Location
Madagascar
Highlights
Antananarivo – Toliara (Tuléar) – Beach of Ifaty – window of Isalo – Isalo NP – Andringitra NP – Ambalavao – Fianarantsoa – FCE (Jungle Express) – Manakara – Ranomafana NP – Ambositra – Zafimaniry artwork – Andasibe-Perinet-Mantadia NP– Ankany’ nofy – Palmarium Reserve – Toamasina (Tamatave) – Crossing by ferry to Nosy Boraha (Ste. Marie) – Tropical island of Nosy Boraha (Ste. Marie)
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
Today is arrival day. You are free to arrive at any time. Upon arrival in Antananarivo you will be greeted by your tour leader and transferred to the Cheval Blanc hotel. A short city tour of Madagascar's capital city, Antananarivo, can be arranged.
Day 2
Transfer to the airport and flight to Toliara (Tuléar). Transfer to Le Paille en Queue Hotel. Toliara is a lively city. We take a tour to the town, looking at the colonial architecture with its huge villas; we visit the busy the market place where thousands of people are shopping.
Day 3
From Tuléar we take a drive north along the coast to Ifaty. The coral reef represents an exceptional spot. It attracts a range of fish. We take a tour in a sailing pirogue for snorkeling. After lunch we visit a breeding station for tortoises. In this area we can find the local fauna and flora like baobabs, birds…
Day 4
Leaving after breakfast we take the way north direction to Ranohira. We pass Ilakaka, a western-like gem-rush city. Here they exploit sapphires. We try to catch sunset on the window of Isalo. Two nights in Relais de la Reine.
Day 5
Today we visit to Isalo National Park, taking a day hike in this surreal park. This park is fiercely beautiful with golden plains punctuated by craggy pinnacles of terracotta rock, valleys, canyons and waterfalls. Our adventure begins with a trek. We trek through landscapes formed by centuries of erosion and fascinating sandstone formations. We walk to the canyon des singes and the canyon des rats to look for ring-tailed and other lemurs. In the afternoon we pass the piscine naturelle for a bath.
Day 6
Driving north to the Andringitra NP. The park is subdivided into three ecosystems: low altitude rainforest, mountain forest and high altitude vegetation. Andringitra National Park is an important central link in the longest unbroken chain of rainforest remaining in Madagascar. Two nights in Tsara Camp.
Day 7
There are several tours we can do today. We may climb up to the Mont Tsaranoro, passing villages, rice paddies, hills and forests, where we have chance to see Lemurs. Or we pass to an isolated valley to visit the inhabitants there. We also can take a bath.
Day 8
From Andringitra we take the way to Fianarantsoa. We have lunch in Ambalavao where we visit the traditional Antaimoro paper factory. In Fianarantsoa we visit also the railway station where the train to Manakara leaves. Hotel Soafia.
Day 9
With the FCE train (Jungle Express) from Fianarantsoa to Manakara. We leave with the train early in the morning. We pass 56 tunnels and 73 bridges, a masterly performance to build this in the middle of the rainforest jungle. Late afternoon we are in Manakara on the Sunny East coast. Sidi hotel for two nights.
Day 10
Free day for relax on the sunny East coast of Manakara.
Day 11
From Manakara back to Ranomafana. Ranomafana, literally meaning hot water, is a very pretty village surrounded by hills and the Namorona River. We have time here to wander in the village or to enjoy the thermal baths that attracted so many people during the colonial times. The thermal baths are in a beautiful location and include an outside swimming pool. The pool is wonderfully warm and the views of forested hills are as soothing as the waters. Two nights in Manja hotel.
Day 12
The park was created in 1991 to protect the flora and fauna, in particular the golden bamboo Lemur (discovered in 1987) and the greater bamboo Lemur, two of the rare species of Madagascar's lemurs. Ranomafana is home to several mammal species including 12 species of Lemurs, numbers of geckos, chameleons and frogs as well as nearly 100 species of birds. The park is also flora rich with orchids, tree ferns, palms, mosses, trumpet flowers and stands of giant bamboo. Here we will enjoy a day walk in the park. In the evening we will go out once more to look for microcebus (mouselemurs) and fossa, a carnivore.
Day 13
We continue to Antananarivo, visiting Zafimaniry woodcarvers’ ateliers in Ambositra, where we will see some artwork. Their artwork got recently UNESCO cultural heritage. Nights in Le Relais des Plateaux hotel.
Day 14
In the morning we visit the town of Antananarivo before stating our drive eastward through the highlands to Andasibe. On the way we will stop off at a Reptile Park. Here we can see some of the endemic chameleons, snakes, insects and reptiles of Madagascar. Andasibe, a former logging village, is the base for exploring the Parc National d'Andasibe-Mantadia, also known by its pre-colonial French name, Perinet Special Reserve. Tonight we take a night walk at Perinet Special Reserve to search for night active lemurs and other night active animals. Two nights in Buffet de la gare.
Day 15
The eastern rainforest reserve of Andasibe-Mantadia (also known as Perinet) is one of the last strongholds of the mythical Indri Indri, the largest of all the lemurs. The animals and birds are most active in the early morning and there should be good opportunities to see and hear the lemurs. The black and white coated Indri Indri is an extraordinary Lemur, known for its wailing call. Indri's are active on and off throughout the day but are best seen in the morning. Your afternoon and evening is then at leisure to enjoy the beautiful surrounds or take an afternoon tour in Mantadia Park where we may find the rare diadema sifaka. Before dinner we have another nocturnal walk out for mousemakis (microcebus).
Day 16
This morning we will also rise up early to visit Mitsinjo Park that is as well in the region to see once more the Indri Indri - the largest Lemur of the island. Open to public since July 2005 this forest station is another attraction of the Perinet region. Mitsinjo also contains a wide variety of fauna and flora in the moist mountain forest, including beautiful and varied insects, spiders, butterflies, reptiles and many orchids. Drive to Lac Rasoabe. We pass more of the typical villages of the Betsimisaraka ethnic group. This group, which was unified from several groups into a single one by the son of an English pirate and a Malagasy princess, was the most powerful group on the east coast of Madagascar. We pass through the little hamlet of Manambato to the shore of Lake Rasoabe where we have dinner and overnight at Les Acasias.
Day 17
After a slight morning walk out on the shore of the lake and an early lunch, embark for a motorboat ride and navigate through the canal de Pangalanes until our destination, Akanin’ny Nofy – the nest of dreams. It is located on another lake called Ampitabe. We stay for two nights in our hotel Bushhouse.
Day 18
We have a large choice of excursions either on foot or by boat such as the private reserve of The Palmarium. A peninsula that gives a unique glance to the endemic fauna and flora of Madagascar. A Nature lover did collect a considerable number of rare plants such as palm trees, plants, orchids and reptiles. Different species of lemurs live freely in trees.
Day 19
Transfer by motorboat to Tamatave by crossing the canal of Pangalanes. That enormous stretch of smooth water goes on for over 600 km from the south to the north. A multitude of lakes and natural lagoons are seen along the canal. It allows the villagers to carry their goods. You will also see a great many deserted beaches and forests dotted with many orchids and traveller trees. Disembarkation in Tamatave and transfer to the Miramar hotel.
Day 20
Transfer to the port of Soanierana-Ivongo and by ferry to Sainte Marie. Transfer to the Soanambo hotel where you stay for three nights.
Day 21
Free day at Soanambo, a famous and comfortable seaside hotel with international standards of quality and multiple facilities.
Day 22
Free at Sainte Marie. Soanambo: In the middle of a tropical garden of orchids and hundred-year-old trees, by the lagoon, along the beach, bungalows are dotted like the pearls of a necklace on the sand...
Day 23
Flight to Antananarivo, last Shopping, you have a room in Le Relais des Plateaux hotel. Transfer to the airport and flight out. |
