to Antananarivo to Andasibe

Today after a leisurely breakfast we head back by boat to Maroantsetra to catch your flight to Antananarivo.

Upon arrival in Tana you will be welcomed and transfer to your hotel in Andasibe.

In the evening around 6pm you will be guided through the Analamazaotra Park on a Night Walk to spot the nocturnal animals including ‘Goodman Mouse lemur’. Experience the rainforest after dark where nocturnal lemurs, chameleons, geckos, frogs and fireflies come alive. The night walk can take 1½ – 2 hours.

Location: – Andasibe             Hotel:  Mantadia Lodge

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 9 & 10 Andasibe

Both days you will enjoy day walk and night walk.

After breakfast you will visit the Analamazaotra Special Reserve (Périnet) in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. The park is one of Madagascar’s most popular birding spots. This mid-altitude forest site is home to more than 110 bird species including many endemics. Madagascar Grebes breed on the lake of the reserve and can be seen throughout the year. It is an excellent spot for endemics such as Madagascar Crested Ibis, Blue Coua, Velvet Asity and Tylas.

At Andasibe National Park you may spot and hear the sounds of the Indri Lemurs. The Indri is the largest living lemur and known as babakotos in the local Malagasy language, which means ‘man of the forest’ or ‘little father’ and unlike other lemurs, they only have a short stumpy tail. Indri’s produce loud territorial calls that can be heard from over one kilometre away as you enter the park.

You will be walking through beautiful waterfalls and landscape that will lead you towards a natural swimming pool with a cascading waterfall. Bathing is allowed so bring your swimsuits. Along the track there is an exceptional rainforest ambiance where you can generally hear the screams of the Indri and see some beautiful orchids. There many circuits to choose from depending on your fitness level. The easiest trekking with well paved paths can take from 2-3 hours with a distance of up to 3 kilometres.

Location: – Andasibe             Hotel:  Mantadia Lodge

Mid-range

Madagascar • Saint Marie & the East

Mantadia Lodge

Mantadia Lodge is located in the hills of Andasibe offering a stunning panoramic view of the...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 11:  Andasibe to Antananarivo

In the morning you will short walk in Andasibe afterwards you will travel to capital Tana. Travel time 3 hours.

In the evening, witness the best sunset with Sundowner drinks. It is the best place to say “cheers” to a great trip around Madagascar with a glass of wine, a beautiful view of Antananarivo and to look back at the great memories you have made.

Location: – Antananarivo                  Hotel: San Cristobal

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 12: Antananarivo – Maroantsetra to Masoala Forest 

Today you will be transferred to Tana Airport for flight to Maroantsetra. Upon arrival you will be welcomed and transferred to jetty.

Road transfer to the harbour and boat across Antongil Bay to Masoala Forest. Travel time about 90 minutes. On arrival at the lodge beach, you are welcomed ashore by the lodge manager and settle into camp.

Next 4 nights you will spend in the lodge.

During you day here you will enjoy a daily visit to the park included as well as night walks. Also one of the days you will enjoy a visit to local village and Vanilla Workshop.

Location: – Masoala         Hotel: Dounia Forest 

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Days 13,14 – 15: Masoala Forest 

Today you will discover Masoala National Park with your guide.

Masoala national Park  is located on the north-eastern part of Madagascar. The national park encompasses an area of 888 square miles (2,300 sq km) creating the largest national park in the country.  There is an additional 38.6 square miles (100 sq km) of protected marine waters which are also part of the national park.

The term “masoala” translates locally to mean “eyes of the forest.”  The name is derived from the aye-aye whose eyes glow like bright candles in the dark of the night.  Some would describe the piercing eyes as creepy as they look out from the dense jungle.

The tropical rainforest serves as the heart of the national park which also includes protected coastal forest, flooded forest, mangrove, and marsh.  The ocean waters protect a series of coral reefs and spectacular aquatic wildlife.  The collective forests create one of the most pristine natural settings throughout the country.

The diversity of flora and fauna includes over 15 species of species of lemur which is one of the things Madagascar is famous for.  The red-ruffed lemur and the aye-aye are two of the more intriguing species that visitors love to experience if they get the chance.

A variety of geckos, chameleons, frogs and other reptiles and amphibians thrive in this tropical paradise.  There are 60 species of reptiles, 44 species of frogs, 50 species of mammals, and 135 species of butterflies.  The varied coastal, rainforest, and other terrains create habitats for an abundance of bird species as well.  It is a popular destination for bird-watching with around 90 species of tropical birds.

Off the coast, humpback whales can be found breeding and calving between the months of July and the first part of September.  Along with the whales, visitors can hope to see dolphins, sea turtles, and sea cows swimming around the over 100 species of corals of the reef.

Location: – Masoala         Hotel: Dounia Forest 

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 16: Maroantsetra to Antananarivo

In the morning you be transferred to Maroantsetra Airport. You will fly to capital Tana.

Antananarivo ‘City of Thousand Warriors‘ is the capital situated 1500 metres above sea level with a pleasant cool climate. It is known as ‘Tana’ by locals and it offers rich cultural and historical sites of the Merina people. After lunch you will explore the city in the upper town (“La Haute ville”), where you can find Palaces (the Queen’s Palace, the ancient Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony Palace and the ancient Justice Palace), cathedrals and the residential area of (mostly) ancient noblemen families. From here, visitors enjoy a pleasant perspective of the city below far away from the bustling downtown.  This is a great place to purchase last-minute souvenirs.

In the evening, witness the best sunset with Sundowner drinks. It is the best place to say “cheers” to a great trip around Madagascar with a glass of wine, a beautiful view of Antananarivo and to look back at the great memories you have made.

Rest of the day at leisure.  At  Hotel: San Cristobal

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast