Madagascar – Family Adventure and Beaches

11 - 14 Days, 14 Days
DIFFICULTY

Low

MIN. AGE

8 Years

£ 2750

Beaches, Exploration And Relaxation

The perfect mix with a week of adventure, wildlife and trekking through National parks, followed by a week relaxing on the stunning island of Nosy Sakatia for snorkeling (with turtles!!) and relaxation. Includes a night in a treehouse. Become a part of the adventurous minority as you journey in Madagascar’s far north, experiencing incredible nature and the most remarkable scenery including Tsingy, baobabs and waterfalls. You’ll have the opportunity to spot plenty of lemurs, chameleons and turtles on this fun filled family adventure.

Price £3,395

Based on 4 pax. Excludes international flights.

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Tailormade Departures

March - December

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Day by Day

After arriving in Antananarivo (or Tana, as it is known by the locals) late pm, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight Hotel

This morning we will set off to the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park (previously known as Perinet)  where you will spend 1 ½ days exploring this wonderful environment. En-route we will stop at a farm specialising in Madagascan reptiles and butterflies, before arriving at our hotel. Depending on time of arrival, this afternoon or tomorrow  you will get a chance to stroll around the private island reserve of Vakona Lodge with the opportunity to spot  plenty of lemurs.   This evening, take a twilight/nocturnal walk, looking out for the nocturnal species of lemur by catching their eyes in the torchlight.

Overnight Hotel 

Today you will be able to explore this area including  visiting Analamazaotra (Andasibe NP).

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park (formerly known as Perinet) is a 155 square kilometer protected area, about 150 km east of Antananarivo (approx. a three hour drive) consisting principally of primary growth forest.  These are home to the teddy bear-like Indri, the largest of Madagascar’s lemur species, as well 11 lemur species in total and a wide array of bird life too. Listening to the piercing yet melancholy cry of the Indri in the morning is an evocative experience 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. This National Park was inscribed in the World Heritage Site in 2007 as part of the Rainforests of the Atsinanana.

Overnight Hotel 

Today you will transfer back to Tana where you will catch your flight to Antsiranana (Diego Suarez).  Upon arrival in Diego you will be met by your new guide and transfer to Montagne des Français, just a short 1 ½ hour by road, but a very different environment.

Overnight – Tree Bungalow

This morning we will explore this reserve.  After lunch we will head to Joffreville, the entrance to the Montagne d’Ambre National Park

Overnight – Hotel

Today we will enjoy a trek in the Montagne d’Ambre National Park.

We will have some lunch and then head South to Ankarana National Park We will stay at a lodge just outside the park.

Overnight – Lodge

Today will be spent exploring this amazing park. The trails are not easy but are feasible for anyone with a moderate level of fitness and we recommend visiting this park in the dry season (May-Nov).    With younger children we can recommend a shorter route in the National park avoiding rope bridges.

Overnight – lodge

This morning we head  to Ankify. After lunch in Ambanja, we will take to our mountain bikes as we explore this area and the Cacao plantation on 2 wheels.  At the end of the cycle we will head to the coast of Ankify (a short hop – approx. 20 minutes from Ambanja).

Overnight – Beach Bungalows

Your driver and guide will leave you this morning as a private boat will take you to Nosy Sakatia. Nosy Sakatia, an island away from an island is a nature’s paradise. Situated on the west coast of Nosy Be, Nosy Sakatia boasts unspoiled tropical flora and fauna. There are no roads, only foot paths on this small island of 6.5 km long and 2 km wide at its widest point. It is perfect for one to wonder and explore its beauty and deserted beaches. The island is fringed by spectacular coral reefs to be enjoyed by snorkelers and scuba divers alike.

(We recommend Sakatia Lodge as a laid back beach destination, on an island just off Nosy Be.  There are however many other options if you prefer somewhere with a pool, on Nosy Be or on one of the other nearby islands).

Overnight hotel

Days at leisure  – Full diving facilities are available at this lodge, you can also snorkel from the shore (where sea turtles feed on the sea grass).  There are plenty of excursions you can opt to do, or simply relax on the beach.

Overnight – Hotel

Transfer to airport (Nosy Be) in time for flight home.

NB:

This itinerary is subject to change – arrangements, routes and facilities are subject to variation depending on local conditions. On this particular trip there is a minimum age of 8 and some previous outdoors experience is useful. We can also tailor itineraries to suit your exact requirements including catering for younger children

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Pioneer Expeditions
Average rating:  
 4 reviews
Magical Madagascar

We had an absolutely amazing trip in Andasibe and the North of Madagascar. The natural beauty of the country is truly mind-blowing and the trip took us to some of the most spectacular spots. We had a great time with our extremely knowledgeable and kind guides (especially Tojo was superb!), and the trip was very well organised throughout. We travelled with our 8-year old daughter, who had the time of her life! We were also very happy with our in-country contact Manatena. She was extremely responsive and helpful. Overall, we highly recommend Pioneer travel to adventurous travellers!!!

Madagascar tailor made

We were a family of four, ages from 9 to 76, and we all had a brilliant time. The forests, the lemurs, staying by the sea, slow drives (because of the roads) full of interest, even the tree boa who decided to sleep under my bed in the tree house (eek!) - it all added up to a memorable holiday for all of us. Thank you, Pioneer.

Madagascar Ultimate Adventure

The organisation by Pioneer was excellent, and our guide and driver, Hari and Pica, took great care of us every step of the way to ensure that we were safe, and seeing as much as possible. As other reviewers have said, the transport infrastructure is truly awful, and there are long periods of time in the car bouncing very slowly towards your destination. Our most memorable moment will definitely be the train derailment (very slow and not at all scary). The train crew manoeuvred the carriage about 2m back onto the rails over the course of the next 6 hours and off we went again. However, the people are wonderful! Almost everyone you pass smiles and greets you. Children are delighted if you take a photo of them and show them - and you will quickly gather a crowd around you if you are prepared to show them photos of other things that you have seen. I wish I had taken some pens, as many of the children asked if I had a pen that I could give them for school. The determination, positive attitude and resourcefulness of people who have next to nothing is incredible. For mile after mile every usable inch of land is cultivated, back-breakingly by hand, or occasionally by ox (zebu). The clay is dug out to form paddy fields, and turned into bricks, dried in enormous piles by the roadside. We saw people sawing wood into planks by hand, and met children as young as 6 or 7 walking 30km to market. The highlight was, of course, the lemurs: a night walk to see the mouse lemur; ring tailed lemurs sunworshipping on a rock; but also cycling through crowded streets dodging rickshaws, ox carts, potholes and pedestrians; the visit to the zebu market; the wood carvers (who created their own saws out of steel recovered from car tyres, bashed flat and then teeth hand cut into it); the people sand casting cooking pots out of recycled aluminium. Some tolerance is required when things don't go to plan, and you do need a good level of fitness for this particular tour…It's definitely off the beaten track, and there aren't many other tourists around which is great, but the time between activities (on those roads) can be very long.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Pioneer, who were very supportive both before and during the trip. Madagascar itself is a unique destination, and an amazing experience.

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