Itinerary
September 15 Antananarivo
You will be met on arrival at Ivato International Airport in the capital city called ‘Tana’ by the locals. You’ll find this bustling city to have traditional architecture and a more Indonesian influence than the rest of Madagascar.
2 Nights in Antananarivo
September 16
Today your private guide will collect you to explore the historical upper town of Antananarivo, with its stunning French inspired architecture. In the afternoon, your guide will accompany you to a chocolate making workshop.
September 17 Andasibe
Tour guide will collect you this morning for the 4-5 hour ride to Mantadia National Park and the Perinet Special Reserve, which is well known for its population of Indri lemurs, the largest of the species. The ride will be a nice introduction to rural life of rice fields, red brick houses and roadside markets. Check into your lodge and have lunch. This afternoon you will explore on foot to spot lemurs, chameleons and birds.
2 Nights near Mantadia National Park
September 18
Today you will head to Mantadia National Park with a picnic lunch. You’ll be looking for the various lemur species and an abundance of birds. The trails are slightly more difficult than Perinet but the rewards are great here in this taller and wilder forest. Enjoy lunch by the Rianasoa Waterfall and hike back to the vehicle. Later this evening you can take a night walk with a local guide to see a variety of nocturnal lemurs.
September 19
Visit the Perinet Reserve in search of the Indri indri. With a barely visible tail, black and white markings and a surprised teddy–bear face, this lemur is one of the few animals in the world that cannot survive in captivity. There are another 11 species of lemur to spot as you walk through the rainforest. There are over a thousand orchid species in Madagascar and many of them can be seen here. Later you will stop at Lemur Island a private reserve for habituated lemurs that are ‘camera-ready’ for you!
Return to ‘Tana’ this evening to stay at a hotel near the airport.
1 Night Antananarivo
September 20 Namoroka National Park
This morning you will board your charter flight to Soalala a port town on the West. You will be met on arrival and transferred to camp to settle in. Just before sunset you will stretch your legs with a walk in the forest to see the nocturnal lemures that ends with sundowners amongst the ancient baobabs.
3 Nights near Namoroka National Park
September 21 & 22
Two days to explore the tsingy of Namoroka National Park and its surrounding areas. This national park welcomes just 50 visitors per year due to the challenges of accessing it by road. It is one of the more pristine protected areas on the island with an incredible abundance of birds (100 species) and other wildlife. There are 6 lemur species to see including the playful Von der Dicken’s Sifaka, Milne-Edwards Sportive lemur, the Red lemur and the incredibly secretive Aye Aye.
September 23
Today you will take a private charter flight from Soalala to Nosy Be. Upong arrival you will be transferred by road and boat to your barefoot luxury lodge on a private island.
3 Nights at a private island luxury lodge
September 24
Depart the lodge by boat to explore Nosy Sakatia, known as orchid island for its abundance of wild orchids, is certainly the most authentic of Nosy Be’s islands. You will also snorkel in the turtle sanctuary. With a shallow seagrass bed (2 to 3m), it is the ideal spot to observe and admire the gigantic green turtles that come to feed in these calm waters.
September 25
This morning, depart from the lodge by boat to explore Nosy Tanikely Marine Reserve. The “Island of the Little Earth” or Nosy Tanikely has acquired the status of Protected Marine and Coastal Area over the years. Known for its outstanding marine and land-based biodiversity, this island is the one most frequently visited in the archipelago.
September 26
This morning you will transfer back to Nosy Be by boat and drive to Nosy Be airport to board your private charter flight to Antananarivo. Upon arrival you will check in for your homeward flight, or overnight and depart the following day.
Or continue on with post- trip extension.
Optional 3 Night Extension:
September 27
Fly from Antanananarivo on a private flight to all-inclusive luxury Relais & Chateau beach resort. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the hotel.
This evening at 5:30pm you will depart for a night walk in the reserve to spot a variety of nocturnal lemurs.
September 28
Enjoy a guided walk along the ‘Chemin des Crabes’ to see the fabulous birdlife, beautiful baobabs and of course, the famous hairy crab. Even if bird watching isn’t your thing, you can’t help but be enchanted by the kaleidoscope of colours and shapes of the reserve’s common birds, from the vibrant red fody and Souimanga sunbird to the exotic paradise flycatcher and sickle-billed vanga. It is one of the best places to spot the regal Madagascar fish eagle, shy crested Ibis, or rare Madagascar sacred Ibis. At the end of the walk, you will visit a small cave where you will find a fossilized lemur skull, stalactites and sharks’ teeth.
September 29
This morning, depart the lodge by boat to Moramba Bay. Let yourself be seduced by Moramba Bay and the beauty of the northwest coast of Madagascar. Discover the centuries-old marine baobabs, the sandy beaches, and the mushroom shaped tsingy islands. With the captain and a guide, search for one of the rarest raptors in the world: the critically endangered Madagascar fish eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides). Enjoy a picnic on the beach and head back to the lodge in the afternoon.
September 30
Transfer to the airstrip for the morning charter flight to Antananarivo airport and connect to your homeward flight.
Suggested Safari Extensions - If you have more time to add on a more traditional African safari, there are good flight connections to South Africa and Kenya. Please contact us to discuss.
