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: Morning drive to
Andasibe via Peyreras, a farm that houses
reptiles and insects. On arrival in Andasibe,
transfer to Vakona Forest Lodge, or similar,
and stay for 2 nights. Visit the Vakona Private
Reserve, including its small island sanctuary for
lemurs. 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 4 – Andasibe: Morning visit to the
Analamazaotra Reserve, home to the largest
living lemur, the indri indri. Other lemur
species to be found here include common
brown lemurs, black and white ruffed lemurs,
grey bamboo lemurs and red bellied lemurs.
This park is also one of the best sites in the
country for spotting endemic birds, such as red
breasted couas, Madagascar buzzards and blue
vangas. Afternoon walk through the primary
forest of the Mantadia National Park. (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, Crossley’s babblers and pygmy
kingfishers. Afternoon visit to the village of
Ranomafana before returning to the park to
see nocturnal wildlife. (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 black and blue pool and the cascade des
nymphes. In the afternoon, visit the museum
and see sunset at the natural rock window of
La Fenetre de l’Isalo (time allowing). (B, L, D)
Day 10 – To Ifaty via Tulear: 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: 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)
Meal Basis: (B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner, (N) = No Meals
