Madagascar East & West Adventure

Arrive Antananarivo

On arrival in Antananarivo (often abbreviated to Tana), you will be met by your driver and driven to your hotel where you will have time to relax before your adventure begins. Depending on what time you arrive, you may have time to explore the city or enjoy a massage at the hotel.

Overnight: Relais des Plateaux

Antananarivo - Kirindy Forest & Marofandilia

Wake early and transfer to the airport for your flight to Morondava. On arrival, meet your guide and drive the two hour journey on to Kirindy Forest. For the rest of the day you will have the opportunity to explore the forest famed for being home to seven species of lemur, fossa and even the giant jumping rat. Several bats, tenrecs, mongooses and rodents complete the mammal population. 40 birds, 50 reptiles and 15 amphibian species are also found in this magnificent forest! At sunset head for the ‘Avenue of Baobabs’ to try and capture that iconic shot. Continue to Le Camp Amoureux for the night in Marofandilia Forest. If you want to continue your exploration, head out on a night walk in search of Madame Berthe's mouse lemur, the smallest of all primates.
Overnight: Le Camp Amoureaux

Marofandilia - Bekopaka

This morning, enjoy breakfast at the lodge before departing for the long eight-hour drive to Bekopaka, passing by the stunning Avenue of Baobabs once more and on to the Belo sur Tsiribihina, the cultural capital of the Sakalava tribe. Although the drive can be quite bumpy en route, the scenery is wonderful with the sandy red land of western Madagascar visible as you drive. Feel free to ask your driver to stop so that you can take photographs whenever you would like.
Overnight: Soleil du Tsingy

Tsingy de Bemaraha, Petite Tsingy

Over the next two days you will be taken on guided excursions in the spectacular mineral forest of Tsingy de Bemaraha, exploring both the Petite Tsingy and Grand Tsingy. Tsingy is the Malagasy word for `walking on tiptoes` and the nearly impenetrable labyrinth of limestone needles justifies this name. The whole protected area, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990 comprises a surface of 1.575 km squared. The reserve`s canyons, gorges, undisturbed forests, lakes and mangrove swamps display an astonishing richness of fauna and flora which have not been completely recorded. There are some hanging bridges and rope ladders to enable visitors’ access to spectacular viewpoints in this fantastic area. Look out for Decken’s sifaka with its creamy white coat.
Overnight: Soleil du Tsingy

Bekopaka - Morondava

Today start the return journey by road, across the car ferry pontoon to Belo and the long dusty road back to Morondava. En route, you can also stop at the `baobab amoureux` which is a natural twisted baobab, 5 km from the main road. Baobabs are distinctive trees adapted to thrive in harsh conditions. 6 of the 8 species of baobabs are found only in Madagascar, so it's no surprise that this is the national tree. You may have a second opportunity for photographing the `Allée des baobabs` before arriving at your base for the night
Overnight: Palissandre Côte Ouest

Morondava - Belo Sur Mer

In the morning head south to Belo Sur Mer, on a 2h boat transfer. This remote Vezo fishermen's village is famous for its traditional dhow building. At the beginning of the 19th Century, at the height of the Silk Route era, a French sailor settled in the village and passed on his expert knowledge of Dhow building. It is still a roaring trade and this village supplies boats all over Madagascar.

Belo Sur Mer

Spend today relaxing in this quaint fishing village. In addition to enjoying the beautiful beaches here, you can choose to do a second visit to Kirindy/Mitea NP, visit the nearby mangroves by pirogue or visit the village where the traditional dhows are fabricated.
Overnight: Entremer

Belo Sur Mer - Morondava - Antananarivo

Today you will be taken a boat transfer 2 hours back to Morondava in time for your flight back to the capital Tana (15:10/16:15). On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for the night.

Antananarivo - Palmarium Reserve (by road)

This morning you will depart on the 7 hour road transfer to Manambato and then by boat to Palmarium Reserve along the Pangalanes Canal, passing by local fishing villages enroute. After an hour or so you will arrive at the private reserve of Palmarium staying either at the Palmarium Lodge or the lakeside Palmarium Beach. The rest of the afternoon is yours at leisure to relax and explore your surroundings.

Overnight: Palmarium Lodge (B, L, D)

Palmarium Reserve

Enjoy a walk through the forest with one of the lodge guides. Here it is possible to see a family of indri, Coquerel`s sifakas, black lemurs, crowned lemurs, black and white ruffed lemurs and red lemurs. This reserve provides excellent photography opportunities as you can get very close to the lemurs. The afternoon is yours at leisure to relax or explore the reserve independently. At 17.30 go in search of aye aye where currently 6 live on a nearby island. This elusive lemur has been long persecuted as an omen of evil and death with its rodent like teeth and special middle finger. Hunted by the Malagasys, they are now seldom seen in Madagascar, so this opportunity is very rare and is the best place in the country to see them. The group tour takes approximately one hour and includes return boat transfers.

Palmarium Reserve - Andasibe National Park

Today you make your way to the renowned reserve of Andasibe by boat through the Pangalanes Canal and then by road. This is a stunning rainforest with some truly wonderful wildlife. This afternoon enjoy your first exploration of the park. For those a little more adventurous why not try your first night walk to see what nocturnal fauna and flora you can spot!

Mantadia National Park

Today you will spend the day exploring Mantadia National Park. This is 20kms north of Andasibe and offers a much more rugged
experience with steeper trails but exceptional rewards. In contrast to Andasibe it comprises of virtually untouched primary forests with just a few constructed trails. Here you’ll have good chances of spotting the golden coloured Diademed sifaka as well as some indri (who, for some reason are darker than their Andasibe relatives) and black and white ruffed lemurs. The park also has some excellent bird watching including chances of seeing the scaly ground-rollers, pitta like ground roller and the red-breasted coua. We recommend spending the whole day in the park and your lodge can arrange a pack lunch for you (at an additional cost)

Andasibe National Park

Enjoy exploring Andasibe/Perinet National Park with your local wildlife guide. A montane forest park offering the chance to spot a variety of lemurs, reptiles and birds. One of its most famous inhabitants is the indri, the largest of lemur with a black and white teddy bear-like appearance. You hear the Indri before you see them and waking up to their songs of communication in the early hours of the morning with the mist still hugging the rainforest canopy is a unique experience. Best to leave early morning to be near the Indri when they make their distinctive morning group communication calls. Other lemurs which can be seen here are the diademed sifaka, red-bellied lemur, brown lemur, lesser bamboo lemur, with nocturnal lemurs - brown mouse lemur, greater dwarf lemur (Sep/Oct - May), Eastern woolly lemur, sportive lemur.

Andasibe National Park - Antananarivo

One final excursion into the park this morning before transferring to Tana (approx 3hrs) and the international airport for your flight back home.