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Spot lemurs and get dreaming on the beaches of this southern African gem.

Create your own wildlife-filled jungle jaunt through Madagascar on a 14-day adventure to the island’s hotspots. You’ll be lazing on white-sand beaches, exploring tropical rainforests and spending time with a huge variety of local wildlife, including the lemur – the island's most popular animal inhabitants. Dig a little deeper throughout your journey and interact with local communities, getting an insight into the day-to-day life of Malagasy and Betsileo peoples. Discover the French colonial influences in Antananarivo and Antsirabe, and get the chance to chill out in your own time. An eco escapade in Madagascar awaits, with flamingos, beaches and relaxed vibes at every turn.

Start
Antananarivo, Madagascar
Finish
Antananarivo, Madagascar
Destination
Madagascar
Style
Original
Theme
Wildlife
Code
YBSN
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Count how many species of lemur you can spot in Isalo, Anadsibe and Ranomafana national parks – so many of the 33 different types will be out and about for you to spot.

  • Stay in a cottage deep within the Ranomafana National Park with your small group, surrounded by lush rainforest and countless species of flora and fauna.

  • Explore the important Malagasy process of silk production with a visit to local village industries in Ambositra – home to a community of Betsileo people.

  • Explore the sandstone formations, deep canyons, palm-lined oases and vast grasslands of Isalo National Park – just some of Madagascar’s varied range of stunning landscapes.

  • Chill out at Anakao – an Indian Ocean beachside paradise surrounded by reefs, and consider taking an optional journey to Tsimanampetsotsa National parks for some pink flamingo spotting.

Is this trip right for you?

  • Although anyone with a good level of fitness should be able to partake in this itinerary, there are several challenging aspects: guided day walks through the many national parks can be hot and humid. Please ensure you bring sturdy walking shoes and comfortable clothes.

  • Road conditions in Madagascar are also notoriously poor. This means some of the driving days will be long as well as bumpy.

  • Sometimes you’ve got to rough it to get amongst it. Some accommodation inside the national parks is basic and may not have the creature comforts of hotels in bigger towns and cities. Be prepared for no wi-fi or air conditioning. But also for charming, tucked away locations you won’t quite believe are real.

Map of Madagascar Adventure including Madagascar
Two red lemurs, Madagascar
Madagascar, canoe on beach
magic-madagascar_0.jpg

Itinerary
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Welcome to Madagascar. This country's capital is the charmingly crowded Antananarivo – a fun, hilly place to explore. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, but if you do happen to arrive early, why not head to Analakey to visit the street markets or perhaps seek out a cafe to soak up the atmosphere. After your important briefing, where you’ll meet up with your group leader and fellow travellers, why not keep the introductions going with an optional dinner with your group at a local restaurant.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Antananarivo - Ambohimanga Rova Tour (per person; minimum 2) (including transport,entry, guiding) - EUR90
  • Antananarivo - Lemur's Park - EUR80
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Leave Antananarivo in your dust after breakfast, heading for Andasibe National Park (approximately 4 hours). Stop en route at Pereyras Nature Farm – a private reserve that's home to chameleons, frogs, snakes and so much more wildlife. This evening, you'll have an opportunity to take night walk through the forest at Mitsinjo – a privately-owned reserve, where you'll encounter nocturnal species including endemic butterflies and lemurs.
Accommodation
  • Lodge (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Andasibe National Park - Mitsinjo night walk
  • Andasibe Nationa Park - Pereyras Private Reserve
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Pereyras Reserve, is named after the French entomologist and naturalist Andre Peyrieras. Often likened to a zoo as animals are kept in cages, this reserve is also a research centre and a centre of reproduction for certain species. We have included this in our trip as the reserve has many different and rare species which are facing extinction in the wild. It is popular spot with visitors and some of the rangers may encourage visitors by offering to to hold chameleons and put them on shoulders for photos this is not something we endorse or encourage.

Andasibe is the most visited park in Madagascar and famous for the 11 species of lemur that call it home. Aside from lemurs, you'll find endemic birds including the long-eared owl and the rufous-headed ground roller, as well as the smallest living chameleon – brookesia minima – and many times types of reptiles, insects and frogs. This region is popular thanks to an abundance of unique wildlife, and you'll have an opportunity to discover them during a guided walk through the national park.
Accommodation
  • Lodge (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Andasibe National Park - guided walk
Optional Activities
  • Andasibe - Lemur Island - Free
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
A visit to Lemur Island an initiative of the Vakona Forest Lodge is possible today. It is often communicated that the lemurs on this small river island are individuals rescued from the captive wildlife trade, we are not clear if this is true. Lemur Island is quiet, it is located within a rain forest environment, and the number of visitors is regulated, however we emphasise that this is an Optional Activity and will not suit all our travellers. Income from visitors to the park does assist with the preservation and conservation of these captive Lemurs.
If visiting the island we would also not encourage giving food to the Lemurs in exchange for a photographs.

Drive to Antisrabe (approximately 6-7 hours). Antsirabe maintains a Malagasy touch with all the tranquillity of a small European town, thanks to the contrast of its bustling street markets and Colonial-style facades. Located in the highlands, it's a popular spa town thanks to the hot springs and thermal baths, and the colourful rickshaws known as 'pousse-pousse' are a popular form of transport.

On arrival check into your hotel and enjoy a group dinner in the Gazebo within the grounds of the Guest House.
Accommodation
  • Guest-House (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Our Accommodation this evening is in Gite Madalief (Guest-house Madalief). This guest-house is run by an inspiring Dutch lady who established an orphanage in Madagascar - the guest-house helps to support her work and offers employment to some former residents of the orphanage.
Dinner is included this evening.

Make the short journey to Ambositra this morning, home to the third-largest ethnic group in Madagascar – the Betsileo people. Take a visit to the nearby Sandrandahy villages and explore the process of silk production, which is an important part of Malagasy culture. The use of silk was once reserved exclusively for royalty, but now everyone is free to wear it though its use is more often used for the dead. When a Malagasy is buried, their body is wrapped in a large, silk sheet known as a 'lambamena' and, after a few years, the family traditionally return to the tomb to exchange the sheet for a new one. This custom is known as famadihana, and each village specialises in one step of the production. Enjoy a local lunch before spending a free evening in Ambositra.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ambositra - Village Visit
  • Ambositra -Manandriana Village Lunch
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Travel this morning to Ranomafa National Park, a journey of about 5 hours. Located in the southeastern part of Madagascar, this park is home to a number of rare species. Ranomafana means 'hot water' in the Malagasy language and the area is haven for small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects, as well as palms, bamboo, orchids and carnivorous plants. It's home to 13 species of lemur, including the famous golden bamboo lemur, which was first reported in the area in 1985 and is one of the reasons why the government decided to protect this forest. Enjoy some free time on arrival, and you may want to consider taking an optional night walk once the sun goes down. Your accommodation tonight is a small cottage located within the park's boundaries.

Perhaps consider visiting the thermal springs after which the town is named. Located across the Namorona River. The outdoor swimming pool fed by the springs is popular spot to take a dip.
Accommodation
  • Cottage (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Ranomafana - Station Thermale - MGA5000
  • Ranomafana NP - Night Walk - MGA40000
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Continue exploring Ranomafana, this time on a guided walk. Keep your eyes peeled for lemurs, striped civets, mongooses, goshawks, geckos, frogs and butterflies. You may even spot an incredible net-casting spider or the world's smallest chameleon. Relax into the day, and once again spend the night within the park.
Accommodation
  • Cottage (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ranomafana National Park - Rainforest walk
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Your activities in the National Park include two guided walks, please discuss duration and walking conditions with your Leader.

Travel this morning to Fianarantsoa – a colourful town known for its markets and handicrafts. This heritage site is a must-see, with its long, paved roads, labyrinths of small paths and old houses with flower-studded balconies and tiled roofs. Take a day visit to a typical Malagasy village for an insight into how the majority of the island's population live, then take a local walk to explore the surrounding countryside,which is dotted with rice paddies and vineyards that produce Fianarantsoa's famous wine. You'll get a chance to sample local cuisine with a lunch stop in the villages then, in the afternoon, visit the historical old city of Fianarantsoa on foot.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Fianarantsoa - Betsileo: village visit and walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
The Betsileo Village visit, includes a walk through the local country side, the duration of the walk is usually 2.5 hours, whilst not a difficult walk parts of the walk are in full sun and we recommend a hat, sunscreen and of course carrying drinking water. Please discuss any concerns with your Leader.

Drive approximately 8 hours west toward Isalo National Park. You’ll stop at the Anja Community Reserve on your way – a great spot to observe lemurs and learn a little more about the local culture. The local villagers will be your guide on this excursion, and your leader will be able to translate all the knowledge they can pass on to you. Isalo is known for its variety of landscapes, from rainforests and rolling plains teeming with life to strange geological formations and deep-cut canyons. And of course, there are a variety of lemur species roaming around the place because – well, this is Madagascar. Spend a couple of days exploring the park, which is home to over 80 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles and 14 species of mammals including three lemur species – ring-tailed, red-fronted and Verreaux's sifakas lemur.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (2 nights)
Included Activities
  • Ambalavao - Anja Community Reserve
  • Ambalavao - Antemoro Paper Factory visit
  • Isalo National Park - guided walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast (2)

You'll be up early today (approximately 5.30 am) to travel to Toliara Harbour, from where the group will take a boat to Anakao. Imagine perfect white sandy beaches beside turquoise waters, and that’s Anakao – a small, laid-back town in which fishing is the main occupation. Enjoy a free day taking it easy on the beach, soaking up some sun and swimming in the clear waters of the Mozambique Channel. You’re on island time now – so chill out and bask in the golden glow of Anakao.
Accommodation
  • Bungalow (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Anakao- Nosy Ve Excursion Canoe and Entry - MGA40000
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Lalandaka Eco Lodge has bungalow style accommodation. In true eco fashion, there is no running water in the bungalows and there is no hot water in the camp. Each bungalow is regularly supplied with a bucket of fresh water for washing and flushing the toilet.

Today is another free day of leisure in this paradise. Consider taking a full-day tour of Tsimanampetsotse National Park – a birder’s paradise named for its spectacular lake. More than 100 species of bird can be found here, including pink, greater and dwarf flamingos, as well as the gray-brown mouse and white-footed sportive lemurs. Maybe paddle a canoe out to the mirage of Nosy Ve instead and check out the beaches and reef, or just hang out in Anakao town and make the most of its convenient beaches.
Accommodation
  • Bungalow (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Anakao- Tsimanampetsotsa National Park (Entry) - MGA45000
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

This morning, transfer to Toliara by boat for the flight back to Antananarivo. Flights in Madagascar can be delayed and often experience late schedule changes. You need to be prepared that there may be some waiting time in Tulear today depending on the scheduled flight time for the day and your scheduled boat transfers, but this is all part of the fun. Back in Antananarivo this evening, enjoy a celebratory night with your new travel companions – perhaps toast Madagascar with a local beer or two.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

With no activities planned for today, your adventure ends today after breakfast and you are free to leave at any time, provided you comply with the hotel’s internal check-out policy. Departure transfers are available for pre-booking with Intrepid Travel or your booking agent.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Meals

11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner

Transport

Private Vehicles, Boat, Plane

Accommodation

Hotel (6 nights) Lodge (3 nights) Cottage(2 nights) Eco Lodge (2 nights)

Included activities

  • Andasibe National Park - Mitsinjo night walk
  • Andasibe Nationa Park - Pereyras Private Reserve
  • Andasibe National Park - guided walk
  • Ambositra - Village Visit
  • Ambositra -Manandriana Village Lunch
  • Ranomafana National Park - Rainforest walk
  • Fianarantsoa - Betsileo: village visit and walk
  • Ambalavao - Anja Community Reserve
  • Ambalavao - Antemoro Paper Factory visit
  • Isalo National Park - guided walk

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Important notes

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

INTERNAL FLIGHTS 
There is an internal flight included on this trip. Baggage allowance is as follows: checked-in – 1 bag, max 20kg; cabin baggage: 1 bag, max 5kg. Internal flights in Madagascar are often delayed and or cancelled at short notice, for this reason we have included an additional day in Antananarivo to safe guard against possible changes to flights.  For this reason we do recommend booking any international departures until departure day.

ACCOMMODATION
Days 11 and 12 in Anakao has bungalow style accommodation. In true eco fashion, there is no running water in the bungalows and there is no hot water in the camp.  Each bungalow is regularly supplied with a bucket of fresh water for washing and flushing the toilet.

Essential trip information

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