Madagascar South West Treasures – 17 Day
Explore the wonders of Southern Madagascar experiencing its most diverse environments at a comfortable pace.
From £3795
Trip Details
A Unique Birding Destination
With over 100 endemic birds, Madagascar is a truly unique birding destination. Your specialist guide you will accompany you through a myriad of national parks to ensure you have the best chance of discovering some of Madagascar’s exceptional birds and other wildlife. Whilst the focus is on birds, this is a tailormade trip, which can be adapted to your interests, and the variety of places places visited offer you a diverse and extremely interesting experience to most others who visit this incredible country.
Price from £5,995
Based on 2 pax. Excludes international flights.
Trip Highlights
Trip Itinerary
Day 1
Antananarivo
Upon arrival in Antananarivo you will be met by our driver and transferred to your hotel for the night.
Overnight at Relais des Plateaux.
Day 2
Antananarivo- Majunga
Transfer to the airport in time for your flight to Majunga. Your guide and driver who will be with you (until Diego) will meet you at the airport in Majunga. From here you will drive to Ankafantsika
You will overnight at the bungalows in the national park – these are set discreetly in the forest and face Lake Ravelobe. They are clean, comfortable and simple, and are ideal for us to get an early start in the forest tomorrow (being a 2 min walk from the park entrance).
Overnight bungalow.
Day 3
Visit of the Ankarafantsika National Park
We set off after breakfast to explore this forest on foot, a superb and fauna rich day hike. We will take a picnic lunch to have on the trail in the national park.
This afternoon you have the option of a boat trip on the lake. After dinner we will have the option of setting out on a night hike again to see some of the nocturnal inhabitants of the forest.
Overnight bungalow.
Day 4
Visit of the Ankarafantsika National Park
Another chance to visit the National Park. This afternoon you have the option of a boat trip on the lake.
Overnight bungalow.
Day 5
Ankarafantsika – Tana
We will transfer to the airport for your flight back to Antananarivo. Upon your return to Antananarivo, you will be met by our driver and transferred to your hotel for the night.
Overnight stay in Vakona Lodge.
Day 6
Antananarivo- Andasibe National Park
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.. This afternoon you will get a chance to stroll around the private reserve of Vakona Lodge with the opportunity to spot lemurs and crocodiles. This evening, take a twilight/nocturnal walk, looking out for the nocturnal species of lemur by catching their eyes in the torchlight.
Overnight hotel.
Day 7
Discovering Andasibe National Park
Early this morning we will head to Vakona Lodges private reserve – lemur island for a great chance to see lemurs up close! as well as some great birdlife. We will then head out to explore Andasibe National Park.
Overnight hotel – Vakona Lodge.
Day 8
Discovering Mantadia National Park
Today we will explore Mantadia National Park.
Overnight hotel – Vakona Lodge.
Day 9
Discovering Antavalobe
Today we will explore Antavalobe, to see if we can see the Helmet Vanga.
Overnight hotel – Vakona Lodge.
Day 10
Andasibe – Antsirabe
We will set off early this morning for a full day journey to Antsirabe (via Tana). The driving time is approximately 7 hours, however we will stop for lunch along the way. Upon arrival at Antsirabe, if time allows, you could choose to visit the stone cutting workshop where crystals are cut.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 11
Antsirabe to Ranomafana
We will set out after an early breakfast towards Ranomafana National Park (approx. 4hr journey on good roads). We will stay just outside Ranmafana (just 10 minutes from the park entrance). Upon arrival to Ranomafana we will visit the National Park for the afternoon.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 12 - 13
Discovering Ranomafana National Park
Days exploring Ranomafana National Park.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 14
Ranomafana- Isalo
Day drive as we transfer to our hotel near, Isalo National Park. En-route we may get the chance to stop off at a traditional market and pass through quaint villages.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 15
Discovering Isalo National Park
Park visit including the opportunity to swim in a natural pool with lunch on trail.
Overnight Hotel – Le Relais de la Reine.
Day 16
Transfer to Ifaty
We will have an early start today as we head to Zombiste National Park.
We can spend the day here before heading to Ifaty and the coast.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 17
Ifaty
Today your guide will accompany you to the Spiny Forest for a day birdwatching.
Overnight Hotel – Le Paradisier.
Day 18
Ifaty
Today your guide and driver will take you to explore Zombiste National Park again.
Upon arrival back in Ifaty, your driver and guide will leave you (as they will return to Antananarivo by road).
Overnight Hotel.
Day 19
Ifaty
Day at leisure.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 20
Ifaty to Antananarivo
You will catch an inbound flight from Tulear to Tana. Depending on your time of arrival you may be able to visit the handicraft market .
Overnight Hotel.
Day 21
End of Trip
Day at leisure. You will have a day use room. Transfer to airport in time for flight home.
Expert Summary
Whilst Madagascar is famed for its unique animal population it’s also one of the world’s most extraordinary birding destinations, with around 300 recorded bird species, more than 100 of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Birders can search rainforest canopies for the striking Madagascar Pitta or the vivid Blue Coua, or look for the elusive Ground Rollers, a family of birds found only in Madagascar. Wetlands and lakes are home to rarities such as the critically endangered Madagascar Pochard, while dry forests and spiny bush hold species like the Subdesert Mesite and Long-tailed Ground Roller. With habitats ranging from eastern rainforests to western dry forests and highland wetlands, Madagascar offers birders the chance to see an exceptional concentration of unique species in a single country.
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