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DAY 1: ARRIVE ANTANANARIVO Upon arrival in Madagascar, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. Tana, as locals call Antananarivo, is considered one of Africa’s most relaxed and charming capital cities. The red clay houses, steeple-topped churches, and surrounding paddy fields make Tana an aesthetic delight. If you want to stretch your legs, you may want to independently explore the Upper Town, where boutiques, galleries, gardens, and restaurants make for pleasant strolling. (D) DAY 2: TANA - FORT DAUPHIN - IFOTAKA After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Fort Dauphin. Upon arrival, transfer by road to Ifotaka, the equivalent of Madagascar’s “Deep South.” This area is home to the Antandroy tribe, regarded by many as the fiercest and most traditional tribe in Madagascar. In this cultural immersion experience, you will spend two days with the Antandroy and will have the opportunity to observe and participate in many of their daily activities, though you will sleep in a mobile tented camp nearby that is equipped with amenities to make your visit more comfortable. Each tent has a mosquito-netted four-poster bed and a veranda with chairs. The mobile tented camp allows a maximum of 12 guests among 6 tents, ensuring that the group is small. (B,L,D) DAYS 3 & 4: IFOTAKA Spend two full days with the Antandroy tribe, who rely on zebu herding and some subsistence agriculture of sorghum and cassava. The area in which they live is rich with wildlife, including catta, mouse, and sifaka lemurs and many birds. Every Friday, the Antandroy men hold “ringa” wrestling competitions, which are an enjoyable event that is nonetheless taken very seriously by its participants. Local kids are always excited to demonstrate their skill with the piletse (zebu hide sling shot) and lefona (spear), and you may get to try your hand with the weapons. In addition, if your visit occurs on a Thursday, you will accompany your hosts, via zebu cart, to the main market in Fenaivo. You will also visit with the ombiasy, the traditional healer in the tribe. In addition to these rich experiences with the Antandroy, you will be taken on guided walks in the Southern Spiny Forests and Southern Dry Deciduous Forests to observe the wildlife during your stay. (B,L,D) DAY 5: IFOTAKA - TANA - MORONDAVA After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Tana. Upon arrival, you will connect to your flight to Morondava, located on the west coast of Madagascar. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for a two-night stay. Spend the afternoon visiting Baobab Alley: the silhouette of these unusual trees against the vivid sky is an unforgettable sight. The western forest ecosystem is one of the most threatened in the world and is rich in endemic species, particularly reptiles. White sifaka, fork-marked lemur, and pygmy mouse lemurs -- the world’s smallest primate -- all live in these dry forests. (B,L,D) DAY 6: KIRINDY FOREST DAY TRIP Set out for a day trip to Kirindy Forest. Widely considered one of the country’s most appealing natural areas, Kirindy is the best place for viewing endemic dry forest species such as the giant jumping rat, but it also has many lemurs, birds, reptiles, and carnivorous animals in residence. The autumn months of September through November are the best time for visiting the region. (B,L,D) DAY 7: MORONDAVA - TANA This morning return to Tana, where you will have lunch and then take a guided tour of the Royal Palace of Ambohimanga. On the way to your hotel at the conclusion of the tour, stop by Lisy Gallery, an excellent showroom that offers traditional Malagasy arts and crafts. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight. (B,L,D) DAY 8: TANA - AMBER MOUNTAIN In the morning, return to the Antananarivo airport to connect with your flight north. Upon arrival in Diego Suarez, transfer to your hotel at the foot of Amber Mountain (Montagne D’Ambre) National Park. Diego Suarez is well known for its spectacular setting, overlooking a deep harbor. For centuries, it has been considered of great strategic importance. Today, Diego Suarez is an excellent gateway to the varied natural attractions of northern Madagascar. The city has long been relatively isolated from the rest of Madagascar, yet influenced by the many travelers and traders who have passed through: Arab, Chinese, Indian and Creole culture have all made their mark on this cosmopolitan city. In the afternoon, take a walk around the De Fontenay Reserve. (B,L,D) DAY 9: RED TSINGY After breakfast, head to Red Tsingy, a beautiful sandstone formation. After a picnic lunch, explore the reserve with the option of a nocturnal walk or stargazing with the high-powered telescope at the hotel. (B,L,D) DAY 10: AMBER MOUNTAIN Spend a full day exploring Mount Amber National Park. Established by the French in 1958, this volcanic massif and its surrounding forests are now one of the country’s best examples of ecotourism, which invites local community participation in planning and management. Thousands of acres of the montane ra inforest of the park are home to extraordinary plant and animal life. Huge ferns and strangler figs flourish in the forest, while several indigenous species of lemurs, including Sanford’s lemur and the crowned lemur, are also found here. You may also see ring-tailed mongoose and fosa. Magnificent birdlife includes crested ibis, paradise flycatcher, forest rock thrush, and ground-rollers. You may wish to make one of the waterfalls the destination of your trip -– as you make your way to one of the dramatic falls, you can learn more about the area’s inhabitants. (B,L,D) DAY 11: DIEGO SUAREZ - NOSY BE - ANJAJAVY Return to Diego Suarez and catch a flight to Nosy Be, connecting to a private flight to Anjajavy, a new resort on the western coast of the country. Upon arrival, settle in to your villa for a four-night stay. DAYS 12 - 14: ANJAJAVY Spend three days enjoying the white sand beaches of Anjajavy. Each villa features a large terrace overlooking the sea, a living room area and breakfast area, and a bedroom. A small staircase provides access to the first floor, which features a relaxation room. The lodge is on a private reserve that is home to several species of lemurs and endless white sand beaches. Guests can choose from a host of daily activities, including guided walks in the reserve to check out the wildlife, visits to the nearby village, and watersports like catamaran sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, canoeing, snorkelling, and deep-sea fishing. Of course, you can simply lie on the white sand and enjoy Madagascar’s near-guarantee of perfect weather. DAY 15: ANJAJAVY - TANA, DEPART MADAGASCAR Today, fly back to Tana, where you can connect with your international departure flight. |