Madagascar holiday
| country: | Madagascar |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2009: 10 May, 7 Jun, 5 Jul, 2 Aug, 6 Sep, 4 Oct 2010: 16 May, 20 Jun |
| price: | From Ł2145 (15 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK |
read 1 travellers review
the amazing things you'll be doing
Madagascar has been cut off from the African mainland for millions of years, resulting in a diverse number of endemic species and specialisations found nowhere else on earth. Of these, the lemurs of Madagascar have attracted special interest. From the indri indri lemur (the largest) of Perinet Special Reserve to the golden lemurs of Ranomafana National Park and the sifaka (dancing lemurs) of Berenty Reserve, these amazing primates will be a real highlight. We also visit various villages and remote communities – with a kaleidoscope of eighteen million people from eighteen distinct tribal groups, you are assured of rich, diverse cultural experiences.
The astounding natural beauty of the eroded sandstone massifs in Isalo National Park and the huge tropical rainforests of Ranomafana add up to make your visit to Madagascar a truly rewarding experience. Includes: tour leader, arrival transfer, accomodation (3 nights local guesthouse, 11 nights lodge), some meals (14 breakfasts, 7 dinners), transport, game activites, entrance and park fees.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself.
Travelling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum. As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have travelled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way!
The astounding natural beauty of the eroded sandstone massifs in Isalo National Park and the huge tropical rainforests of Ranomafana add up to make your visit to Madagascar a truly rewarding experience. Includes: tour leader, arrival transfer, accomodation (3 nights local guesthouse, 11 nights lodge), some meals (14 breakfasts, 7 dinners), transport, game activites, entrance and park fees.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself.
Travelling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum. As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have travelled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival. Arrive in Antananarivo, transfer to hotel. |
| Day 2: | Drive to Andasibe. Afternoon Betsimisaraka village visit. Night safari in Perinet Reserve to search for night active lemurs and other night active animals. |
| Day 3: | Morning walk in Perinet Reserve to see the rare Indri Indri - the largest lemurs on the island. The reserve provides habitat for 9 species of lemurs, 11 species of tenrec (primitive mammals), 8 chameleon species including the immenses Parson's chameleon, 20 species of amphibians and over 100 bird species. Visit to Vakona Private Reserve. Return to Antananarivo. |
| Day 4: | Drive to Antsirabe, a town founded by Norwegian missionaries as a health retreat, offers a cool highland climate and theraputic springs. Tour of town and visit to semi-precious stone cutting centre. |
| Day 5-6: | Drive to Ambositra. Visit traditional woodcarvers centre. Drive to Ranomafana. Village visit or relax in hot springs. Morning and evening walks in Ranomafana National Park, 41,600 hectares of rolling hills, cloud forest, streams and areas of dense vegetation. The park was created to protect the flora and fauna, in particular the golden bamboo lemur and the greater bamboo lemur, two of the rarest species of Madagascar's lemurs. |
| Day 7: | Drive through Fianarantsoa to Ambalavoa. Visit to Sahambavy Tea Estate, set in a pretty valley beside Lake Sahambavy, it produces large quantities of tea for export to Kenya and local consumption. Visit to paper factory and Soavita winery. |
| Day 8-9: | Drive to Isalo and sunset at 'fenętre de l’Isalo'. Day hike in Isalo National Park including walk to 'Piscine Naturelle'. Along the way we will be on the lookout for various lemurs such as sifakas, brown lemurs and ringtails. The park is also home to approximately 55 species of birds, in particular Benson's Rock Thrush which is endemic to Isalo, as well as lizards and snakes. |
| Day 10-11: | Drive to Tulear via the Mahafaly and Antandroy Tombs. Here we experience new scenery which is comprised of the dry forest of the west, the spiny desert of the south and the spectacular baobabs. Tour of Tulear. Drive to Ifaty. Visit to Domergue Nature Reserve and spiny forest. Day at leisure – optional diving, snorkelling or cultural visits. Ifaty, with a 35 kilometre reef running offshore, is an ideal place to enjoy some diving and snorkelling. The reef attracts a range of fish as well as various shark species. In July and August you may also be able to sight some of the migrating whales that pass through the Mozambique Channel. |
| Day 12-13: | Return to Tulear. Fly to Fort Dauphin. Drive to Berenty Reserve. Walks in spiny forest along well-maintained trails, with the chance to see lemurs and dancing sifakas. At night we also embark on an evening walk using the flashlights to see the nocturnal life of the forest. This reserve is famous for its population of ring-tailed lemurs and sifakas. There are resident lemur populations as well as endemic plants, chameleons and 83 species of birds. Morning walk with lemurs. Visit sisal factory and Antandroy museum. Return to Fort Dauphin. |
| Day 14: | Full day excursion to Lokaro Bay, a beautiful and unspoilt area of green hills, inland waterways, natural swimming holes and barrier beaches. |
| Day 15: | Fly to Antananarivo where our trip ends upon arrival. |
travellers' tales
Excellent balance between trekking & relaxing. Trip guide was superb - we'd only have seen or understood a fraction of what we did if he hadn't been there. The local guides were uncannily good at spotting the wildlife like lemurs and chameleons. (more)
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
 Visit Madagascar, an exotic island-nation with a mixed cultural heritage and a stunning array of endemic plant life and wildlife, including 35 species of lemur. See Madagascar through the eyes of a local, as your Madagascan tour leader gives you a first-hand insight into the rich and colourful tapestry that makes up his or her unique homeland. Visiting special reserves set aside in rainforest terrain leads to an awareness of Madagascar's rich natural heritage and ultimately garners further support that they be earmarked for protection so that future generations can continue to appreciate them. Tourism helps a poor country like Madagascar to preserve vestiges of its rich cultural heritage. By visiting various villages and remote communities, travellers get to appreciate the intricate diversity of this country as exemplified by the many and varied cultural experiences on offer. A visit to the Antandroy tombs also opens up a window to the past. Tourism in Madagascar is in its infancy and to support programs there we are training our tour leaders on a variety of issues, from environmental awareness to First Aid. This not only assists in the conduct of a tour but also provides leaders with important life skills. Ultimately, a journey to Madagascar is about discovering rare wildlife that are only found on this island. To see the almost human-like sifakas prancing away on their hind legs or to see ring-tailed lemurs warming their bellies in the sun, is to see the 'cute' side of nature - a side that is sure to warm our hearts, but should also serve to remind us that all living creatures are ours to preserve and protect. Once they are gone, it will be too late. |
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. |