Baobabs and Lemurs of Madagascar
DAY 1: ANTANANARIVO
Depart Johannesburg to Madagascar.
You will be met on arrival to Ivato airport and transferred to your hotel in Antananarivo, where you can relax from your flight and take a swim. Depending on your arrival time, there may be an opportunity for you to ask the hotel to do a tour to the handicrafts market (additional expense).
Overnight on a bed and breakfast basis at Palissandre Hotel
DAY 2: AVENUE OF THE BAOBABS
You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Morondava, where you will be met and transferred to the city. Morondava is situated in the heart of Sakalava territory and is known for the royal sculpted tombs of the Menabe ancestors. These tombs are frequently decorated with well-executed, often erotic, funerary carvings representing life and fertility.
Overnight on a bed and breakfast basis at Palissandre Cote Ouest
DAY 3: TSINGY DE BEMARAHA NATIONAL PARK
Today is a long day of discovery and adventure! We set out early to visit the Kirindy Reserve stopping en-route to admire the beauty of the famous Baobab Avenue at sunrise. In Kirindy you will have the chance to see 7 species of lemurs, including the fat-tailed lemur and the tiny Pygmy Mouse lemur, believed to be the world’s smallest primate. Kirindy is the best place to see the giant jumping rat as well as the Fossa (Madagascar's largest predator), and you can also witness various spiny tenrecs, birds and reptiles aplenty. The diverse flora includes three of the six endemic Malagasy baobabs.
After exploring Kirindy we head north and onto Tsimafana where we take the ferry across to Belo sur Tsiribihina. After another road transfer, we will arrive at our destination for the day, Bekopaka, in the evening. Please note that it is a very long driving day due to poor and bumpy road conditions.
Overnight on a bed and breakfast basis at Soleil des Tsingys
DAY 4: TSINGY DE BEMARAHA NATIONAL PARK
Today we visit the Bemaraha National Park in search of the Grands Tsingy. A UNESCO world heritage site since 1990, the area has a unique geography, well preserved mangrove forests and some amazing bird and lemur species. We will trek throughout the park. The karst landscape and deciduous forest are a refuge for rare and endangered species and in the park there are over 11 species of lemur, 90 species of bird and 50 types of reptile, some of which we might be lucky to spot on our hikes throughout the reserve.
The Grands Tsingy is famed for its pinnacles, a forest of limestone pillars and limestone plateau. Some of its needles are several hundred metres high! We spend the day exploring this magnificent geological site.
Overnight on a bed and breakfast basis at Soleil des Tsingys
DAY 5: TSINGY DE BEMARAHA NATIONAL PARK
This morning we will head to Belo sur Tsiribihina and onto visit the Manambolo gorge, home to many interesting rock formations. We travel by dug-out canoe to see the Tombs of the Vazimba tribe from the river. These ancient people were the original inhabitants of Madagascar and grew no more than one metre tall. We spend the afternoon visiting the small Tsingy in The Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park.
Overnight on a bed and breakfast basis at Soleil des Tsingys
DAY 6: AVENUE OF THE BAOBABS
After breakfast, we head back to Morondava by 4x4. We will travel through the small town of Belo-sur-Tsiribihina and pass the Sakalava tribe tombs. En-route we stop to visit the stunning Baobab Alley but this time at sunset, a great photo opportunity! We arrive in Morondava early evening where we spend the night.
Overnight on a bed and breakfast basis at Palissandre Cote Ouest
DAY 7: ANTANANARIVO
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Antananarivo. On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel.
Overnight on a bed and breakfast basis at Palissandre Hotel
DAY 8: DEPARTURE
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Johannesburg.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Round trip coach air on South African Airways from Johannesburg (JNB) to Madagascar (TNR); Accommodation as per the itinerary; Meals as per the itinerary (7x Breakfast); All road and scheduled light aircraft transfers as per the itinerary; All activities as per the itinerary
EXCLUDES
Visas; Any meals, drinks or services not mentioned above; Any items of personal expense - i.e. drinks, telephone calls, laundry etc; Gratuities for rangers/guides/drivers/porters