Day notes
Upon arrival into Ivato Airport you will be greeted by an English-speaking guide who will accompany you to your hotel in the upper town of Antananarivo. ‘Tana’ – as the locals call it has fascinating traditional architecture and a more Indonesian influence than the rest of Madagascar. Maison Gallieni is a restored colonial mansion with an elegant mix of modern and traditional décor. Relax and take a dip in the pool before dinner.
Transfer from Ivato International Airport [TNR] to Maison Gallieni
Transfer
Ivato International Airport [TNR]
Maison Gallieni
Check-in to Maison Gallieni
Day notes
After a late breakfast, your guide will take you east to Andasibe, a stunning rainforest park, about 4 hours’ drive from the city. Stop along the route for a picnic lunch. Andasibe consists of two protected areas, the PerinetSpecial Reserve and Mantadia National Park. Perinet is world famous for its population of Indri lemurs, which are the largest living lemur species.
The journey to Andasibe offers first time visitors to Madagascar an introduction to rural life with rice fields, redbrick houses and roadside stalls selling seasonal fruits and vegetables lining the route. This afternoon, visit a private reserve operated by local NGO Mitsinjo. The NGO fundsreforestation, community education and sensitization to conservation issues as well as running Madagascar’s first amphibian captive-breeding facility. Here you will see a stunning array of wildlife and can also plant an indigenous species along the reforestation trail.
Check-out from Maison Gallieni
Transfer from Maison Gallieni to Mantadia Lodge
Transfer
Maison Gallieni
Mantadia Lodge
Check-in to Mantadia Lodge
Day notes
After breakfast you will head to Mantadia National Park (1.5 hour drive) with a picnic lunch. Look for some of the lemur species in this stunning park including the Indri indri, diademed sifaka, grey bamboo lemur, red-bellied lemur and white ruffed lemur. While the trails are slightly more difficult, the rewards are great as the forest is taller, wilder and less crowded than Perinet. There is an abundance of birds including the scaly ground roller, the pitta-like ground roller and the red-breasted coua. This is a naturalist’s goldmine with many seldom seen species of mammals, reptiles and birds. Enjoy a picnic by the Rianasoa Waterfall before hiking back to the vehicle and return to the lodge. A night walk will be organised in late evening in the forest surrounding the reserve with a local guide. You will see a variety of nocturnal lemurs: mouse lemurs, white footed sportive lemur, fat-tailed dwarf lemur, as well as the woolly lemur.
Day notes
After breakfast, enjoy a visit to the 810 ha Perinet Reserve with a local guide in search of the Indri indri. With a barely visible tail, black and white markings and a surprised teddy–bear face, this lemur is one of the few animals in the world that cannot survive in captivity. There are another 11 species of lemur to spot as you walk through the rainforest. You may find a troop of grey bamboo lemurs, common brown lemur, diademed sifaka and the black and white ruffed lemur. Birdwatchers should look out for the velvet asity, the blue coua and the Nuthatch vanga and many more endemic species. Perinet is home to many reptiles, invertebrates, and some of Madagascar’s over a thousand orchid species.
Return to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, drive back to Tana. In the evening, your guide will accompany you to Le Marais, the top restaurant in Madagascar from Chef Lalaina who has received numerous culinary awards in Europe. Le Marais offers a unique blend of Malagasy and European cuisine using the best Malagasy ingredients.
Check-out from Mantadia Lodge
Transfer from Mantadia Lodge to Novotel Convention & Spa Antananarivo Hotel
Transfer
Mantadia Lodge
Novotel Convention & Spa Antananarivo Hotel
Check-in to Novotel Convention & Spa Antananarivo Hotel
Day notes
This morning you will transfer back to Ivato Airport in time for your Tsaradia flight to Diego Suarez (2hrs).
Upon arrival in Diego Suarez, you will be met by your English speaking guide and transferred to Joffreville(1hr). Diego Suarez is well known for its spectacular setting, overlooking a deep harbour. For centuries, it has been considered of great strategic importance. Today, Diego Suarez is an excellent gateway to the varied natural attractions of northern Madagascar. The city has long been relatively isolated from the rest of Madagascar yet influenced by the many travellers and traders who have passed through: Arab, Chinese, Indian and Creole culture have all made their mark on this cosmopolitan city.
Check-out from Novotel Convention & Spa Antananarivo Hotel
Transfer from Novotel Convention & Spa Antananarivo Hotel to Ivato International Airport [TNR]
Transfer
Novotel Convention & Spa Antananarivo Hotel
Ivato International Airport [TNR]
Scheduled Flight from Ivato International Airport [TNR] to Arrachart Airport [DIE]
Scheduled Flight
Ivato International Airport [TNR]
Arrachart Airport [DIE]
Transfer from Arrachart Airport [DIE] to Nature Lodge
Transfer
Arrachart Airport [DIE]
Nature Lodge
Check-in to Nature Lodge
Expert tips:
Luggage Restrictions
• Madagascar Airlines has strict luggage policies and each passenger can only have 1 piece of checked in luggage weighing a maximum of 20 kg (44 lbs) and 1 piece of hand luggage weighing a maximum of 5 kg (11 lbs)
Day notes
This morning you will meet with your local English-speaking guide and drive to Montagne d’Ambre National Park for a full day visit. Established by the French in 1958, this volcanic massif and its surrounding forest are now one of the country’s best examples of ecotourism, which invites local community participation in planning and management. Thousands of acres of mountain rainforest are home to extraordinary plant and animal life. Huge ferns and strangler figs flourish in the forest, while several indigenous species of lemurs, including Sanford’s lemur and the crowned lemur, are also found here. You may even see ring-tailed mongoose and fossa. Magnificent birdlife includes crested ibis, paradise flycatcher, forest rock thrush and ground-rollers. You may wish to make one of the waterfalls the destination of your trip – as you make your way to one of the dramatic falls, you can learn more about the area’s inhabitants.
Day notes
This morning, meet with your English-speaking local guide and transfer by road to Iharana Bush Camp (4hrs). The drive is on a fairly poor road but the lush, volcanic landscape is gorgeous. This is the breadbasket of the Diana region. As you approach Ankarana you will get a spectacular view of the Tsingy. Check into the lodge. Evening at leisure. The rooms at Iharana Bush Camp are beautifully designed to resemble a traditional Malagasy house. This means they are very open to nature and there will be insects in the room at night. The large beds have an excellent mosquito net.
Check-out from Nature Lodge
Transfer from Nature Lodge to Iharana Bush Camp
Transfer
Nature Lodge
Iharana Bush Camp
Check-in to Iharana Bush Camp
Day notes
After breakfast, you will set out with your local English speaking guide for a full day visit to the Park. Ankaranais an island of Tsingy and forest, the massif is penetrated by numerous caves and canyons. Some of the largest caves have collapsed, forming isolated pockets of river-fed forest with their own perfectly protected flora and fauna. The reserve is known for its many lemur species, including crowned and Sanford’s brown lemurs. It is also a birdwatcher’s paradise with nearly 100 species. If you are lucky you may even spot fossa and tenrec. Your guide will recommend the best trails to follow depending on your physical aptitude and interests. Points of interest include: Baobab forest, Ampondrabe River, the abyss where the three rivers of Ankarana disappear, Bat’s Cave, Les tourelles des Tsingy (turret shaped rock formations) and Lac Vert, a stunning crater lake.
Day notes
After an early breakfast, you will depart to discover the Tsingy in front of the camp; it leads to the heart of the Tsingy. Depart on foot or on a dugout canoe. Your local guide leads you until the chameleon cave. Then, you will have almost an astonishing 3 hours walk with two panoramic viewpoints. The biodiversity, the endemic ecosystem of the Ankarana Tsingys will reveal themselves to you during this thrilling experience. You will see lemurs, butterflies, birds, various colourful flora, invertebrates… Enjoy a visit to the Mandresy Cave, part of the Tsingy. Before getting to the entry of the cave, stroll for 20 minutes along the Ankarana villages. Enjoy unique landscapes. At the entrance of Mandresy Cave, the guide will provide you cap lamp which is necessary to explore this huge cavity full of stalagmite and stalactite. A track has been designed so as to make the cave accessible for everyone. You will have the privilege to see some blind fish and the famous fruit bats of Madagascar called “Roussette” (Rousettus madagascariensis). You will also be amazed to see the different shapes of the stalagmites and particularly the size of the cavities which hide various magic places! On the way, you will find some cooking utensils, cooking pots and glasses because the caves were used as a shelter by the Ankarana people.
Day notes
After breakfast, transfer by road to Ankify (2hrs 30 min). In Ankify, board the boat for a 45 min crossing to Nosy Be. Then transfer by road from the port to Nosy Be international airport.
Departures on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with Ethiopian Airlines and on Sundays with SA Airlink to Johannesburg.
Check-out from Iharana Bush Camp
Transfer from Iharana Bush Camp to Ankify Harbour
Transfer
Iharana Bush Camp
Ankify Harbour
Cruise from Ankify Harbour to Nosy Be Port
Cruise
Ankify Harbour
Nosy Be Port
Transfer from Nosy Be Port to Fascene Airport [NOS]
Transfer
Nosy Be Port
Fascene Airport [NOS]
