Welcome to Madagascar - Tonga Soa! Our representative will be expecting you and transferring you to your hotel.
ANTANANARIVO – ANTSIRABE (169 km about 6 h drive)
After breakfast. Drive to the Lemurs’ park which is located 25 km of the capital city for a visit, 9 species of lemurs are jumping around freely. After the visit drive to Antsirabe through a landscape composed mainly of mountains and rice fields . Tour of the “Town of Water”: so called because of its numerous thermal springs and the existence of two crater lakes. Visit of a workshop where they make miniatures from recycled materials.
ANTSIRABE – RANOMAFANA (240 km about 8 h drive)
After breakfast departure to Ranomafana. A good 20 kilometres before the first stop in Ambositra we cross the new Fatihita Bridge and have a good view (right side) of the stone bridge over the river, which was blown up by supporters of the ex-dictator Didier Ratsiraka during political unrest in 2002 to separate the capital from the surrounding area. A short break in Ambositra to visit some of the studios and boutiques of the wood carvers of the local Zafimaniry tribe. They are specialists in marquetry work, wooden sculptures and figures of all kinds. You can also buy beautiful silk scarves from Soatanana and the surrounding area. Trading is common. The eye-catcher in the centre is a mighty Benedictine monastery opposite the cathedral. On Saturdays there is a big weekly market. Also the farmers from the surrounding area offer theirgoods here, mostly agricultural or from the village blacksmith. Here you can stroll peacefully without being disturbed. Drive on to Ranomafana (another 150 km, the name means "hot water"), then check into the hotel. Before dinner possibility for a walk with flashlights along the road to look for nocturnal animals. With a bit of luck you will discover fast moving brown mouse lemurs, sleeping chameleon species in all sizes, lively frogs etc.
RANOMAFANA – FIANARANTSOA (85 km about 2 h drive)
Breakfast, followed by a morning visit with a well-trained local nature guide to the 41'601 hectare national park on the Namorona River with its extraordinary flora and fauna up to 1400 metres above sea level, including the Red-bellied lemur, the Red-fronted lemur, and the Golden Bamboo lemur (Hapalemur aureus), which was only discovered in 1986. In this magnificent national park with mountain rainforest, founded in 1991, there are over 100 bird species, 68 of which only occur in Madagascar, then various species of ferns, mosses, orchids and giant bamboo. This hike takes about three to four hours and is quite strenuous as it goes over rough and smooth, up and downhill and on narrow forest paths. It requires endurance, fitness and surefootedness. Take your time for the trail and observations along the way. Below the park is the Valbio International Training and Education Center with its own laboratory for scientists and students from all over the world. Before continuing on, it is worth visiting the small market in the centre of Ranomafana and the hot springs with public swimming pool. On the way there, a suspension bridge has been built to replace the steel structure that was destroyed by a cyclone a few years ago. Then departuretowards Fianarantsoa, with a small stop four kilometres above the park entrance, where on the left is the Andriamamovoka waterfall. Search for frogs...
FIANARANTSOA – RANOHIRA (295 km about 7,5 h drive)
Early departure to Ranohira. Stop in Ambalavao – the commercial centre of the southern Betsileo region, renowned for its folks, arts and crafts – to visit the “Antemoro Paper” factory (visit not possible on Sundays). This paper is a delicate, handmade, flower-decorated paper made of the fibres of the tree called “Avoha”. Another stop 12km south of Ambalavao to visit the Anja park, where you can see on a walk of around two hours on a little bumpy tracks, but not steep, some families of ring-tailed Katta lemurs in their natural surroundings. Continuation to Ranohira.
Morning trek inside the Isalo National Park to discover on a walk of around three to five hours on sometimes bumpy tracks, at some parts a bit steep, the massif of Isalo, its ruin like sandstones, canyons, endemic fauna and flora (Lemurs and endemic plants such as Pachypodium , aloes,..) and to swim in its natural pool.
RANOHIRA – TULEAR – IFATY (240 Km about 6 hour-drive + 27 Km about 1 hour-drive)
After breakfast, off to Tuléar along a straight road. The landscape is composed of dry forests, baobabs and some proudly decorated Mahafaly tombs. Arrival at Tuléar visit of the Arboretum with many species of endemic plants. Transfer to Ifaty –a seaside resort protected by a coral reef, on good road and through spiny bush.
Day free for leisure at the beach, or a walk to the nearby fishermen village, or an optional visit of the Reniala reserve with its Baobab Trees, birds etc..
Relax on the beach then transfer to the airport and flight to the capital city of Madagascar. Meeting at the airport.
In the morning, excursion to Ambohimanga – a King‘s palace, 21km north of the city (UNESCO World heritage site). In the afternoon visit of the handcrafts market to buy some souvenirs.
Day room at hotel if your flight departs in the evening.
