Madagascar Small Group Conservation Safari

A Small Group Safari to Madagascar with a Visit to a Fantastic Community, Wildlife and Reforestation Project – From £1,995 Per Person, Excluding International Flights

23 Aug
Arrival in Tana; met by your driver and guide and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight: Lapasoa

24 Aug
In the morning you set off in the direction of Andasibe Reserve with a brief stop at the Ambohimanga Palace on your way. This Palace represents the lineage of kings and queens past and is an important place to stop in order to understand the history and culture of the "Red Island". Leaving the Palace you drive east to Andasibe Reserve passing through highland scenery and rice paddies, before arriving at your lodge where you will have time to relax, take a stroll or have your first nocturnal wildlife walk.
Overnight: Vakona Lodge; the most luxurious lodge in the area with 24 quiet and comfortable bungalows and also a swimming pool. Delicious food with courteous service. Horse riding is an optional extra or alternatively visit the hotel's own little reserve where you can observe former "pet lemurs" living in relative freedom. You also have the option of spotting your own wildlife just by walking along the road near the lodge! (B/D)

25, 26 Aug
A day to explore Andasibe/Perinet National Park or Mantadia with your local wildlife guide, best to wake up early to be near the Indri as they make their distinctive morning calls. The Indri is the largest of the lemurs with a black and white teddy bear appearance; you will hear these curious animals before you see them, their songs of communication lingering in the early morning mist, a highlight of your trip to the Red Island. Other lemurs which can be seen here are the red-bellied lemur, brown lemur, lesser bamboo lemur, with nocturnal lemurs - brown mouse lemur, greater dwarf lemur (Sep/Oct - May), Eastern woolly lemur, sportive lemur, aye aye (seen once each year!). Today you will explore montane forest park and have the chance to spot a variety of, not just lemurs, but also birds and reptiles.
Overnight: Vakona Lodge (B/D)

27 Aug
Today you depart Andasibe with a day driving back to Tana and then southwards to Antsirabe. Throughout the day you pass through a variety of highland scenery with an optional stop at Ambatolampy to see aluminium pot casting.
Overnight: Couleur Cafe (B/D)

28 Aug
Today you continue your drive south through the highlands and make your way eastwards to the rain forest reserve of Ranomafana National Park.
Overnight: Hotel Domaine Nature; simple but comfortable, a real rainforest lodge overlooking the Namorona River.14 bungalows set amongst lush vegetation and constructed with local materials offer comfortable accommodation (B/D)

29 Aug
Today you will visit the Ranomafana forest, where you may be lucky and see 3 out of the 4 species of bamboo lemur found in Madagascar. The most common is the lesser bamboo lemur which you may have seen in Andasibe. The greater bamboo lemur is very rare and only known for 2 locations, you may find them by hearing the crack of big bamboo stems as they feed. The star of Ranomafana is the golden bamboo lemur which was only discovered in 1986 whilst researchers were trying to find the greater bamboo lemur. It is thought that their diet of bamboo tips containing cyanide may be responsible for their golden fur, hence the name. The largest lemur in the park is the elusive Milne-Edwards sifaka, often spotted high up in the forest canopy. You should also look out for red bellied lemur which live in couples with their offspring and red fronted brown lemurs which live in large groups. Ranomafana is a birding hotspot but finding birds in the dense forest can be very tricky - an early morning start is essential.
Overnight: Hotel Domaine Nature (B/D)

30 Aug
Today you will have the privilege of visiting a conservation project about 1 and a half hours from Ranomafana. This busy project researches bamboo lemurs, black and white ruffed lemurs and aye-aye’s, as well as reforestation and working with local communities and schools. Your day will include tracking all three of these highly endangered lemurs, as well as having the chance to visit a nearby school. This evening, after tracking the elusive and bizarre looking aye-aye, you will return to Ranomafana for your overnight stay.
Overnight: Hotel Domaine Nature (B/D)

31 Aug
Today you make an early start for the drive to the south. After a brief stop at Fianarantsoa, the last major town on the highlands, we descend into the west coast region where the scenery drastically changes to open savannah grasslands with zebu herds tended by Malagasy cowboys. There is time before lunch to visit the vineyards found at the town of Ambalavao and to see handmade paper being produced. Just after Ambalavao is the community managed reserve of Anja. Here you should be able to spot troupes of ring-tails in the forest between huge granite outcrops, a wonderful photo opportunity. In the late afternoon you will be driving through the fantastic scenery of the Isalo National Park before arriving at the oasis setting of the Jardin du Roy Hotel.
Overnight: Jardin du Roy; a stunning hotel newly constructed in the Isalo National Park (B/D)

1 Sep
Today you have the fantastic opportunity for some trekking through impressive canyons and along dramatic bluffs; Isalo's topography has been sculpted over the years by wind and water and now lends itself to some quite fanciful shapes! Enjoy a classic walk along the Massif affording dramatic views before you arrive late in the afternoon at "La Piscine Naturelle", a natural swimming pool formed in the rocks fringed by palm trees and forever topped up by a flowing waterfall - after a day out in the sun it is hard to refuse! Travellers also have the option of visiting a variety of natural canyons in the area, horse riding or just relaxing back at the Jardin du Roy. There is no better way to finish the day however than to watch the sun setting through "La Fenetre" a natural rock formation providing a window to the setting sun.
Overnight: Jardin du Roy (B/D)

2 Sep
After breakfast you leave the hotel for a final drive across the savannah plains before arriving at the coastal town, and regional capital, of Toliara. You stop just before town at the arboretum which has the most extensive collection of south Madagascan plants found anywhere on earth. After lunch you can take a walk on the botanical trail and you may also spot a sleeping mouse lemur among the bizarre branches. There is no beach at Toliara but just 20 miles north is the reef protected bay of Ifaty.
Overnight: Hotel Paradisier; wooden bungalows with private terraces and mezzanine levels perched on the edge of the beach offer a great place to sit back and relax. With sweeping sea views, a beautiful swimming pool and some of the best diving in the world it is impossible not to enjoy this private haven! (B/D)

3 Sep
Today you have a guided visit to the spiny forest included, but apart from that the rest of the day is yours at leisure. Sit back, relax and reflect on your Madagascan adventure!
Overnight: Hotel Paradisier (B/D)

4 Sep
Transfer to the airport and fly back to Tana where you have a day room booked at the Orchid Hotel. You will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight out, or speak to one of our specialist Madagascar consultants about extending your trip. (B)