Luxury Tailor Made Journeys depart on the dates that work for you and feature expert local guides throughout your journey. The itinerary below can be customized to your interests.
Arrive Antananarivo, Madagascar
Arrive in Antananarivo (Tana), where you are met and transferred to your hotel. The capital city of Madagascar, Antananarivo is situated in the island’s Central Highlands. Its key highlights include the Rova of Antananarivo, a royal palace.
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park | Into the Rainforest
Venture overland to rainforest-situated Andasibe-Mantadia National Park with its singular Analamazaotra Reserve. Home to the large indri lemur, noted for its distinctively loud song, the biodiverse park also features native species like the big Parson’s chameleon, in addition to rare orchids and ferns. Meanwhile, trails weave through dense forest and past lakes to the Sacred Waterfall. Following lunch, check in to your hotel before visiting Lemur Island, a private reserve that protects four species of habituated lemurs.
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park | Endemic Species
After breakfast, set out to explore the Perinet Reserve, keeping watch for the indri lemur with its teddy bear-like face, twitchy tail and black and white markings. Search, too, for the 11 other lemur species that inhabit the park. You may spot troops of grey bamboo, white ruffed, or common brown lemurs. Marvel as well at the vivid bird life, perhaps catching glimpses of the endemic velvet asity, blue coua or nuthatch vanga. You are also apt to sight any of the bevy of reptile and invertebrate species — not to mention over 1,000 orchid species — also found here. Once night falls, hike with a guide through the surrounding forest in search of the nocturnal mouse, white-footed sportive, fat-tailed dwarf and woolly varieties of lemur.
Ifotaka | Exploring Southern Madagascar
Rise early and board a flight to Ifotaka in the remote south of Madagascar. Upon arrival at your permanent tented camp, settle in and enjoy the majestic views over the Mandrare River. Later, take a guided night walk in the eerie, prehistoric spiny forest, keeping watch for diurnal lemurs bedding down and nocturnal lemurs as they begin to wake. The following morning, depending on river conditions, walk or boat across the Mandrare to reach the largely deciduous gallery forest with its excellent sifaka and ring-tailed lemur populations. Keep your eyes peeled for inquisitive ring-tailed lemurs and the always entertaining Verreaux’s sifaka. Then, sit down to a chef-prepared meal beneath an ancient banyan tree. Later, take an afternoon walk through the spiny forest, a chance to spot mouse lemurs and chameleons. After returning to your hotel, enjoy a sundowner amid the magical baobabs. After sunset, visit a local village, where residents perform traditional dances, accompanied by song and music.
Manafiafy | Meeting Locals & Sighting Wildlife
Rise early as sunlight filters through octopus trees. Set out in search of endemic birds such as crested couas, a variety of vangas and the running coua. Return to camp and transfer to the airport for your flight to Fort Dauphin. Upon arrival, journey overland to your amazing lodge, set along a beautiful sandy bay fringed with forested mountains and wildlife-rich mangroves. In the evening, take a night hike through the coastal rainforest, watching for a wealth of species. You may glimpse nocturnal lemurs leaping through the trees, Madagascar scops owls soaring overhead and leaf-tailed geckos, noted masters of camouflage. The next morning, head to the nearby mangrove forest for a birdwatching and photography excursion. With the magnificent Anosy mountain range as your backdrop, travel through the network of the mangroves by motorboat as you search for the Madagascar malachite kingfisher, Madagascar harrier hawk, Madagascar crested ibis and the blue coua. Return to your lodge for a picnic lunch on the beach, followed by snorkeling (weather permitting). In the late afternoon, set out to spot Madagascar’s largest bat, the flying fox, which roosts in a nearby forest before it takes flight in search of food. As the sun dips into the horizon, sip a cocktail overlooking Manafiafy Bay.
Antananarivo | Back to the Capital
Today, return to Fort Dauphin, where you have an early lunch, and then fly back to Antananarivo. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel in the historic upper town of Antananarivo.
Depart Antananarivo
In the morning, transfer to the Antananarivo airport and board your homebound flight.
.jpg?h=380&w=600&la=en&hash=0DF2705D8EA661A7FE4F14465F2D8AB7)
The Americas
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Australia, NZ and SE Asia