Join us for the upcoming trip
Immerse yourself in the rich cultural tapestry of Madagascar by visiting and experiencing the warmth of Malagasy hospitality. Each destination unveils a new chapter of the island's captivating history and traditions.
Antananarivo - Peyreiras
Day 01
Andasibe
Day 02
Andasibe
Day 02
Andasibe - Ambositra
Day 03
Andasibe - Ambositra
Day 03
Ambositra - Ranomafana
Day 04
Ambositra - Ranomafana
Day 04
Ranomafana - Ranohira
Day 05
Ranomafana - Ranohira
Day 05
Fort Dauphin - Diégo Suarez
Day 10
Fort Dauphin - Diégo Suarez
Day 10
Fort Dauphin - Berenty
Day 09
Fort Dauphin - Berenty
Day 09
Toliara - Fort Dauphin
Day 08
Toliara - Ifaty - Toliara
Day 07
Toliara - Ifaty - Toliara
Day 07
Ranohira - Isalo - Toliara
Day 06
Ranohira - Isalo - Toliara
Day 06
Ankarana
Day 11
Ankarana
Day 11
Ankarana - Diego Suarez
Day 12
Ankarana - Diego Suarez
Day 12
Montagne d’Ambre - Antananarivo
Day 13
Antananarivo - Ambohimanga
Day 14
Antananarivo-Out
Day 15
Antananarivo - Peyreiras
Day 01
Andasibe
Day 02
Andasibe - Ambositra
Day 03
Ambositra - Ranomafana
Day 04
Ranomafana - Ranohira
Day 05
Fort - Dauphin - Diégo Suarez
Day 10
Fort - Dauphin - Berenty
Day 09
Toliara - Fort - Dauphin
Day 08
Toliara - Ifaty - Toliara
Day 07
Ranohira - Isalo - Toliara
Day 06
Ankarana
Day 11
Ankarana - Diego Suarez
Day 12
Montagne d’Ambre - Antananarivo
Day 13
Antananarivo - Ambohimanga
Day 14
Antananarivo-Out
Day 15
You will be greeted on arrival at Ivato airport by your English speaking guide from I Travel 2 Madagascar who will drive you to Peyreiras Reptile Reserve (3hours on drive) to see up close captive panther chameleons, island chameleons, stump-tail chameleons, Brookesia chameleons, golden mantella frogs, tomato frogs, Madagascar tree boas, leaf-nose snakes, cat-eyed snakes, tenrecs, numerous species of leaf tail geckos. The curators of the reserve usually take the animals out of their enclosures to allow close photographs. After the visit of 1h, drive to Andasibe.
After breakfast, meet with your guide with for the visit of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park and trek along trails to see wild diademed sifakas,wooly sifakas, common brown lemur and the famous Indri Indri .Explore the trails for orchids and birdlife. In the afternoon, you will visit the Vakona lodge’s reserve to see common brown sifaka, grey bamboo lemurs and the black and white ruffed lemurs.
After an early breakfast, continue to Antsirabe, and then to Ambositra. The four hour drive to Ansirabe passes through a landscape of mountains and rice fields. Antsirabe is a pretty town that is a blend of Malagasy culture and European architecture. We can tour local gemstone and crafts workshops to watch the cutting and polishing of gemstone, and artifacts made of zebu horns. After lunch, we continue for another one hour and a half to reach Ambositra.
Early start to visit Zafimaniry woodcarving shops (this art is classified as UNESCO world heritage).Then explore Ranomafana national park, home of twelve lemur species. Many are easy to spot, including the golden bamboo lemur, eastern woolly lemur, red bellied lemur, eastern grey bamboo lemur, greater bamboo lemur, red-fronted brown lemur, black-and-white ruffed lemur, Milne-Edward´s sifaka and the small-toothed sportive lemur. Other mammals include 7 species of tenrecs, 8 bats, the Malagasy striped civet and several mongooses. Many species of chameleons are often seen, as well as diverse birdlife, including the huge Henst´s Goshawk, the timid Brown Mesite, Madagascar wood rail, the stunning blue coua, the secretive yellow-brow coua. Visitors often notice mixed flocks containing spectacled and gray-crowned greenbuls, pitta-like groundroller, green Jery, and Rand´s warbler).
After breakfast, we move from the highlands and drive southward the semi-dry plains, stopping
in Ambalavao, one of Madagascar’s cultural hubs, boasting architectural treasures such as its Gothic
cathedral and quaint, veranda-lined houses, all surrounded by boulder like mountains. We visit the Anja Reserve where ring-tailed lemurs abound, along with Barbour’s day geckos, girdled lizards and the bizarre Malagasy lantern bug Zanna madagascariensis.
Drive to Isalo National Park, home to some of Madagascar’s most stunning scenery, with barren landscapes, twisted rock formations and extraordinary plant life, including Bismarck palms, elephant’s feet (Pachypodium), endemic Aloe and other xerophytes. During our full day visit, we notice lemurs, including sifakas and red-fronted lemurs, as well as waterfalls, canyons and natural swimming pools. If we are very lucky, mouse lemurs may also be seen.
Early morning visit to Ifaty spiny forest to see the plants that make up this unique Madagascar
ecoregion, including baobabs (Adansonia za) and Madagascan ocotillo (Alluaudia procera), both adapted to extreme drought.After the visit, head back to Toliara.
Drive to the airport for a flight to Fort Dauphin. The flight is scheduled to arrive at Fort Dauphin in the early afternoon, and drive for a short distance to the north to see vast populations of the endemic pitcher plant Nepenthes madagascariensis in a preserved wetland, as well as ring tailed lemurs. Return to Fort Dauphin before sunset.
An early breakfast is followed by a 2 hour drive inland to the Berenty private reserve. The drive is fascinating, passing through spiny forest, home to baobabs, several species of Alluaudia (ocotillo or octopus trees), Pachypodium, and Euphorbia. Berenty is home to six species of lemur and the south’s largest colony of Madagascar fruit bats. You can observe sauntering ring-tailed lemurs and ‘dancing’ Verreaux sifakas which turned this small protected area into one of the Madagascar’s prime destinations. We can explore several trails and visit an arboretum and spiny forest preserve which is truly fascinating. We can also visit an excellent ethnological museum that depicts the life of the local Antandroy tribe, as well as an extraordinary array of flora and fauna, unique to the spiny forest. Then drive back to Fort Dauphin.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport in time for your Air Madagascar flight to Antsiranana then drive to Ankarana national park. This reserve contains one of the highest densities of primates of any forest in the world. Its forests support one of the largest and least disturbed populations of crowned lemurs. Sanford’s brown lemur, Perrier’s black lemur, northern sportive lemur and dwarf lemurs, ring-tailed mongoose, fossa, tenrecs and Madagascar striped civet are also a common sight. Almost 100 bird species, 50 reptiles (including some endemic and threatened snakes and geckos) and 10 frogs cohabit inside the park. Inside the spectacular and huge labyrinth of caves are 14 bat species, local endemic blind shrimps and the world’s only known cave-living crocodiles. During a night walk you can notice
swarms of bats and flying foxes swoop in the darkness.
Full day exploring Ankarana National Park, including a hike through bizarre landscapes of
limestone mixed with patches of dense tropical jungle, deciduous forest, deep caves and canyons and rushing rivers. With an annual rainfall of almost 2000mm, the underlying rocks undergo heavy erosion producing amazing karst topography, including the famous limestone spires, known as “Tsingy”. The Park is one of the most visited in Madagascar for its terrific landscapes and large animal populations.
Drive to Joffre ville, close to Montagne d’Ambre national park (Amber Mountain). Along the
way, visit the famous Tsingy Rouge. An almost alien landscape of red sandstone carved into intricate spires and towers. We can explore a trail amongst the spectacular formations, before returning to the vehicles and arriving at Joffre ville.
Early in the morning, visit to the Montagne d’Ambre national park. The park offers a great biodiversity: a large tropical forest with endemic fauna and flora, luxuriant vegetation and many waterfalls and volcanic lakes. With a guide, we search for Brookesia minima, one of the smallest chameleons in the world (less than 25 mm in length), and several species of leaf tail geckos. We also look for the ringtailed mongoose, the fossa, and as many as 8 different lemurs. The forests are home to 75 different bird species: 35 of which are endemic to Amber Mountain, such as the Amber Mountain rock-thrush. We can also find the stump-tailed chameleon, spot snakes, and study some of the 35 frogs and more than 40 butterflies known. In the afternoon, fly back to Antananarivo.
After breakfast, drive to Ambohimanga, 20km North-East of Tana. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the ancestral home on the Merina kings and queens who united Madagascar under one rule. It is a fortified sacred hill with 16 gates and a series of elegant royal summer homes. Back to the capital city and lunch at Le Café de la Gare.
After breakfast, explore the historical upper town of Antananarivo, with its stunning French inspired architecture. Your English speaking guide from I Travel 2 Madagascar will transfer you back to Ivato Airport in time for your international departure flight.