Madagascar Adventure
13 days
from Antananarivo to Antananarivo
From
$ 3325
Duration13 days
With a dizzying array of landscapes and wildlife, you'll never be bored during this adventure through Madagascar. Embark on an adventure through Madagascar that'll have you lazing on white-sand beaches, exploring tropical rainforests and spending time with a huge variety of wildlife including lemurs, the island's most famous inhabitants.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 13 daysService level: Standard
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Starts in: AntananarivoPhysical Grading: Average
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Ends in: AntananarivoAges: 15+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Antananarivo
Start place: Antananarivo
Welcome to Madagascar. This country's capital is the charmingly crowded Antananarivo, a fun, hilly place to explore. Head to Analakey to visit the street markets or perhaps seek out a bar or restaurant to soak up the atmosphere. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it'll take place. If you can't arrange a flight to arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend, and we're happy to book any additional accommodation that's required. We'll also be collecting insurance and next of kin details, so please have these details ready to provide to your leader.
Day 2: Andasibe National Park
Depart Antananarivo after breakfast for Andasibe National Park, approximately four hours east of Antananarivo. Stop en route at Pereyras Nature Farm, a private reserve that's home to chameleons, frogs, snakes and more. This evening, you'll have an opportunity to take night walk through the forest at Mitsinjo, a privately owned reserve, where you'll encounter nocturnal species including endemic butterflies and lemurs.
Meals: B
Day 3: Andasibe National Park
Andasibe is the most visited park in Madagascar and famous for the 11 species of lemur that call it home. Aside from lemurs, you'll find endemic birds including the long-eared owl and the rufous-headed ground roller, as well as the smallest living chameleon – brookesia minima – and many times types of reptiles, insects and frogs. This region is popular thanks to an abundance of unique wildlife, and you'll have an opportunity to discover them during a guided walk through the national park.
Day 4: Antsirabe
Drive to Antisrabe (approximately six to seven hours) and spend some free time getting to know the city on arrival. Antsirabe maintains a Malgasy touch with all the tranquility of a small European town, thanks to the contrast of its busting street markets, thermal springs and Colonial-style facades. Located in the highlands, it's a popular spa town thanks to the hot springs and thermal baths, and the colourful rickshadows known as 'pousse-pousse' are a popular form of transport. Make use of them in your tour of the city and discover tree-lined avenues, interesting architecture, a range of markets and so much more.
Meals: B, D
Day 5: Ambositra
Make the short journey to Ambositra this morning, home to the third-largest ethnic group in Madagascar, the Betsileo people.
Take a visit to the nearbySandrandahy villages and explore the process of silk production, which is an important part of Malagasy culture. The use of silk was once reserved exclusively for royalty, but now everyone is free to wear it though its use is more often used for the dead. When a Malagasy is buried, their body is wrapped in a large, silk sheet known as a 'lambamena' and, after a few years, the family traditionally return to the tomb to exchange the sheet for a new one. This custom is known as famadihana, and each village specialises in one step of the production. Enjoy a local lunch before spending a free evening in Ambositra.
Take a visit to the nearbySandrandahy villages and explore the process of silk production, which is an important part of Malagasy culture. The use of silk was once reserved exclusively for royalty, but now everyone is free to wear it though its use is more often used for the dead. When a Malagasy is buried, their body is wrapped in a large, silk sheet known as a 'lambamena' and, after a few years, the family traditionally return to the tomb to exchange the sheet for a new one. This custom is known as famadihana, and each village specialises in one step of the production. Enjoy a local lunch before spending a free evening in Ambositra.
Meals: B, L
Day 6: Ranomafana
Travel this morning to Ranomafa National Park, a journey of about five hours. Located in the southeastern part of Madagascar, this park is home to a number of rare species. Ranomafana means 'hot water' in the Malagasy language and the area is haven for small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects, as well as palms, bamboo, orchids and carnivorous plants. It's home to 13 species of lemur, including the famous golden bamboo lemur, which was first reported in the area in 1985 and is one of the reasons why the government decided to protect this forest. Enjoy some free time on arrival, and you may want to consider taking an optional night walk once the sun goes down. Your accommodation tonight is a small cottage located within the park's boundaries.
Meals: B
Day 7: Ranomafana
Continue exploring Ranomafana, this time on a guided walk. Keep your eyes peeled for lemurs, striped civets, mongooses, goshawks, geckos, frogs and butterflies. You may even spot an incredible net-casting spider or the world's smallest chameleon. Overnight once more within the park.
Day 8: Fianarantsoa
Travel this morning to Fianarantsoa, a colourful town known for its markets and handicrafts. This heritage site is a must-see, with its long, paved road, labyrinths of small paths and old houses with flower-studdied balconies and tiled roofs. Take a day visit to a typical Malagasy village for an insight into how the majority of the island's population live, then explore the surrounding countryside, which is dotted with rice paddies and vineyards that produce Fianarantsoa's famous wine. You'll get a chance to sample local cuisine with a lunch stop in the villages then, in the afternoon, visit the historical old city of Fianarantsoa on foot.
Meals: B, L
Day 9-10: Isalo National Park
Drive approximately eight hours west toward Isalo National Park. The group will stop at the Anja Community Reserve en route, a great spot to observe lemurs and learn a little more about the local culture. The local villagers will be your guide on this excursion, and your leader will be able to translate all the knowledge they can pass on to you. Isalo is known for its variety of landscapes, from rainforests teeming with life to rolling plains to strange geological formations and deep-cut canyons. And of course, there are a variety of lemur species roaming around place because, well, this is Madagascar. Spend a couple of days exploring the park, which is home to over 80 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles and 14 species of mammals including 3 lemur species (ring-tailed, red-fronted and Verreaux's sifakas lemur).
Meals: B
Day 11: Anakao
You'll be up early today (5.30) to travel to Tulear Harbour, from where the group will take a boat to Anakao. Imagine perfect white sand beside turquoise waters and you have Anakao, a small, laid-back town in which fishing is the main occupation. Enjoy a free day taking it easy on the beach, soaking up some sun and swimming in the clear waters of the Mozambique Channel.
Meals: B
Day 12: Anakao
Today is another free day of leisure in this paradise. Consider taking a full-day tour of Tsimanampetsotse National Park, a birders' paradise named for its spectacular lake. More than 100 species of bird can be found here, including pink, greater and dwarf flamingos, as well as gray-brown mouse and white-footed sportive lemurs. Maybe paddle a canoe out to the island of Nosy Ve instead and check out the beaches and reef, or just hang out in Anakao town and make the most of its convenient beaches.
Meals: B
Day 13: Antananarivo - Departure Day
Today is departure day, however your flight back to Antananarivo is included and this morning we depart for the Tulear airport and the 1 hour flight back to the capital. Your trip will end on arrival at Antananarivo Airport. Please advise your Tour Leader if you have any international flight reserved for today, whilst we try to book an early departure for this domestic flight, we can often get moved to the later departure with a scheduled arrival after 2000 in the evening, air travel in Madagascar is notoriously delayed and we would recommend considering an extra night in Antananarivo, your booking agent can assist.
End place: Antananarivo
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Andasibe National Park - Mitsinjo night walk
- Andasibe Nationa Park - Pereyras Private Reserve
- Andasibe National Park - guided walk
- Ambositra - Village Visit
- Ambositra -Manandriana Village Lunch
- Ranomafana National Park - Rainforest walk
- Betsileo - village visit
- Ambalavao - Anja Community Reserve
- Ambalavao - Antemoro Paper Factory visit
- Isalo National Park - guided walk
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Transport
Private Vehicles, Boat, Plane -
Accommodation
Hotel (5 nights) Bungalows (3 nights) Cottage(2 nights) Lodge (2 nights)