Itinerary Highlights
- See Mandrare's incredible ringtails, sifakas, baobabs and spiny bush
- Experience the Madagascan rainforest in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
- Head to the magnificent, remote Tsingy de Namoroka for 'tsingy', baobabs and rare wildlife
- Enjoy top notch hospitality in remote, secluded lodges and camps
What's Included
- Flights
- Accommodation Throughout
- Travel Guide
- Transfers
13 nights from £10,035 - £10,830 per person
Shelley Phillips
Travel Specialist
For discerning travellers wishing to experience Madagascar's incomparable diversity in comfort, this sample itinerary is an excellent choice. To understand the island's widely contrasting ecotypes, the trick lies in visiting one location in each of its three chief climatic/floristic zones. This itinerary begins with a trip to the island's humid eastern rainforest band, where Andasibe-Mantadia National Park never disappoints.
Then, travel by light aircraft to the sub-desert South, where the exclusive Mandrare River Camp is well positioned to enable you to experience the 'Spiny Desert' and to see its iconic wildlife.
Complete the overview with a visit to the recently opened (August 2024) Namoroka Tsingy Camp, which, being as remote as the previous property, is located at remote Tsingy de Namoroka National Park, to date visited by very few westerners. The camp is also reached by means of light aircraft transfers followed by a two-and-a-half-hour drive and affords you an exclusive wildlife experience.
At all three locations, accommodation and hospitality are excellent. The trip can be done from May to November (due to the seasonality of Tsingy de Namoroka) and, as it's a sample itinerary, we'll be more than happy to tailor it to suit your individual requirements and special interests.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Fly UK to Antananarivo, Madagascar
Welcome to Madagascar! On arrival, you'll be met and transfer to Nosy Manga Hotel (or similar accommodation) to stay overnight in a Superior Double Room with breakfast included. In order to work with the scheduled charter flights timetable, this sample individual tour begins on a Monday in Antananarivo.
Day 2 | Antananarivo to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
After an early breakfast, your private guide and driver will take you eastwards to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, a beautiful protected rainforest area about a five-hour drive from the capital. This locality's main drawcard is its habituated population of indri, which are the largest living lemur species. Enjoy lunch at your lodge before visiting Analamazaotra Special Reserve in the afternoon - managed by proactive NGO Association Mitsinjo. Analamazaotra is an excellent location to see the same wildlife as the much better-known Andasibe (Perinet) across the road, but without the crowds. You can also plant an indigenous species along the reforestation trail (by prior arrangement). Overnight at Mantadia Lodge in a Standard Room (Full Board).
Day 3 | Madagascar Rainforest Experience
After breakfast, your guide and driver will take you to the beautiful Mantadia National Park (one-and-a-half-hour drive) where you enjoy a picnic lunch. Here, you can search for some of the resident lemur species, including diademed sifaka, eastern lesser bamboo lemur, red-bellied lemur and white ruffed lemur. While the trails are slightly more difficult than in Andasibe and Analamazaotra, the rewards are high as the rainforest is taller, wilder and less crowded. Mantadia's diverse birdlife includes scaly and pitta-like ground rollers, red-breasted coua and white-throated oxylabes. Enjoy a picnic by the Rianasoa Waterfall before walking back to your private 4-wheel drive vehicle and returning to your lodge. A night walk will be organised in late evening along the periphery of the reserve with your guides. You should spot a variety of nocturnal lemurs including Goodman's mouse lemur and Sportive lemur. Overnight at Mantadia Lodge in a Standard Room (Full Board).
Staying at
Mantadia Lodge
Day 4 | Andasibe-Mantadia to Antananarivo
After breakfast, enjoy a visit to the famed 810ha Andasibe National Park ('Perinet Reserve') with your local guides in search of the resident indris. You may also see eastern lesser bamboo lemur, common brown lemur and diademed sifaka. Birdwatchers may spot velvet asity, the blue coua and the tiny coral-billed nuthatch vanga, among others. The rainforest is home to many reptiles, frogs, invertebrates and a variety of orchid species. Return to the lodge for lunch and, in the afternoon, set off on the five-hour drive back up to Antananarivo. In the evening, have dinner in an enchanting property in the heart of Antananarivo with a unique view of Lake Anosy and the Queen's Palace, at Maison de Maitre. Overnight at Nosy Manga Hotel in a King Standard Room.
Day 5 | Antananarivo to Mandrare River Camp
After breakfast, drive back to Ivato Airport in time for your scheduled charter flight to Ifotaka. Upon arrival, you'll be met by your guide and transfer to the camp via four-wheel-drive vehicle. Settle into your tent and enjoy the views over the Mandrare River. Depart for a late afternoon/night walk in the Forest of Zenavo. This is a fantastic way to see diurnal lemurs bedding down, and the nocturnal lemurs begin to wake in the eerie and prehistoric-looking Spiny Forest. You should spot some Verreaux's ifakas and nocturnal white-foot sportive lemurs. Then, after the sun has set, search for the two mouse lemur species, roosting birds, chameleons, owls and the now active sportive lemurs. Overnight at Mandrare River Camp in a Luxury Tent (All-Inclusive).
Day 6 | Exploring the Androy (Southern) Region
After breakfast, head out to the sacred dry gallery Tamarind woods to the south of the camp. Depending on the river depth, you can walk or take a boat across the Mandrare River to reach this dry deciduous woodland. Inquisitive groups of ring-tailed lemurs and the always entertaining Verreaux sifaka are the highlight of this excursion. Return to camp for lunch and a relaxed afternoon by the swimming pool. In the afternoon, head out for a walk through the sacred Spiny Forest where you see the ancestral tombs of the Antandroy tribe, as well as an extraordinary array of flora and fauna, unique to the sub-arid South. Your English- speaking guide and a tracker from the local community will give you an introduction to Antandroy culture and customs. Finally, enjoy sundowners on the Mandrare Riverbank. Overnight at Mandrare River Camp in a Luxury Tent (All-Inclusive).
Staying at
Mandrare River Camp
Day 7 | Ifotaka & Surrounds
After a morning brew, head to the Spiny Forest for an early morning walk. Witness the sunlight break through the octopus (Didieracea) trees while looking out for the many endemic birds such as crested and running couas, as well as a variety of vangas. Head back to camp for a sumptuous breakfast followed by a visit to the local market or the local village to meet the Antandroy residents. Lunch will be served at the camp followed by a relaxed afternoon watching life along the river from your tent terrace. Depart for a sundowner amidst the baobabs. Watching the sun set and moon rise with a view across the baobabs to the mountains beyond is a magical experience. In the evening, some of the village residents may come to perform beautiful traditional Antandroy music. Song and dance are at the heart of Antandroy culture and is used to accompany the major rituals and events of everyday life. Overnight at Mandrare River Camp in a Luxury Tent (All-Inclusive).
Staying at
Mandrare River Camp
Day 8 | Return to Antananarivo
This morning, you'll be transferred to the airstrip in time for your scheduled charter flight to Antananarivo. In the afternoon, you'll be met by your English-speaking guide, who'll take you to explore the historical Upper Town of Antananarivo. Continue downtown and enjoy the old colonial railway station built by the French in 1910. Overnight at Hotel Nosy Manga in a King Standard Room (Full Board).
Day 9 | Antananarivo to Namoroka Tsingy Camp
Take the early morning scheduled charter flight to the remote port town of Soalala. On arrival, you'll be met by your experienced, professional, English-speaking guide and transferred to Namoroka Tsingy Camp by road with a stop along the way for a village walk among the mango trees. On arrival into camp, settle into your tent. In the late afternoon, depart for a guided walk in the tropical deciduous dry forest surrounding the camp. Along with birds, chameleons, Decken's sifakas and red-fronted brown lemurs, you may even spot fossa. In the evening, enjoy sundowners amongst the baobabs. Overnight at Namoroka Tsingy Camp in a Tent (All-Inclusive).
Day 10 - 12 | Tsingy de Namoroka National Park
Enjoy three days in which to explore the magnificent Tsingy of Namoroka National Park and its surrounding areas. This national park has hitherto been receiving just 50 visitors per year due to the challenges of accessing it by road. It's one of the more unspoilt and remote protected areas in the country, with an abundance of birds and other wildlife. There are six resident lemur species, including the playful Decken’s sifaka, Milne-Edwards sportive lemur, the red-fronted brown lemur and the vociferous nocturnal fork-marked lemur. Enjoy exploration of the impressive cave system that stretches underneath the entire limestone massif. Here, you'll encounter rare fossil remains of species such as the Archaeolemur, a giant lemur species with a body mass of up to 260kg which went extinct, along with Madagascar’s other megafauna about 1,000 years ago. Have a picnic lunch in the shade of the tsingy. Overnight at Namoroka Tsingy Camp in a Tent (All-Inclusive).
Staying at
Namoroka Tsingy Camp
Day 13 | Tsingy de Namoroka - Antananarivo & Departure
After an early breakfast at camp, transfer by road to Soalala in time for your scheduled charter flight to Antananarivo. On arrival back into the capital in the late morning, your private guide will transfer you to Nosy Manga Hotel, where you have the use of a day/evening room, depending on the time of your international flight journey back home. Day/evening room use at Nosy Manga. (Or overnight if you prefer).
Day 14 | Arrival home
Arrive home after a wonderful trip!
Shelley Phillips
Travel Specialist
Pricing Information & Dates
13 nights from £10,035 - £10,830 per person
Itinerary Dates
Pricing
15th May 2025 -
20th Jun 2025
20th Jun 2025
£10,035
21st Jun 2025 -
31st Aug 2025
31st Aug 2025
£10,450
1st Sep 2025 -
31st Oct 2025
31st Oct 2025
£10,830
Shelley Phillips
Travel Specialist
Price Includes
- Return International Flights as per the itinerary
- All airport taxes and security charges
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- Transfers as specified
- Activities and excursions as specified
- All entrace fees on sightseeing tours as specified
* International flights from London Heathrow or selected other UK airports (economy class seating)
* Return scheduled light aircraft flights from Antananarivo to Mandrare River Camp and from Antananarivo to Soalala.
* All private transfers and four-wheel-drive transportation
* Services of professional and experienced, English-speaking Malagasy on-site guides
* All park permits and entrance fees
* Park/Protected Area guide fees
* Excursions and activities as outlined
* Accommodation with meals as per itinerary
Price Excludes
- Travel Insurance
- Any meals not specified in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
- Optional excursions
* Items of a personal nature
* Visa fee (35 euros, issued on arrival)
* Additional meals and drinks
* Gratuities
* Any additional/payable activities
Pricing Notes
* Airfare for this sample itinerary based on Kenya Airways return economy class fare from London Heathrow. Should you not require international flights, please deduct £965 from the tour price.
* Should you prefer to fly on other carriers, we will be pleased to tailor an itinerary for you accordingly.
* Tour price is based on two adults sharing in twin or double room accommodation.
Why Choose Us?
Passionate travel experts
- We've been leading wildlife travel since our first South Africa tours over 25 years ago
- Our Travel Specialists have lived in their specialist area for years
- We work with local guides to immerse you deeper in our diverse range of experiences
Personal & tailor-made
- You'll speak to your own expert who'll share their first-hand knowledge
- We'll make your itinerary seamless with 24/7 emergency contact available
- Your Travel Specialist will listen to ensure you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife you love
Responsible by nature
- We take care to actively contribute to the conservation of environments we visit
- For select countries, we make a charitable donation on your behalf when you make your booking
- We've partnered with conservation experts and NGOs to curate responsible tours
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