Madagascar
Itinerary
Day 1 - Tuesday 23 September
Sydney - Mauritius
Passengers joining in Sydney and Melbourne fly this morning to the beautiful island of Mauritius. Upon arrival this afternoon we are met and transferred to our hotel. Perth passengers will depart late this evening and fly overnight arriving early Wednesday morning and will be met and transferred to the hotel. D
Day 2 - Wednesday 24 September
Mauritius
This morning we enjoy a half day tour of Mauritius, including the renowned Pamplemousses Botanic Gardens. The gardens contain many indigenous and exotic plants such as the giant Victoria regia lilies, and more than 80 species of palms, including the talipot, which is said to flower once after 60 years and then die. We also visit the island’s capital Port Louis, with highlights including the colourful Central Market, historic British fortifications and the old theatre. After returning to the hotel the remainder of the day is at leisure.BD
Day 3 - Thursday 25 September
Mauritius - Antananarivo - Antsirabe, Madagascar
Morning flight to Antananarivo (Tana) also called “The City of the Thousand Warriors” and capital of Madagascar. This charming city is built on 12 hills surrounded by rice fields and retains an air of being ”lost in time“. On arrival we are met by our guide and transfer to a nearby restaurant to enjoy a traditional Creole lunch. After lunch we drive south to delightful colonial Antsirabe. The town is famed for its many and varied craft centres - including semi-precious gemstone shops and a delight are the colourful rickshaws, known as “pousse pousses”.BLD
Day 4 - Friday 26 September
Antsirabe - Ambositra -Ranomafana National Park
Depart this morning winding through the terraced highlands to Ranomafana. We stop for lunch at Ambositra, a small town known for its zafimaniry woodcarvings and handicrafts. We reach Ranomafana later this afternoon and after checking into our hotel we embark on a night walk where we are likely to see nocturnal lemurs, frogs and, if lucky, fossas, the only endemic carnivorous species of Madagascar (it’s now that your personal torches will come in handy).BLD
Day 5 - Saturday 27 September
Ranomafana
A free day today and we recommend that you wake early to enjoy a walk in the park, a wonderful time to observe the wildlife. Your guide will be able to advise on various options. Ranomafana is one of Madagascar’s best known and most important parks. Created in 1991, following the 1986 discovery of the golden bamboo lemur, Ranomafana has served as a model for subsequent parks and reserves in the country and abroad and UNESCO classified in July 2007. For avid birders there is always the chance to glimpse spotted Brown emutail, Madagascar snipe, Mellers’ duck and Madagascar pygmy kingfisher, pitta-like and short legged and Rufous-headed ground rollers, plus many other species. This afternoon perhaps visit the nearby hot springs.BLD
Day 6 - Sunday 28 September
Ranomafana - Ambalavao - Tsaranoro Valley
Today we continue south and travel through Fianarantsoa, Madagascar’s 2nd largest city, to Ambalavao where we stop for lunch and a brief tour of the town, including a paper-works and silk-works where traditional “Lambas” are woven. We continue our journey to the magnificent Tsaranoro Valley. Arrive later this afternoon and check into our camp.BLD
Day 7 - Monday 29 September
Tsaranoro Valley
Day at leisure. The camp organises many optional guided walks in the beautiful mountains. Easy walks will take you into a sacred forest inhabited by catta lemurs, beautiful waterfalls and natural swimming pools and the nearby Barabory village. The Barabory live with the weather, the sun and the rice harvest as their clock. Should you wish, there are slightly more strenuous walks that will take you to Mount Chameleon. BLD
Day 8 - Tuesday 30 September
Tsaranoro Valley - Isalo National Park
This morning we drive to Isalo, where the landscape consists of eroded ruiniforme sandstone formations dating to the Jurassic period, deep canyons with riparian forests, palm-lined oases, fire-resistant tapia forests and open grasslands. We leave the mountains for the awesome scenery of the Horombe Plateau. Here, we are in the Bara lands and should encounter an increasing number of “Zebu” (the ubiquitos humped cattle). After arriving at our hotel the remainder of the day is at leisure.BLD
Day 9 - Wednesday 1 October
Isalo
Full day tour with picnic lunch as we visit on foot the National Park of Isalo, the Malagasy Colorado: amongst the highlights of the day, the Maki Canyons with their natural swimming pools, an opportunity for a refreshing swim. Today will allow us a high chance of encountering many lemurs, and perhaps we’ll discover the “Pachypodium” - Elephant Foot Plant, the emblem of the reserve. Return to our hotel later this afternoon.BLD
Day 10 - Thursday 2 October
Isalo - Tulear - Morondava
An early departure this morning to the west coast of Madagascar and Tulear. Here we join our flight to Morondava situated on the Mozambique Channel which divides Madagascar from Africa. It is a relaxed beachside town located to the south of Kirindy and the Avenue of the Baobabs. Upon arrival we are transferred to our hotel. BLD
Day 11 - Friday 3 October
Morondava - Bemaraha Nat. Park
Today, 4WD to visit Bemaraha an UNESCO classified World Heritage Site. Tsingy de Bemaraha is one of Madagascar’s newest parks, opened to the public in 1998 and best known for its tsingy - sharp limestone pinnacles that may reach 150 feet in height. Our accommodation within the national park is a charming tented lodge. This area is perfect for spotting endemic birds, reptiles and lemurs. BLD
Day 12 - Saturday 4 October
Bemaraha
Today a full day’s guided walk to explore this fascinating park. The great tsingy are accessible at this time of year, however, depending on conditions we may visit the impressive, small tsingy. Return to our lodge later in the afternoon. BLD
Day 13 - Sunday 5 October
Bemaraha - Avenue of the Baobabs - Morondava
We drive back to Morondava today, visiting the Avenue of the Baobabs. The UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most photographed spots in Madagascar. Along a 15km stretch on both sides of the road are rows of Adansonia Gandidieri Baobabs. There are 8 species of Baobabs in the world, one in Australia, one in South Africa and 6 species endemic to Madagascar. Later this afternoon we reach Morondava and transfer to our hotel. BLD
Day 14 - Monday 6 October
Morondava - Antananarivo
Morning at leisure prior to our transfer to the airport to join our afternoon flight to Tana. Upon arrival we transfer to our hotel. BD
Day 15 - Tuesday 7 October
Antananarivo - Tamatave - Ankanin’Ny Nofy
An early flight today to Tamatave (“nest of dreams” in Malagasy) on Madagascar’s verdant East Coast. Here we board a boat for a three-hour cruise along the Pangalanes Canal, built during French colonial times to protect the barges from the harsh Indian Ocean storms. The coastal lagoons and swamps of the Pangalanes Canal are linked by artificial channels that create a waterway 698 kilometres long. Upon arrival at Ankanin’Ny Nofy we proceed to our hotel. After lunch the remainder of the day is at leisure to explore this magnificent area.BLD
Day 16 - Wednesday 8 October
Ankanin’ny Nofy - Andasibe (Analamazaotra Special Reserve, Perinet Reserve)
This morning we enjoy a visit to the Palmarium. Of all the locations in Madagascar, it is here that we have the best possibility of being up-close to the lemurs. We will also see many orchids, palms, Ravanala Madagascariensis (the emblem of Madagascar) endemic frogs and reptiles. After lunch we take a short boat transfer to Manambato, then continue to Andasibe National Park and upon arrival proceed to our hotel. This 810 hectare reserve is the habitat of nine varieties of lemur, including the largest, the extraordinary 3-foot-high Indri Indri. One of the island’s largest chameleons is found here, the Chameleon Parsonii. This evening we will have a night walk in the hope of spotting a number of the nocturnal species. BLD
Day 17 - Thursday 9 October
Andasibe - Antananarivo - Nosy Be
Andasibe - Mantadia Nature Reserve’s biggest star is the Indri Indri, and we are sure to hear their calls on a morning walk. We leave the park and drive to Tana airport to join our flight to Nosy Be, (Big Island) which is often called the “Perfumed Island”, for the fragrance of vanilla and ylang-ylang blossoms that scent the air. Upon arrival we transfer to our hotel. BD
Day 18 - Friday 10 October
Nosy Be - Nosy Komba and Nosy Tanikely
After breakfast, we embark on a day tour to the nearby islands of Nosy Komba (the island of Macao Lemurs) and Nosy Tanikely (Little Land). The round volcanic island of Nosy Komba is famous for its semi-tame black lemurs. It is the place to get that “lemur on the shoulder” experience, as black lemurs have always lived unmolested by the villagers, who consider them sacred. Tiny Nosy Tanikely is a marine reserve 10km west of Nosy Komba, where a small patch of rain forest provides roosting trees for fruit bats. Here in this marine reserve there is the opportunity to snorkel amongst the coral reefs. Late afternoon we return by boat to our hotel in Hell-Ville, named after Admiral Hell, governor of Reunion who in 1842, with Sakalava Queen Tsiomeko, signed the treaty establishing Nosy Be as a French protectorate. BLD
Day 19 - Saturday 11 October
Nosy Be - Antananarivo
Today we fly back to Tana and upon arrival visit the handicraft market and enjoy a walk in the Rova historical neighbourhood. Here you’ll enjoy wonderful views of the capital. The remainder of the day is at leisure. BD
Day 20 - Sunday 12 October
Antananarivo - Mauritius
This morning we visit the Tsarasaotra Bird Sanctuary, then continue to the sacred city of Ambohimanga the original capital of the Merina royal family. At the entrance of the village the traditional gateway, once closed by a large flat stone rolled by 40 slaves, remains to this day. Uphill the Rova (fortress palace) of once powerful King Andriaponimerina, responsible for the unification of Madagascar, is today a museum. After lunch we return to Tana to join our flight to Mauritius. On arrival at Mauritius we are met and transferred to our delightful beachfront hotel for the night.BLD
Day 21 - Monday 13 October
Mauritius
For those passengers travelling to Reunion, you will transfer to the airport for your flight. All other passengers returning directly to Australia will have today at leisure to relax and take advantage of the resort’s facilities, or perhaps take an optional tour. BLD*
Day 22 -Tuesday 14 October
Mauritius - Australia
This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight back to Australia.
Day 23 - Wednesday 15 October
Australia
Arrive Australia this morning with incredible memories of our Mauritius and Madagascar adventure!
