ITINERARY
7 Nights | Madagascar Nature Itinerary
This is a sample itinerary, however, we have a whole host of itinerary ideas that are sure to inspire your next tailor-made holiday with Africa by Heart.
Day 1 | Andasible-Mantadia National Park
On arrival at Antananarivo International airport, you will be met by a representative from Africa by Heart before departing to Vakona Forest Lodge for a two-night stay.
Vakona Forest Lodge is designed in line with local Malagasy architecture. The ten bungalows and 14 double rooms offer the traveler the desired comfort of en-suite bathrooms, and verandas looking into the forest of Andasible National Park.
Day 2 | Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
After breakfast, you’ll depart for a full day visit of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. It is a 1½ hour drive along the bumpy road to the starting point of the walk.
Andasibe and Mantadia National Park Information:
- Type of the area: Eastern Mid-altitude Rainforest (800m to 1250m)
- Terrain: Various pathways: flat, up and down hill.
- Typical flora: Evergreen rainforest (Primary and secondary growth)
- Daytime Lemurs: Indri, Diademed-Sifaka, Common-Brown lemurs, Eastern Grey Bamboo Lemur, Black and White Ruffed-Lemur, Red-bellied Lemur (rarely seen).
- Night time Lemurs: Goodman’s Mouse Lemur, Furry-eared Dwarf lemur (Oct-May), Hairy-eared Dwarf Lemur (Oct-May and rarely seen), Small-toothed Sportive Lemur (rarely seen), Aye-Aye (rarely seen)
- Reptiles: Madagascar Tree Boa, Parson’s Chameleon, Elephant-ear Chameleon, Nose-horned Chameleon, Band-bellied Chameleon, Mossy leaf-tailed Gecko, Stump-tailed Chameleon…
- Birds: Ground Rollers, Vangas, Couas, …
Heading back from Mantadia you will have the opportunity to stop at the famous Lemur island, get very close to the lemurs as they feed them with fruit, and walk along Andasibe road and orchard garden to see nocturnal wildlife.
Day 3 | Analamazaotra Special Reserve
After breakfast, it’s a few minutes’ drive to Analamazaotra Special Reserve. Analamazaotra Special Reserve is a secondary forest covering 810 ha. This forest offers excellent sightings of Indri and other lemurs with their calls reaching up to 3km.
After spending the morning in the forest, stop for lunch and then start the drive back to Antananarivo via Antsirabe. Overnight at Palmeria Hotel on a dinner bed and breakfast basis.
Day 4 | Ifaty
At a time to be advised, you will be collected for your Air Madagascar flight to Tulear. At Tulear airport, you will be met by another driver/guide who will take you to the Arboretum of Antsokay for an introduction to the specific botany of south-western Madagascar.
Arboretum of Antsokay is a botanical garden, privately owned by a deceased Swiss botanist. It is a fascinating collection of the regional endemic plants of the dry south-western parts of the island. Most of the plants have medicinal properties. After lunch, you start driving north (30 mins) along the coastal road to Ifaty village where you will be accommodated at La Paradisier for two nights on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. Le Paradisier is built above the southern beach of Ifaty, around ten minutes from the village. The lodge has been carefully designed to make the most of the landscape around it.
Information on Ifaty Spiny Forest:
- Type of the area: South western lowland Spiny forest (0m to 150m)
- Terrain: Various pathways: flat and sandy
- Typical flora: Arid spiny forest (Primary and secondary growth) including two endemic species of Baobabs (Adansonia Zà and Adansonia Rubrostipa)
- Day time Lemurs: Ring-tailed Lemur (rarely seen)
- Night time Lemurs: Grey Mouse Lemur, White-footed Sportive Lemur, Ifaty Sportive Lemur (recently seen)
- Reptiles: Madagascar Ground Boa, Antimena Chameleon, Warty Chameleon, Jewel’s Chameleon, Three-eyed Lizard, Side-striped plated Lizard…
- Birds: Long-tailed Ground Roller, Lafresnaye’s Vanga, Running Coua, Subdesert Mesite, Sickle-billed Vanga, Archbold’s Newtonia…
Day 5 | Ifaty
Before breakfast, depart for a morning of birding at Mosa’s Forest (a few minutes’ drive from the lodge) to enjoy some of the best birding sites of the area.
The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Early in the evening before dinner, you’ll be taken to the spiny forest to see nocturnal wildlife such as lemurs and owls.
Day 6 | Ifaty
Enjoy a day at leisure.
Day 7 | Antananarivo
After breakfast, depart with your driver/guide to Tulear airport for your Air Madagascar flight back to Antananarivo.
On arrival, you will be met and transferred to Maiso Gallieni for overnight on a bed and breakfast basis.
In the afternoon enjoy a city sightseeing tour of Antananarivo to purchase souvenirs and visit markets and monuments before arriving back at your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 8 | Antananarivo
After a leisurely breakfast, you will be transferred to Antananarivo airport in time to connect with your onward flight.
DAY 1 – 3: Vakona Forest Lodge (2 Nights)
DAY 3 – 4: Palmeria Hotel (1 Night)
DAY 4 – 7: La Paradisier (3 Nights)
DAY 7 – 8: Maiso Gallieni (1 Night)
Day 1 | Andasible-Mantadia National Park
On arrival at Antananarivo International airport, you will be met by a representative from Africa by Heart before departing to Vakona Forest Lodge for a two-night stay.
Vakona Forest Lodge is designed in line with local Malagasy architecture. The ten bungalows and 14 double rooms offer the traveler the desired comfort of en-suite bathrooms, and verandas looking into the forest of Andasible National Park.
Day 2 | Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
After breakfast, you’ll depart for a full day visit of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. It is a 1½ hour drive along the bumpy road to the starting point of the walk.
Andasibe and Mantadia National Park Information:
- Type of the area: Eastern Mid-altitude Rainforest (800m to 1250m)
- Terrain: Various pathways: flat, up and down hill.
- Typical flora: Evergreen rainforest (Primary and secondary growth)
- Daytime Lemurs: Indri, Diademed-Sifaka, Common-Brown lemurs, Eastern Grey Bamboo Lemur, Black and White Ruffed-Lemur, Red-bellied Lemur (rarely seen).
- Night time Lemurs: Goodman’s Mouse Lemur, Furry-eared Dwarf lemur (Oct-May), Hairy-eared Dwarf Lemur (Oct-May and rarely seen), Small-toothed Sportive Lemur (rarely seen), Aye-Aye (rarely seen)
- Reptiles: Madagascar Tree Boa, Parson’s Chameleon, Elephant-ear Chameleon, Nose-horned Chameleon, Band-bellied Chameleon, Mossy leaf-tailed Gecko, Stump-tailed Chameleon…
- Birds: Ground Rollers, Vangas, Couas, …
Heading back from Mantadia you will have the opportunity to stop at the famous Lemur island, get very close to the lemurs as they feed them with fruit, and walk along Andasibe road and orchard garden to see nocturnal wildlife.
Day 3 | Analamazaotra Special Reserve
After breakfast, it’s a few minutes’ drive to Analamazaotra Special Reserve. Analamazaotra Special Reserve is a secondary forest covering 810 ha. This forest offers excellent sightings of Indri and other lemurs with their calls reaching up to 3km.
After spending the morning in the forest, stop for lunch and then start the drive back to Antananarivo via Antsirabe. Overnight at Palmeria Hotel on a dinner bed and breakfast basis.
Day 4 | Ifaty
At a time to be advised, you will be collected for your Air Madagascar flight to Tulear. At Tulear airport, you will be met by another driver/guide who will take you to the Arboretum of Antsokay for an introduction to the specific botany of south-western Madagascar.
Arboretum of Antsokay is a botanical garden, privately owned by a deceased Swiss botanist. It is a fascinating collection of the regional endemic plants of the dry south-western parts of the island. Most of the plants have medicinal properties. After lunch, you start driving north (30 mins) along the coastal road to Ifaty village where you will be accommodated at La Paradisier for two nights on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. Le Paradisier is built above the southern beach of Ifaty, around ten minutes from the village. The lodge has been carefully designed to make the most of the landscape around it.
Information on Ifaty Spiny Forest:
- Type of the area: South western lowland Spiny forest (0m to 150m)
- Terrain: Various pathways: flat and sandy
- Typical flora: Arid spiny forest (Primary and secondary growth) including two endemic species of Baobabs (Adansonia Zà and Adansonia Rubrostipa)
- Day time Lemurs: Ring-tailed Lemur (rarely seen)
- Night time Lemurs: Grey Mouse Lemur, White-footed Sportive Lemur, Ifaty Sportive Lemur (recently seen)
- Reptiles: Madagascar Ground Boa, Antimena Chameleon, Warty Chameleon, Jewel’s Chameleon, Three-eyed Lizard, Side-striped plated Lizard…
- Birds: Long-tailed Ground Roller, Lafresnaye’s Vanga, Running Coua, Subdesert Mesite, Sickle-billed Vanga, Archbold’s Newtonia…
Day 5 | Ifaty
Before breakfast, depart for a morning of birding at Mosa’s Forest (a few minutes’ drive from the lodge) to enjoy some of the best birding sites of the area.
The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Early in the evening before dinner, you’ll be taken to the spiny forest to see nocturnal wildlife such as lemurs and owls.
Day 6 | Ifaty
Enjoy a day at leisure.
Day 7 | Antananarivo
After breakfast, depart with your driver/guide to Tulear airport for your Air Madagascar flight back to Antananarivo.
On arrival, you will be met and transferred to Maiso Gallieni for overnight on a bed and breakfast basis.
In the afternoon enjoy a city sightseeing tour of Antananarivo to purchase souvenirs and visit markets and monuments before arriving back at your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 8 | Antananarivo
After a leisurely breakfast, you will be transferred to Antananarivo airport in time to connect with your onward flight.
OVERVIEW OF ITINERARY:
DAY 1 – 3: Vakona Forest Lodge (2 Nights)
DAY 3 – 4: Palmeria Hotel (1 Night)
DAY 4 – 7: La Paradisier (3 Nights)
DAY 7 – 8: Maiso Gallieni (1 Night)