Magical Madagascar - The Zoology of a Gondwanaland Island

Itinerary

Day 1

Evening check in at London Heathrow airport for flight to Johannesburg with South African Airways.

Day 2

Morning change in Johannesburg Airport for South African Airways flight to Antananarivo.  Transfer to Palissandre Hotel & Spa for a one night stay.

Day 3

Today we travel to Antsirabe, a small spa town with a crumbling colonial past. Located on a high plateau, Antsirabe is known for its multitude of local craft workshops making sweets, delicate lacework and tiny model bicycles.  Overnight at the rather basic Arotel.

Day 4

Transfer by road to the Ranomafana National Park in the mountainous highlands.  Check in at the Setam Lodge for three nights. The exquisite upland rainforest at Ranomafana is one of Madagascar's top wildlife hotspots. The 12 lemur species resident here include not only all 3 bamboo lemurs, but also the striking Milne-Edward's diadem and the robust Black and white ruffed lemur.

Day 5 & 6

Two full days in Ranomafana National Park. Expect to see various lemurs, such as red-fronted brown lemur, red-bellied lemur and the shy grey bamboo lemur, and more again on night walks. Ranomafana is superb for birders as many of the rainforest dwelling endemics occur in the park such as brown mesite, blue coua and the velvet asity. Ranomafana is a herpetologist's paradise, with a variety of chameleons, geckoes, skinks and frogs. The floral diversity is bewildering, with numerous species of palm, bamboo and orchid thriving here. Overnight Setam Lodge.

Day 7

Leaving the rainforest early we drive to Isalo via Fianarantso, Madagascar's second largest city and the centre of the flourishing Malagasy wine industry. We then drive across the desolate central southern interior to arrive at the Jardin du Roy, a hotel close to the Isalo National Park.

Day 8

We explore Isalo National Park, a vast, dry massif of 'ruiniforme' sandstone formations with a fascinating plant community including some very localised species of palm, aloe and the squat 'elephant's foot' pachypodiums, which flourish on the rock faces. With luck, some ringtail lemurs or Verreaux’s sifakas may be seen in dense vegetation lining the canyon streams. Overnight Jardin du Roy.

Day 9

From Isalo, we drive to Ifaty, with a stop enroute at the dry deciduous forest at Zombitse. Passing by some impressive baobabs (Adansonia za and A. grandidieri) we continue to Tulear from where it is a drive north through degraded spiny forests to the small fishing village of Ifaty. Check in for a three night stay at Les Paradisers.

Day 10

Today we explore the Reniala Private Reserve. The forty five hectares of spiny forest include two species of baobab and the flora is a chaotic ensemble of drought resistant plants such as Pachypodiums, Moringas, Hildergardia and Delonix. There are orchids as well as aloe and commiphora. Birding is superb with long-tailed ground-rollers, Lafresnaye's vangas, sub-desert mesites, running couas and Archbold's Newtonia. Overnight at Les Paradisers.

Day 11

After a leisurely morning, today we drive back to Tulear airport for an afternoon flight to Fort Dauphin, a laid back town on the southeast coast. Overnight Croix du Sud or Sunny Hotel. NOTE: Due to the likelihood of schedule changes on domestic flights, it may be necessary to fly to Antananarivo on this day for overnight, and fly to Fort Dauphin the following day (Day 12). In this event we shall transfer straight to Berenty on arrival.

Day 12

This morning we shall start early and travel down through spiny forest to Berenty, Madagscar’s best-known private reserve, set amongst a vast sisal plantation. Renowned for its large populations of ringtail lemurs and Verreaux's sifakas, there is a chance to see ringtailed lemurs and red-fronted brown lemurs right by the lodge. Afternoon walk through the forest and further optional night walk available to see nocturnal creatures such as the grey mouse lemur or the white-footed sportive lemur. Overnight Berenty.

Day 13

Full morning at Berenty, where we look for ‘dancing’ sifakas. Birds here include giant couas and stunning paradise flycatchers.  Overnight at Berenty. NOTE: due to the likelihood of domestic flight schedule changes, we may make the journey to Fort Dauphin for overnight after our sightseeing at Berenty rather than spend a second night here. On Day 14 this would mean avoiding the very early start.

Day 14

A very early start today sees us return to Fort Dauphin in time for a mid-morning flight to Antananarivo. After a short stop for lunch we travel down to Andasibe National Park (Perinet), which covers an area of montane rainforest and is the best of Madagascar’s parks for spotting indri, the largest lemur.  We check in to the Vakona Forest Lodge. We can do a night walk here where we may see the Greater dwarf lemur and rufous mouse lemur among others.

Day 15

A full day to visit the rainforest reserve. Aside from indri, other lemur species found here include the grey bamboo lemur and common brown lemur.  This is a great place to spot groundrollers, the Parsons chameleon and Madagascar day gecko. After lunch, we shall travel back to Antananarivo for dinner and overnight. Overnight Palissandre Hotel.

Day 16

Morning visit to the artisan’s market where one can buy beautiful ammonites, vanilla, baskets, embroidery, woodcarvings etc. Early lunch before being taken to the airport for flight back to Johannesburg with South African Airways connecting to overnight flight back to London.

Day 17

Morning arrival London Heathrow.

NOTE:From time to time either the international airline or domestic airline we are using for this tour changes its schedule without warning. In this event we will substitute the airline, re-order the domestic itinerary, or in extreme circumstances alter the departure date of the tour by a day or so. All changes will be notified to clients as soon as they happen and a refund will be offered in the event of large or 'material' changes as per our booking conditions.

Tour Details

DATES:

26 August – 11 September 2012

PRICE:

£4,690 from London

INCLUDES:

Airfare from London, twin or double bedded rooms with private bathroom, and all excursions with local guides, UK departure tax, transfers, full board, all visits & entrance fees, expert leaders. Single supplement £595. (Can be joined without flight). Only 12 places available

NOT INCLUDED:

Regional connecting flights if not departing from London, other airline taxes (UK passenger service charge, security tax, insurance, foreign departure tax, fuel surcharges), drinks, tips to drivers and local guides.

*May be joined without flights. Ask us for the land-only price.

ACCOMMODATION:

3-4 star. Madagascar is a developing country and its tourism infrastructure is poor. We use the best available hotels in this tour, which means that depending on location we shall be staying in 3 and 4 star hotels as well as some more basic properties chosen for their location. At Ansirabe and Berenty the accommodation is quite simple but still comfortable (private rooms with ensuite facilities). Food throughout is generally very good. Please bear in mind that in Madagascar star ratings may not be equivalent to the same ratings in Europe. Some hotels do not fill their pools with water in winter, when we shall be visiting. Almost all the hotels we use have full access to electricity and hot water however at Berenty these commodities are only available at set times during the day.

FITNESS LEVEL:

Moderate/Active - We have graded the fitness level required for participation in this tour as Moderate/Active. This is a very full itinerary, with a number of hotel moves and some long road journeys. We will be far from first world medical assistance. There are no hikes in this tour however there are some walks on steep, stepped, uneven or slippery ground (rainforest walks), and hiking poles can be useful. Whilst sightseeing we may be on the go for several hours at one time, in some places without the guarantee of somewhere to stop and rest. It is important that everyone is able to keep up with the group as we will need to keep together on walks. For these reasons we feel this tour is unsuitable for the frail or for anyone who routinely uses a walking aid of any kind. If unsure, please check with us.

Trip Lecturer

This tour will be accompanied by Dr Ivan Scales. Ivan is a Fellow of St Catharine's College Cambridge. His PhD was on landscape change in western Madagascar. He has led alumni tours here before.

Fast facts

• Sovereignty: Madagascar is a Republic (caretaker government).
• Language: Malagasy, French
• Currency: Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
• Timezone: Madagascar is GMT +3 hours so in British summertime will be 2 hours ahead of the UK.

• Immunisations: NHS Fit for Travel recommends that all travellers to Madagascar should confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended for life in Britain - including vaccines given to special groups because of risk exposure or complications (e.g. hepatitis B for health care workers, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for the elderly). In addition to this, the following courses or boosters are usually advised: diphtheria; tetanus; hepatitis A; influenza A (H1N1); typhoid. Malaria is prevalent across the country and prophylaxis is essential. The following vaccines are also sometimes advised: tuberculosis; rabies; hepatitis B; cholera. A Yellow fever vaccination certificate is a mandatory requirement of entry for travellers coming from areas with risk of yellow fever transmission (not necessary for those flying to Madagascar from the UK via Johannesburg).

  *Note This advice is intended to be a guide only, as we are not qualified to give out medical advice. Travellers should always consult their own GP before they travel to get up-to-date information which is relevant to their own circumstances.

• Visas: A visa on arrival is required by all nationalities. Currently there is no fee for this but if reinstated may be in the region of £45. Please check at the time of booking.
• Flying time: 12 hours to Johannesburg, direct from London.
• Will my phone work: Madagascar uses the 900 MHz bandwidth so almost all UK phones will work there in main cities and along major roads, as long as your provider has authorised its use abroad.

Extensions in Southern Africa

We recommend ending your tour with a relaxing four night stay at Anjajavy, Madagascar's premier beach resort, a great place to spot Coquerel sifakas and a member of prestigious Relais & Chateau.