Day 1 – To Antananarivo: Fly overnight from
London to Antananarivo, via Nairobi, on Kenya
Airways. (N)
Day 2 – Antananarivo: Morning arrival and
transfer to the Le Royal Palissandre or similar
for 1 night. Afternoon tour of Antananarivo,
the lively capital of this island nation, home to
a mix of cultures, street markets and crumbling
red brick houses. (L, D)
Day 3 – To Andasibe: Early morning drive to
Andasibe. Visit Analamazaotra Reserve, home
to the largest living lemurs, the indri indris.
Transfer to Vakona Forest Lodge / Andasibe
Hotel and stay for 2 nights. Afternoon visit
to Vakona Private Reserve, including its small
island sanctuary for lemurs. (B, L, D)
Day 4 – Andasibe: Morning walk through the
primary forest of the Mantadia National Park. Take an afternoon visit to the reforestation
project in Mitsinjo forest followed by a short
talk by one of the specialist guides there. Take
an evening walk in the Mitsinjo forest where
you may spot nocturnal lemur species, such
as mouse, greater dwarf and eastern woolly
lemurs. (B, L, D)
Day 5 – To Antisirabe: Morning drive back to
Antananarivo and continue south to Antsirabe.
Stop at Antsahabe, a village typical of the
Merina tribe. After lunch, continue to the spa
town of Antsirabe and stay 1 night at Vatolahy
or similar. (B, L, D)
Day 6 – To Ranomafana: Take a tour of
Antisirabe, centre of the gem trade and home
to hundreds of pousse-pousse (rickshaws), a
legacy of the Chinese labour imported to work
on the railways. Continue south to Ambositra,
known as the handicraft capital of Madagascar
and for wood carving. Following a short stop
here, travel to Ambositra where you will break
for a typical Malagasy lunch accompanied by
folklore entertainment. Late afternoon arrival
into Ranomafana and stay 2 nights at Setam
Lodge or similar. (B, L, D)
Day 7 – Ranomafana: Morning walk in the
Ranomafana National Park where you may
spot three species of bamboo lemur; the grey, the golden and the greater. Endemic birding
here is also excellent with a chance to see
brown mesites, Crossleby’s babblers and pigmy
kingfishers. Afternoon visit of Tanala village
followed by a talk at the ValBio Research
Centre by a specialist guide. (B, L, D)
Day 8 – To Ranohira: Morning drive via
Fianarantsoa, the capital of the Betsileo tribe,
to the vineyard of Lazan’ny Betsileo. After a
short visit here, continue on to Ambalavao.
Visit the Antemoro paper factory and the Anja
Reserve, where ring-tailed lemurs are easily
seen. Continue to Ranohira, with photo stops
en route, and stay 2 nights at Satrana Lodge or
similar. (B, L, D)
Day 9 – Ranohira: Isalo National Park’s
breathtaking landscape of eroded sandstone
has given rise to a variety of local superstitions.
In the morning, visit the Namza sites, including
the Cascade des Nymphes. In the afternoon,
visit the natural swimming pool and continue
to see the sunset at the natural rock window
of La Fenetre de l’Isalo (time allowing). (B, L, D)
Day 10 – To Ifaty via Tulear: Short visit to the
museum. Continue towards the west coast,
stopping at villages and seeing the landscape
change from rugged mountains to grassy plains.
This region is known for its large baobabs
and traditional family tombs, central to the
Malagasy beliefs and culture. Stay 2 nights at
Les Dunes d’Ifaty or similar. (B, D)
Day 11 – Tulear: Morning excursion to the
tortoise village and Reniala forest. Rest of the
day at leisure. (B, D)
Day 12 – To Antananarivo: Morning flight from
Tulear to Antananarivo. Transfer to Le Royal
Palissandre or similar and stay overnight. Stop
off at La Digue handicraft market en route to
the hotel. After lunch, there will be a tour of
Ambohimanga, one of the 12 sacred hills of
Antananarivo. Farewell dinner at Villa Vanille.
(B, L, D)
Day 13 – To London: Transfer to the airport
and fly to London, via Nairobi, with Kenya
Airways (B)
Day 14 – London: Early morning arrival. (N)
Discovery Tour: Madagascar is one of the
world’s poorest nations and tourism is in its
infancy. Distances can be long and roads can be
rough. Hotels, while sometimes not reaching
western standards, are clean and comfortable.
Meal Basis: (B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner, (N) = No Meals
