0203 019 3722
Classic Madagascar Adventure
A tailor-made adventure seeking out Madagascar's unique wildlife and experiencing its finest landscapes
13 nights from £5,350 per person sharing, including accommodation, guides, flights and transfers
Best time to go: April to November
Madagascar is one of the world’s greatest biodiversity destinations. You will experience its finest landscapes, its unique wildlife and discover what makes this exquisite African island so special. Our guides will seek out eight species of lemur in Andasibe National Park, and night walks in the Ifotaka rainforest will reveal that wildlife never sleeps. In their sacred forests you can meet the traditional Malagasy Antandroy tribe before you canoe through the mangroves on the coast.
Day 1: UK to Madagascar
Arrive in Antananarivo after flying from the UK via Paris. We'll meet you at the airport and drive you to Maison Gallieni (images below) for a night of relaxation before your adventure begins.This unique city, known localally as Tana, is in the centre of Madagascar and exudes a distinctive
French flavour.
Day 2: Antananarivo to Andasibe National Park
Just four hours drive due east from Tana is the mountainous ecosystem of the Andasibe National Park, home to eight different species of lemur and many of Madagascar's chameleons. For the next 3 nights you’ll stay at lakeside Vakona Forest Lodge (images below), set amid lush forest on the edge of the park, with comfortable cottage style accommodation.
Days 3 & 4: Andasibe National Park
Expert rangers will guide you through a network of trails as you seek out truly unique species. Andasibe is the island's best location for spotting indri, Madagascar's largest lemur. Two of the resident indri groups here are habituated to humans, making them wonderfully easy to get close to. The birdlife, from coral-billed nuthatch to the long-eared owl, is equally spectacular.
Day 5: Andasibe National Park to Antananarivo
The morning is all yours to laze at Vakona, dipping into the pool and enjoying the sounds of the birdlife. Once you’re feeling refreshed and rejuvenated it’s time to head back to Antananarivo for a quick one night stop-over at simple but comfortable Le Relais de Plateaux.
Day 6: Antananarivo to Mandrare River Camp
From the capital you’ll fly to the south coast city of Fort Dauphin (known locally as Taolanaro, or the ‘Place of Dreams’) and be driven through rural Madagascar for a 3 night stay at Mandrare River Camp. Built within an old sisal plantation on the banks of the Mandrare River, the camp offers four-poster beds and delectable cuisine. As sun sets beneath the tamarind trees you can enjoy a cocktail and drink in the views of the mountain jungles beyond. This wildlife-rich terrain is sacred to the Antandroy tribe.
Days 7 & 8: Mandrare & Ifotaka Rainforest
You’ll find a different world entirely as you explore Mandrare. The calls of the crested drongo will wake you and the songs of the Antandroy tribe will punctuate your days. This is your chance to immerse yourself in the cultures of a traditional Madagascan tribe and find out about their lives. Meanwhile day and night walks reveal the Antandroy's pristine ancestral forests and the creatures, including four adorable species of lemur, that also live cheek by jowl with the Antandroy.
Day 9: Manafiafy
Today you head east to the coast to the sleepy village of Manafiafy which lies in a calm, island-dotted bay. Portuguese traders first sought safe anchorage here way back in 1613. The Manafiafy Beach & Rainforest Lodge has just 6 cottages and will be your home for the next 4 nights. It's in easy walking distance from the sea and you’ll find this handful of forest-backed cottages makes a comfortable traveller’s rest and is a wonderful place to spend your last few nights in Madagascar.
Days 10 to 12: Manafiafy
Although peaceful, there’s lots to do in Manafiafy. You can visit the wetland birdlife on a motorboat trip and canoe amid the mangroves. You can whale watch from an observation tower, take a sail boat to an offshore island for an idyllic picnic lunch, and visit the local fisherman's village. For the chance to see dwarf lemur and the mouse lemur, we particularly recommend a rainforest trek. The bay is sheltered and provides for safe and excellent swimming and snorkelling.
Day 13: Manafiafy to Antananarivo
Today it's time to head back to Antananarivo and one last night at Le Relais des Plateaux. There will be time to visit the markets and shops to pick up arts and handicrafts or, if you prefer, simply to relax by the pool or enjoy a spa treatment.
Day 14: Fly home
At the end of your Madagascar adventure, we’ll drive you to the airport in plenty of time for your return flight to the UK (via Paris).
Time to Start Planning?
Please call us on 0203 019 3722 or simply send us an email. We look forward to arranging the perfect Madagascar adventure for you and our destination specialists will gladly refine and modify the proposal until you are 100% happy.
Think of us as your private travel concierge, at no extra cost. With ATOL protection and 24/7 support whilst you're away.
International callers should dial +44 203 019 3722