Accommodation

In Madagascar, we spend 13 nights in hotels, each well located for our activities and in beautiful settings. The daily itinerary has the accommodations normally used; below are a few example properties. Antsirabe: Les Chambres du Voyageur (night 4) In Antsirabe, we stay at this husband and wife-owned hotel. They exhibit arts and crafts from the Zafimaniry ethnic group and there is a beautiful garden home to many endemic plants. Ranomafana: Centrest Hotel (nights 5-6) The Centrest Hotel is 10 minutes from the entrance to Ranomafana National Park and has enviable views of the park’s mountains and rainforest. The 18 spacious rooms are among the delightful gardens and there is an open-air restaurant and a bar to enjoy. Anakao: Prince Anakao (nights 10-12) On a secluded beach, Prince Anakao offers privacy at the end of a thorough tour of Madagascar. Rooms are spacious and have uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean. There are a number of water sports that can be booked if you don’t feel like relaxing on the white-sand beach, plus the hotel restaurant serves freshly caught seafood and traditional Malagasy dishes.

Others

All listed activities

Meals

Food standards in Madagascar can vary and are probably not of the same standard you are used to at home. The cuisine has been strongly influenced by the French and a three-course meal should cost 43,000-70,000 ariary (US$10-US$16). A one-course lunch should cost (US$4.40-US$7.60). Please allow approximately 1.4m ariary (US$325) for the meals not included, plus a little more if you enjoy a drink with dinner. Malagasy lager is reasonably priced and easily available. Malagasy wine is also reasonably priced but is not to everyone’s taste. It is sometimes possible to get hold of French or South African wine. A delicacy in Madagascar is flavoured rums, which are widely sold and very reasonably priced. Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this trip – please inform us before departure of any dietary requests so our local team can be well prepared.

Guide

Tour leader throughout

Not included:

Others

— Travel insurance — Single accommodation (available on request) — Visas or vaccinations — Flights

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Insurance

Insurance is not included

Flights

Flights are not included

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Day 1 Day 1: Start Antananarivo (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Start Antananarivo (Breakfast)

Our adventure starts in Antananarivo, the picturesque capital of Madagascar, which is often shortened to Tana. There will be a group meeting and briefing in the evening followed by an optional group dinner for those who would like to join. Accommodation: Hotel Belvedere (or similar)
Day 2 Day 2: Antananarivo City Tour; Drive To Andasibe (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Antananarivo City Tour; Drive To Andasibe (Breakfast)

This morning, we embark on a city tour of the capital. With busy markets, friendly people and an ancient town on a hill with freestone churches and ancient royal places, it is a magnificent place to explore. We then drive to Andasibe through the green vegetation of the east. This first stop brings us to the humid part of the country with many primary forests and lakes. Along the way, we see Merina villages in the rocky mountains. We arrive in Andasibe around 4pm and the rest of the afternoon is free to relax. In the early evening, we take a twilight/nocturnal walk along the road, close to the Andasibe Nature Reserve, looking for the nocturnal species of lemur as the torchlights pass their eyes. Accommodation: Hotel Feon’ny Ala (or similar)
Day 3 Day 3: Morning Trek In Andasibe National Park And Afternoon Visit To Vondron’Olona Miaro Mitia Ala Reserve (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Morning Trek In Andasibe National Park And Afternoon Visit To Vondron’Olona Miaro Mitia Ala Reserve (Breakfast)

Discover Andasibe National Park (also known as Perinet) and its wildlife on a four-hour walk. Expert trackers work with our leader to provide the best opportunities for wildlife viewing. The park is home to the teddy bear-like indri, the largest of the lemur species in Madagascar, as well as other flora and fauna and a wide array of birdlife. Listening to the piercing yet melancholy cry of the indri in the morning is an evocative sound and for those who are prepared to follow them through the thick rainforest, the reward is often a close-up view of these beautiful creatures. A group of five diademed sifaka has recently been reintroduced to Andasibe from Mantadia; if we are lucky, we may spot one of these unusual creatures. In the afternoon, we visit the Vondron’olona Miaro Mitia Ala Reserve, a community-run reserve where we can see several species of lemurs and birds. The reserve is an untouched paradise for endemic animals and plants. There are groups of indris, which we hope to see in their natural habitat, and their white-headed relatives, the diademed sifakas, jump between the treetops. For reptiles and amphibian lovers, the reserve is home to countless frogs along the crystal-clear river and several amazing chameleons live in the forest. Accommodation: Hotel Feon’ny Ala (or similar)
Day 4 Day 4: Return To Antananarivo; Continue To Antsirabe (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Return To Antananarivo; Continue To Antsirabe (Breakfast)

We drive back to Tana, and head south to Antsirabe, across the highland landscape of beautiful rice fields. The spectacular eroded hills called lavaka remind us of the Far East with rice fields and a green landscape or vegetables and fruit trees. Antsirabe, or the Place of Salt, is a city known as the centre of the beer industry. Founded by Norwegians in 1856, it is the only place in Madagascar that really feels and looks like a European city. It has a temperate climate and all fruits and vegetable that grow in cold climates are found here. Accommodation: Les Chambres du Voyageur (or similar)
Day 5 Day 5: To Ranomafana (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: To Ranomafana (Breakfast)

After breakfast, we drive for approximately 12 hours to Ambositra, the centre of the wood-carving industry in Madagascar. We are still in the highlands, where the houses are decorated with ornately carved wooden balconies and brightly coloured shutters. Further on we pass le col de tapia, a type of tree resistant to the bush fires of the area. The landscape is still dominated by rice fields, pine forests and eucalyptus trees, and rocky mountains. Our destination for the day: Ranomafana National Park. Accommodation: Centrest Hotel (or similar)
Day 6 Day 6: Full Day In Ranomafana National Park (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Full Day In Ranomafana National Park (Breakfast)

Parc National de Ranomafana, with rainforest hills and abundant wildlife, has long been considered one of the highlights in Madagascar, and is one of the most heavily visited national parks here. The entrance is about 4mi (7km) from Ranomafana village, while altitudes in the park range from 2,625ft to 3,940ft (800m to 1,200m). In addition to densely forested hills, the terrain here is characterised by numerous small streams, which plummet down to the beautiful Namorona River. Although much of the region has been logged, the easternmost part of the park retains relatively large areas of primary forest. We walk in the park for approximately five hours looking for lemurs, chameleons and other animals. As we track the wildlife for the best viewing opportunities, the walk has the potential to be challenging if we need to walk at a quick pace through the forest. We hope to see golden bamboo lemurs, which are unique to this park, plus other lemurs such as eastern woolly lemurs, red-bellied lemurs, grey bamboo lemurs, and red-fronted brown lemurs. This park is also home to other mammals including tenrecs, bats and carnivores such as mongooses and the Malagasy striped civets. Accommodation: Centrest Hotel (or similar)
Day 7 Day 7: Drive To Ranohira, Visiting Anja National Park En Route (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Drive To Ranohira, Visiting Anja National Park En Route (Breakfast)

We have an early start as we leave Ranomafana National Park. The scenery changes dramatically as we head to the small town of Ranohira, a journey of approximately nine hours. We stop near Ambalavao to visit Anja National Park along the way, a small reserve where several families of ring-tailed lemurs can be seen among the vegetation. Accommodation: Orchidee de l’Isalo (or similar)
Day 8 Day 8: Full-Day Trek In Isalo National Park Visiting Monkey Canyon And Natural Swimming Pools (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Full-Day Trek In Isalo National Park Visiting Monkey Canyon And Natural Swimming Pools (Breakfast)

After an early start, we spend our day exploring Isalo National Park, a vast region of wind-polished and water-scoured rock towers, deep canyons, gorges and oases often described as Eden. If the conditions are right, we walk in the magnificent Canyon des Makis in search of cheeky ring-tailed lemurs and the Verreaux’s sifaka. We also visit the Piscine Naturelle (Natural Swimming Pool), a beautifully lush spot in such an arid landscape where we can swim and relax. The combination of coloured rock formations, strange plants and enveloping silence make this one of the most captivating places in Madagascar. Accommodation: Orchidee de l’Isalo (or similar)
Day 9 Day 9: To Tulear, Visiting Zombitse National Park En Route (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: To Tulear, Visiting Zombitse National Park En Route (Breakfast)

After breakfast, we continue to Tulear. This brings us new scenery, among the dry forests of the west and the spiny desert of the south. On the way, admire the different Mahafaly tombs and the Antandroy tombs from the road and visit Zombitse National Park for a few hours. The Zombitse National Park forest is of particular interest to birdwatchers, as it is home to one of Madagascar’s rarest endemics, Appert’s greenbul, as well as other species such as giant coua, crested ibis and cuckoo roller. Verreaux’s sifakas, red-fronted brown lemurs and sportive lemurs are also seen here. Accommodation: Hotel Victory (or similar)
Day 10 Day 10: Boat Transfer To Anakao; Free Day For Optional Activities (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Boat Transfer To Anakao; Free Day For Optional Activities (Breakfast)

This morning, we take a boat transfer to Anakao arriving at around 9am. This Vezo (meaning the people who fish) fishing village lies on the southwest coast of Madagascar and has white-sand beaches. The rest of the day is free for optional activities, including snorkelling, diving, pirogue (a small boat similar to a canoe) excursions, swimming and more. Accommodation: : Prince Anakao (or similar)
Day 11 Day 11: Full Day In Tsimanampetsotsa National Park (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Full Day In Tsimanampetsotsa National Park (Breakfast)

An early 4x4 transfer (approximately two hours) takes us to Tsimanampetsotsa for a full day in the national park. A large, shallow soda lake is the standout feature here, while a large limestone plateau has some of the most striking spiny forest vegetation in Madagascar with countless endemic species. The park sits on a large underground aquifer that runs north, evidenced by numerous sinkholes and caves. The lake is renowned for its waterfowl, notably flamingos and other rare endemic birds including the Madagascar plover. We may even be lucky and spot the emblem of the park, the very rare Grandidier’s mongoose. In the late afternoon, we return to Anakao. Accommodation: : Prince Anakao (or similar)
Day 12 Day 12: Excursion To Nosy Ve To See Red-Tailed Tropic Birds Nesting On This Small Island (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Excursion To Nosy Ve To See Red-Tailed Tropic Birds Nesting On This Small Island (Breakfast)

Today, we take a boat excursion to the small island of Nosy Ve to see red-tailed tropic birds (white seabirds with red bills and long, thin, red tails). If we are lucky, we may see the females roosting under small shrubs, well hidden from airborne predators such as hawks or eagles. A stroll around the shoreline, including a long white-sand beach, takes about one hour. After our exploration, we return to Anakao, usually around lunchtime. The rest of the afternoon is free for optional activities. Accommodation: : Prince Anakao (or similar)
Day 13 Day 13: Fly To Antananarivo (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Fly To Antananarivo (Breakfast)

Today, we transfer to Tulear airport for our flight to Antananarivo. Depending on the flight schedule, you may have free time in the afternoon to explore Tana on your own. Accommodation: Belvedere Hotel (or similar)
Day 14 Day 14: Visit To Ambohimanga; End Antananarivo (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Visit To Ambohimanga; End Antananarivo (Breakfast)

This morning we visit Ambohimanga, the fortified village and its royal palace. Ambohimanga, otherwise known as Blue Hills, was for a long time forbidden to Europeans. The kings and queens returned to this hilltop village for rest and relaxation. From here began the line of kings and queens who united Madagascar into one country. Ambohimanga remains spiritually significant for the Malagasy people with ceremonies and rituals still taking place. Our adventure ends after Ambohimanga. Please note: Clients must not book flights leaving before 2.30pm.

+11

14 days tour

Highlights Of Madagascar

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Highlights Of Madagascar

Day 1: Start Antananarivo (Breakfast)

Day 2: Antananarivo City Tour; Drive To Andasibe (Breakfast)

Day 3: Morning Trek In Andasibe National Park And Afternoon Visit To Vondron’Olona Miaro Mitia Ala Reserve (Breakfast)

Day 4: Return To Antananarivo; Continue To Antsirabe (Breakfast)

Day 5: To Ranomafana (Breakfast)

Day 6: Full Day In Ranomafana National Park (Breakfast)

Day 7: Drive To Ranohira, Visiting Anja National Park En Route (Breakfast)

Day 8: Full-Day Trek In Isalo National Park Visiting Monkey Canyon And Natural Swimming Pools (Breakfast)

Day 9: To Tulear, Visiting Zombitse National Park En Route (Breakfast)

Day 10: Boat Transfer To Anakao; Free Day For Optional Activities (Breakfast)

Day 11: Full Day In Tsimanampetsotsa National Park (Breakfast)

Day 12: Excursion To Nosy Ve To See Red-Tailed Tropic Birds Nesting On This Small Island (Breakfast)

Day 13: Fly To Antananarivo (Breakfast)

Day 14: Visit To Ambohimanga; End Antananarivo (Breakfast)

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