Madagascar holidays, island adventure
| country: | Madagascar |
| departures: | This trip can be tailormade at a time to suit you and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary. The best time to visit is April to December. |
| price: | From £2600 (15 days) excluding flights. We can offer advice on flights from the UK |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
A fantastic safari taking in some of the wildlife highlights and ultimate luxury of the red island of Madagascar.
Time is set aside to explore some of the last remaining tracts of rainforest, to track the largest living lemurs, the Indri, and depending on the time of year watching whales breaching off the coastline whilst based at the luxurious Princesse Bora Lodge.
Time is set aside to explore some of the last remaining tracts of rainforest, to track the largest living lemurs, the Indri, and depending on the time of year watching whales breaching off the coastline whilst based at the luxurious Princesse Bora Lodge.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive into Antananarivo, met by your private vehicle and driver and transfer to your hotel in Antananarivo (Tana). Overnight: Hotel Palissandre – very comfortable located within walking distance from the town centre, great food and lovely views. |
| Day 2: | Today you make your way northwards to Maroantsetra in order that you can connect with Nosy Mangabe the next day. Nestled at the end of the Bay of Antongil Maroantsetra is Madagascar at its most authentic being away from the main tourist circuits. Overnight: Relais de Masoala – set amidst a coconut grove on the bay overlooking Nosy Mangabe with a pool and excellent food (B/L/D) |
| Day 3: | Today you make your way northwards to Nosy Mangabe with its beautiful sandy coves, buttress root trees and variety of fauna and flora including the leaf tailed gecko, aye-aye, black and white ruffed lemurs and white fronted brown lemurs! Overnight: Camping on the island (B/L/D) |
| Day 4-6: | Today you transfer to Masoala National Park. Masoala peninsula is Madagascar’s largest area of rain forest. During the next days here you can enjoy the walks through the forest to look out for the many rare birds and lemurs found here, especially the red ruffed lemur which is only found in this reserve. With many waterfalls and good coral reef this is a true wildlife paradise. During trekking all baggage and supplies are ferried by boat, you just have to take your day packs. Optional activities include trips out in ocean going kayak, snorkelling over the coral reef or a guided exploration of the primary forest. Alternatively have a lazy day in a hammock under a shady tree. Overnight: Masoala Forest Lodge/Tampolo Lodge – a fantastic location with permanent tented accommodation with ensuite bathrooms (B/L/D) |
| Day 7: | Today you return to the Relais de Masoala after the adventures of the last 3 days. A chance to relax and freshen up at the Relais de Masoala Lodge. Overnight: Relais de Masoala (B/L/D) |
| Day 8: | Today you make your way southwards to Toamasina in order to make your way south to Andasibe. As you will arrive at 1455hrs you would have an opportunity to visit Parc Ivoloina which started life as a grand botanical garden! Nowadays this is slightly more zoo like with 13 species of lemur and even a pair of aye aye! (also black and white ruffed, white fronted, red bellied, grey bellied). Overnight: Hotel Sharon – the best hotel in Toamasina with air conditioned rooms and a swimming pool (B/L/D) |
| Day 9: | Flying south you fly into Antananarivo where you will be met by your driver and vehicle and make our way to Andasibe National Park. Depending on your time of arrival you can explore the park or alternatively relax back at the lodge. Overnight: Vakona Lodge; the most luxurious lodge in the area with 24 quiet and comfortable bungalows and also a swimming pool. Delicious food with courteous service. Horse riding is an optional extra or alternatively visit the hotels' own little reserve where you can observe former "pet lemurs" living in relative freedom. You also have the option of spotting your own wildlife just by walking along the road near the lodge! (B/L/D) |
| Day 10: | A day to explore Andasibe/Perinet National Park or Mantadia with your local wildlife guide. A montane forest park offering the chance to spot a variety of lemurs, reptiles and birds. One of its most famous inhabitants is the Indri, Indri - the largest of lemurs with a black and white teddy bear like appearance. You hear the Indri before you see them and waking up to their songs of communication in the early hours of the morning with the mist still hugging the rainforest canopy is a highlight of your trip to the Red Island. Best to leave early morning to be near the Indri when they make their distinctive morning group communication calls. Other lemurs which can be seen here are the red-bellied lemur, brown lemur, lesser bamboo lemur, with nocturnal lemurs - brown mouse lemur, greater dwarf lemur (Sep/Oct - May), Eastern woolly lemur, sportive lemur, aye aye (seen once each year!). Overnight: Vakona Lodge (B/L/D) |
| Day 11: | Transferring back to Tana you have an opportunity to relax back at your hotel or alternatively visit Ambohimanga Palace. This Palace represents the lineage of kings and queens past and is an important place to stop in order to understand the history and culture of the "Red Island". Overnight: Hotel Pallisandre (B/L/D) |
| Day 12: | Today you fly from Tana to Ile Sainte Marie and Princess Bora Lodge. This is a fantastic location for some beach relaxation and exploration. Located in a palm grove along a white sandy beach this is the perfect place to relax and reminisce after the last 10 days of adventure. Overnight: Princess Bora Lodge – located along a turquoise lagoon with only fifteen villas constructed of local Malagasy materials this is an idyllic eco-retreat (B/D) |
| Day 13-14: | Relax for the next few days in this idyllic setting. A variety of activities are possible including diving (PADI lessons are available), snorkelling, relaxing by the pool. A highlight of your stay here is the opportunity to go whale watching; during the months of June – September hundreds of humpback whales come to this are for breeding. Up to 15m in length this is a spectacular opportunity to experiences these mammals up close and personal as you visit them with the research team and help them to collect vital research data. Breeching whales is an experience not to be missed…! Overnight: Princess Bora Lodge (B/D) |
| Day 15: | Today you depart this idyllic paradise and fly back to Antananarivo (Tana) for your international flight back home. (B) |
travellers' tales
The 7 hour night trek (two hours in pirogue up river each way) to look at Madagascar wildlife in the rainforest, most of which in pouring rain, with a very good guide was the highlight. (more)
this holiday is operated by a primate specialist
Typically trips are expertly guided by a leading specialist with a good knowledge of the area to be visited. Primates are the main focus of attention however most safaris also incorporate other fauna and flora highlights of the destination as well. Primate specialist trips are conducted by local guides and drivers.how this holiday makes a difference
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All of our trips are conducted by local guides and drivers who specialise in this region of Africa. Through the employment of local staff, money is fed directly back into individual families and villages that would otherwise not benefit from tourism.
Wherever possible we use locally run and managed accommodation; lodging does vary however and can either be in environmentally low impact eco-lodges or tented camping safaris. As a result of this we minimise the impact on the local environment at the same time as providing the traveller with a high level of comfort. This is a private safari which means that your impact on the environment and wildlife is kept to a minimum at all times resulting in you also being likely to see more!  You also have the chance to take part in whale research from Princesse Bora Lodge as you go out with the WCS research teams; at the same time as being an amazing unique experience this all aids to monitor the well being of the migrating whales.We also donate a percentage of each safari sold to the conservation of primates throughout the world at the end of each year. If travellers would also like to contribute to the protection of primates throughout the world please request further details regarding our “Protect the Primates” wristbands from which all proceeds go to the conservation of endangered primates. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |