Itinerary

Days 1 & 2 – September 22 & 23

U.S. / Antananarivo, Madagascar

Begin your Madagascar tour by flying independently from the U.S. on connecting flights to Antananarivo (Tana), Madagascar. Arrive on Day 2 and transfer to Hotel Colbert, where you enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. (Meals Aloft)

Day 3 – September 24

Antananarivo

Tour Tana, as the city is known to locals. Our tour takes in the Rova (queen’s palace), the botanical gardens where we enjoy excellent birding, and the Museum of Ethnology and Paleontology which gives an excellent introduction to the wildlife and cultures of Madagascar we will be experiencing during our journey. Enjoy a festive welcome dinner this evening. (B,L,D)

Day 4 – September 25

La Mandraka Nature Farm / Andasibe (Perinet) Reserve

After breakfast, set out for Andasibe (Perinet) Reserve. Stop at La Mandraka Nature Farm en route to enjoy lunch and their collection of colorful reptiles and amphibians. Check in at Vakona Forest Lodge and spend the afternoon exploring Andasibe Reserve, situated in an area of montane rainforest. The reserve is famed for its population of babakoto indri lemur. Indri (“Indro”) means, roughly, "there it is" in Malagasy. These largest of all living lemurs are monogamous and do not live in captivity anywhere in the world. They greet the morning with a unique chorus of elaborate calls that echo throughout the forest. Several groups in the reserve have become highly habituated and are therefore relatively easy to see. The area is also home to grey bamboo lemurs and brown lemurs, as well as Parson's chameleons, which can exceed half a meter in length, Madagascar tree boa and numerous birds including Madagascar blue pigeon, blue coua, Nelicourvi weaver, Madagascar paradise flycatcher, blue vanga and Madagascar buzzard. (B,L,D)

Day 5 – September 26

Association Mitsinjo / Andasibe (Perinet) Reserve

Enjoy sunrise while exploring the reserve. After breakfast and a peaceful morning, continue our Madagascar safari by traveling to Association Mitsinjo, a local NGO promoting reforestation and conservation. In addition to wildlife conservation, Mitsinjo works with 400 local households, providing mosquito nets and water purifying kits, in addition to their work with HIV/AIDS and family planning. Many of Madagascar’s unique and interesting species are nocturnal so exploring at night is a must. Nighttime wildlife viewing is not allowed in Andasibe Reserve but is a wonderful experience at nearby Association Mitsinjo. We set out in the evening looking for nocturnal animals such as Goodman’s mouse lemur, endemic Parson’s chameleon and Uroplatus geckos, among other species. (B,L,D)

Day 6 – September 27

Lemur Island / Mantadia National Park / Andasibe (Perinet) Reserve

Spend the early morning at Lemur Island, where we have the chance to observe bamboo lemur, black and white ruffed lemur, brown lemur, and diademed sifaka. After breakfast, head to Mantadia National Park for a full day exploring the primary forest. While Mantadia is similar to Andasibe, it is much larger and trails are more rustic – as such it is less visited than Andasibe reserve. The park plays hosts to some fairly habituated diademed sifakas, arguably the most beautiful of the lemurs. These primary forests are also great for finding scaly ground roller, pitta-like ground roller and red-breasted coua. Hike along a trail to a sparkling waterfall, where you can enjoy a swim before our picnic lunch. (B,L,D)

Day 7 – September 28

Parc Ivoloina / Tamatave

Continue our Madagascar safari with a drive through the Malagasy countryside, from the high plateau to the lowland coastal region, to Tamatave and check into Calypso Hotel and Spa. Spend the afternoon at Parc Ivoloina. The park is currently operated by the Madagascar Fauna Group, an international consortium of zoos, botanical gardens, universities and related institutions working together to conserve Madagascar's lemurs and other spectacular wildlife. From teaching supplemental school lessons to children in their Environmental Education Center to carrying out research in the field, their projects encompass the full spectrum of conservation. Parc Ivoloina combines both zoological park and natural habitat. In the zoological park we observe aye-aye, bamboo lemur, brown lemur and blue-eyed black lemur before exploring the forest to search for black and white ruffed lemur, white-fronted brown lemur, crowned lemur, red-bellied lemur and grey gentle lemur. Parc Ivoloina is also home to hundreds of radiated tortoises. Other notable Malagasy species found here include spider tortoises, tree boas, tomato frogs, tenrecs and vasa parrots. (B,L,D)

Day 8 – September 29

Andrifotra Private Reserve / Maroantsetra

After breakfast, fly to Maroantsetra in the northeast of the island and check into Relais du Masoala. Spend our afternoon aboard local boats exploring the rivers and marshlands of Andrifotra Private Reserve. Search for interesting birdlife, such as serpent eagle, among other species. (B,L,D)

Days 9 & 10 – September 30-October 1

Nosy Mangabe / Masoala Peninsula / Maroantsetra

Enjoy a full day at Nosy Mangabe, or Mangabe Island, an important conservation area for the fascinating nocturnal aye-aye. The island is the best place to see black and white ruffed lemur, as well as white-fronted brown lemur. On a nature walk through the rainforest, search for fringed Uroplatus gecko, largest of the 10 species in this endemic genus. Some look like dead leaves, while others mimic bark. This remarkable ability to literally fade into the woodwork makes them a particular delight to spot. Located in Madagascar's most biodiverse region, Masoala Peninsula is the largest national park, protecting the last large expanse of coastal rainforest in Madagascar. On our full day excursions, sharp-eyed naturalists search for red-ruffed lemur, red-fronted brown lemur, aye-aye, tenrec, fossa, fanaloka and falanouc. The park is also home to various species of brightly colored Mantella frogs, and all manner of extraordinary chameleons. Masoala is refuge to the endangered Madagascar red owl and Madagascar serpent eagle, along with many endemic bird species. Flora includes the Masoala pitcher plant and the very rare ravim-be palm (Marojejya darianii, listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as one of the 12 most endangered living organisms in the world). The peninsula features deserted, sandy beaches which we comb looking for interesting species before snorkeling among the colorful marine life that inhabits the coral reefs and crystal clear waters. (B,L,D Daily)

Day 11 – October 2

Maroantsetra / Antananarivo

Visit a local craft market in Masoala before flying back to Tana and our base at Hotel Colbert for overnight. Enjoy an evening at leisure to explore Tana as you like. (B,L)

Days 12 & 13 – October 3 & 4

Berenty Reserve

After breakfast, fly to Fort Dauphin in the far southeast of the island and set out across the countryside to Berenty Reserve. Spend two days exploring this small private reserve set in the semi-arid spiny forest and sisal fields. The reserve was created 70 years ago by the de Heaulme family as a private park to protect 250 hectares encompassing spiny forest and dry tamarind gallery woodland along the Mandrare River. The reserve is home to six species of lemur and the south’s largest colony of Madagascar fruit bats. The ease in observing resident sauntering ring-tailed lemurs and “dancing” Verreaux sifakas has turned this small protected area into one of Madagascar’s prime wildlife destinations. Enjoy naturalist-guided walks through the network of broad, well-maintained paths is a rewarding wildlife experience. By day, observe myriad birdlife and the reserve’s numerous ring-tailed lemurs and sifakas, as well as some red-fronted brown lemurs. At night, look for white-footed sportive lemur, Grey mouse lemur and the newly recognised red-and-grey mouse lemur. Exploring this reserve will also grant you the opportunity to see some of the reserve’s 103 bird species, 56 of whom breed here, and observe many prolific reptiles, including various chameleons species, lizards, the endangered radiated and spider tortoises and the Madagascar boa. Spend two nights at Berenty Lodge. (B,L,D Daily)

Day 14 – October 5

Berenty Reserve / Andohahela Private Reserve / Fort Dauphin

After one last wildlife excursion in Berenty, set out for Fort Dauphin, stopping en route at the award-winning Andohahela Private Reserve. Although Andohahela has been protected since 1939, it was not declared a national park and opened to tourism until 1998. Located just northwest of Fort Dauphin, Andohahela offers a perfect overview of the fauna, flora and landscapes of East and Southern Madagascar. Tour Andohahela, which spreads over 760 km² and contains the last dense and humid forests of southern Madagascar. The extraordinary variety of habitats in this stunning reserve is mirrored in the richness of species that call the park home. Thirteen species of lemurs can be found here, including Verreaux's sifaka, ring-tailed lemur, collared brown lemur and southern lesser bamboo lemur. On our nature walk, look for some of the park’s 130 bird species, 67 reptile species, including same extremely rare species of geckos, turtles and snakes, and 50 amphibians. Spend tonight at Croix du Sud in Fort Dauphin. (B,L,D)

Day 15 – October 6

Antananarivo

Fly to Tana and enjoy time to explore on your own. After a festive farewell dinner, spend the last night of our Madagascar safari at Hotel Colbert. (B,L,D)