Ankarafantsika guided wildlife walk

After an early breakfast, depart on foot from the centrally-located restaurant on one of the 5 circuits in this wildlife-rich, western tropical dry deciduous forest called Ankarafantsika. Your guide will discuss with you the different circuits and depending on any particular wildlife that you are interested in, will help you choose which trail you want to complete. 

Terrain is gentle and the trails are well mapped so grading for the most part is easy. Your guide will point out various diurnal lemurs including resident troops of Coquerel's sifaka, which can even be seen in the teak trees around the restaurant and Ampijoroa Research Station. You should also see Common Brown lemurs and high up in the trees, the rare Mongoose lemur. Birdlife is fantastic - specials readily seen include Red-capped; Coquerel's and Crested couas; Madagascar green pigeon; Schlegel's asity and various Vangas, notably Sicklebilled, Blue, Rufous and the nationally rare Van Dam's vanga. Reptiles abound with commonly seen species including Giant hognosed snake, Oustalet's and Rhinoceros chameleons and bright green Phelsuma 'day' geckos. 

You should return to the Gite by lunch time. In the afternoon, you might wish to do one of the shorter walks such as those to see the grove of large Adansonia madagascariensis Baobabs, or Lac Ravelobe, where some Critically Endangered Madagascar fish eagles are resident. After dark, your guide can take you around the grounds of the Research Station, where nocturnal wildlife viewing is prolific.