Madagascar Unveiled: Rainforests, Lemurs & Lost Worlds

On arrival at Ivalo International Airport, Antananarivo, you will be met by your driver and transferred by road to your hotel for 1 night on a half board basis.

Today you will be transferred by car with your English speaking driver-guide to Andasibe, a drive of around 160 kilometres (3-4 hours) with a stop en route.

In Andasibe you will head directly to your accommodation and, after checking in, have lunch.

This afternoon visit the private park of Vakona where your wildlife expedition begins. Look for lemurs, birds, crocodiles.

This evening you’ll have an evening walk to spot nocturnal creatures.

Today you go for a guided walk in Mantadia National Park with a picnic lunch in search of indri, whose haunting cry echoes through the forest.

Later on this evening go on another night walk.

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park

The greater Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, roughly four hours drive from Antananarivo, consists of two protected areas: Analamazaotra Reserve and Mantadia National Park. Analamazaotra Reserve was established to protect Madagascar’s largest lemur – the indri indri. Although small, the reserve has an astonishing diversity of flora and fauna, and a well-planned system of trails provides good access. There are nine species of lemur here, so as well as habituated groups of indri indri you may also see the brown and lesser bamboo lemurs, plus Diademed Sifaka, Eastern Grey Bamboo Lemur and the Black and White Ruffed Lemur. Plus three nocturnal species: rufous mouse, greater dwarf and eastern woolly lemurs.

It’s also a good place for birdwatching, with many endemic rainforest species that include: Madagascar green sunbird, cuckoo roller, blue pigeon, blue and red- fronted coua, Madagascar falcon, Madagascar long-eared owl, vangas, ground rollers, vasa parrot and many others. Botanists too, will not be disappointed.

Somewhat confusingly recent name changes mean the park is still variously known as , Analamazaotra, Périnet or Indri Special Reserve!

20 kilometres to the north lies the larger Mantadia National Park, a vast protected tract of rainforest.

The forest here is more impressive than in neighbouring Analamazaotra Reserve, although access is more difficult as the terrain is hilly and there are few established trails. However, with luck you can see two species of lemur not found in

Analamazaotra: the black-and-white ruffed lemur and the beautiful diademed sifaka.

Throughout the park there is a good chance of seeing chameleons, including the impressive two-foot long Parson’s chameleon and the tiny nose-horned chameleon – the best time to see them is at the end of the rainy season in October/November.

The area claims a world record for the number of frog species, which include the brightly-coloured golden mantella. Most reptiles and frogs are seen during night walks, which are most productive in the spring, summer and autumn months (September to May), when area’s nocturnal lemurs are at their most active.

Breakfast and dinner are included today.

This morning you go for a guided walk in Analamazaotra Private Reserve to see diurnal species such as the indri, black and white ruffed lemur, diademed sifaka, common brown lemur, eastern grey bamboo lemur and red-bellied lemur.

After lunch drive back to Antananarivo.

Your journey to Masoala starts in Antananarivo. At the airport you will be welcomed by the pilot of the charter aeroplane at their private hanger at Ivato airport.

With no check-in and wasted time, this is a tranquil and hassle free start to your adventure.

The two hour flight, will give you magnificent views of the rugged hills and rainforests of eastern Madagascar, before you descend over Antongil Bay and land at Maroantsetra..

Here you will be met and transfer directly to the boat for the voyage across Antongil Bay to Masoala Forest Lodge.

The journey takes around two hours, with the possibility of dolphin and whale sightings in season and the forested mountains of the Masoala Peninsula as a dramatic backdrop.

On arrival at the lodge beach, you are welcomed and settle into camp, before lunch is served in the beach house.

Enjoy sunset on the beach with sundowners around the fire on the beach and dinner in the lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Awaken early for coffee and breakfast on the sea deck before setting off on the day’s adventure.

Today this is a walk down the coast and up into the primary rainforest in search of the red-ruffed lemurs, helmet vangas, dwarf chameleons and other wildlife endemic to this forest.

After some hours in the dense forest with the giant hardwoods and majestic tree ferns return to camp by boat for a well-earned lunch and rest.

This afternoon snorkel and swim on the beautiful beach in front of the lodge.

Dinner in the lodge.

Night walk in the Forest after dinner to look for nocturnal species.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

A relaxed start to the day and breakfast on the sea deck.

Kayak or boat ride south along the coast to the sacred island of Nosy Ndraindra, continue to the nearby beach of Ampamoavana.

In the afternoon take the sailing boat out for a sunset cruise and on return to camp join the bonfire. Join us back at the lodge for a traditional Malagasy evening

Dinner in the lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

An early breakfast on the sea deck.

Board the boat for the voyage back to Maroantsetra to catch your scheduled charter flight back to Antananarivo.

Upon arrival, meet with your English speaking guide, then have lunch followed by an afternoon city tour.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.