Photography
Tours : Galapagos of Africa
Day 1 Antananarivo
Arrival in Tana, meet and greet at the airport then transfer to your hotel.
ANTANANARIVO
Antananarivo means “City of thousands”. Its story began 500 years ago, the king Andrianjaka sent over 1000 soldiers to cut the forest and to conquer the land. Then the great King Andrianampoinimerina, attracted by the beauty of the city, decided to build a palace there, which became later his successor’s main palace. From here the same king started to unify the different kingdoms of the island. During King Radama’s reign Antananarivo became the capital of all Madagascar. Antananarivo is built on 3 levels: the high city where the queen’s palace is situated, the first area occupied during the royal period, then the mid-city, the administrative area where all the better boutiques of the capital are found, then the low city which is the commercial area of the town.
Included:
Transfer airport – hotel
Accommodation on BB
San Cristobal BB
Day 2 Antananarivo – Andasibe
Morning city tours of Tana before heading eastward for 4 hours’ drive to Andasibe, through the green landscape of the east. This step brings us to the humid part of the country with many primary forest and lakes. Our first stop is in the waterfall, which is place for “collective laundry”, in fact after a funeral; the whole family comes here to do their washing. This is a ritual in the highland, meaning that the river takes away all the bad luck. Our second stop is in Manjakandriana, which is a huge agricultural city. It supplies milk and vegetable to the whole region. On the way, we stop in Pyereras Reptiles Park to see farmed chameleons and other species of reptiles. On a walk inside the forest, we can spot 2 species of lemurs: the sifaka “coquereli” and the brown lemurs “fulvus”. Night in Hotel
Included:
Accommodation on BB
Guided visit: Peyreras Reptiles Park
Vakona Forest Lodge BB
Day 3 Andasibe
2 to 4 hours morning exploration of the Special Reserve of Andasibe, to see the Indri Indri the biggest lemurs of the island. This 810-ha reserve is a unique with endemic fauna and flora. It contains a wide variety of orchids, canopy, animals like chameleons, tenrecs, and many birds. Afterwards, visit the “Island of lemurs” of Vakona where we can see 3 different lemurs ‘species which come close to visitors. In the afternoon, visit to Andasibe village, a typical Betsimisaraka village, the second largest tribe. Overnight in the same hotel on B&B.
Included
Accommodation on BB
Guided visit: Andasibe Special Reserve
Guided vist: Lemurs Isalnd
Vakona Forest Lodge BB
Day 4 Andasibe – Manambato – Ankanin’ny Nofy
After breakfast, 3 hours’ drive to Manambato. Stop and visit the town of Brickaville, an old colonial city known for its sugar cane plantation. Then continuation on a dirt track to Manambato where we take a 1-hour boat transfer to Akanin’ ny nofy. We cross the Rasoabe Lake then the Pangalanes channel built during the colonisation period for commercial use. We can admire many birds along the luxuriant vegetation of the east. Arrival in the afternoon. Ankanin’ny Nofy means nest of the dreams. Surrounded by a huge and blue lake, this is the ideal place for rest and to be in contact direct with nature.
Included
Accommodation on BB
Boat transfer Manambato – Ankanin’ny Nofy
Palmarium Hotel BB
Day 5 Ankanin’ny Nofy
We’ll have 2 hours hike to explore « PALMARIUM” private park which is home to 7species of lemurs, with “ Indri Indri” as a highlight, many species of reptiles and birds. Flora is also very rich with its garden of palm trees, orchids and the famous vanilla. Since the bungalows are situated inside the park, making it very easy to access, guest will be permanently in contact with lemurs, which makes makes this park ideal for kids who will during the day come across with different species of lemur. The visit to Andranokoditra village on the other side of the canal is an opportunity to meet and play with the local children. By 05.30 pm, we take a 30 minutes boat across the Ampitabe lake and visit the “aye aye” island, a newly created park to protect the endangered lemurs “aye aye”. This 1-hour visit enables us to see very closely these unique and seldom seen lemurs in its natural habitat. This is a unique adventure for the children as they will search for the “aye aye” and will enjoy the show of “aye aye” having their daily diet.
Included
Accommodation on BB
Guided visit of Palmarium Reserve
Night walk « aye-aye island »
Palmarium Hotel BB
Day 6 Ankanin’ny Nofy – Tamatave – Tana
Breakfast at hotel then 3 hours boat transfer to Tamatave along the Pangalanes channel. During this journey, enjoy the life of the people living along the channel, where the only means of communication is by the canal. Bamboo pirogue transporting charcoals, boat – brousse transporting goods and passengers, women washing dishes and laundry, kids swimming, and many fishing nets are the scenery that you will find along the navigation. Arrival in Tamatave Transfer to the airport and fly back to Tana
Included:
Accommodation on BB
Boat transfer Ankanin’ny Nofy – Tamatave
Transfer airport – hotel
San Cristobal BB
Day 7 Tana – Fort Dauphin – Berenty
In the morning, transfer to the airport to fly to Fort Dauphin. Meet at the airport then 90minutes’ drive to Berenty, located about 50 km from Andohahela. Today we can admire the big contrast between the east humid of Fort Dauphin and the south dry of Amboasary. This is also seen in the features of the population, the Antainosy with their Asian side and the Antandroy with their Bantu origin. Stop over the « Nepenthès » fields, carnivorous plants in Fort Dauphin, then to the triangular palm « Neodypsis Decari », an endemic palm to Fort Dauphin. Night expedition to explore the reserve and to look for night active animals.
Included
Transfer hotel – airport- hotel
Accommodation DBB
Guided visit Berenty Special reserve
Berenty Lodge DBB
Day 8 Berenty
Get up at dawn for a bird watching expedition, since Berenty offers one of the best forests to spot endemic birds in Madagascar. It will also an opportunity to admire the sifakas opening their arms to see the sun and enjoy the coolness of the forest before breakfast. After breakfast, another expedition inside the reserve with a special guide. Berenty is one of main reserve where we can see almost all the fauna and flora of the south. It is also known for the kingdom of lemurs such as the ring-tailed lemurs, the dancing lemurs and so many others.The reserve is split into five parcels surrounded by extensive sisal plantations. The total area of about 265 ha is situated along the Mandrare River. The gallery forest is dominated by huge tamarind trees and is suffering from a severe invasion by the alien rubber vine. Berenty is a good place to watch birds, and 83 prominent and nine species are recorded. Night expedition to explore the reserve and to look for night active animals.
Included
Accommodation BB
Guided visit Berenty Special reserve
Berenty Lodge DBB
Day 9 Berenty – Fort Dauphin
After breakfast, drive back to Fort Dauphin.
Fort Dauphin lies in the south-east coast of Madagascar. It is dotted with two distinct climates which gives it two contrasted landscapes: the east humid with its wet and green tropical forest and the south with its dry and deserted plants like the numerous spiny Bush.
Included
Accommodation DBB
Transfer Berenty – Fort Dauphin
Croix du Sud DBB
Day 10 Fort Dauphin – Tana
Transfer to the airport to fly to Tana.
Included
Accommodation BB
Transfer airport hotel – airport
San Cristobal BB
Day 11 Tana – Morondava – Kirindy
Enjoy a fresh breakfast at hotel. Then, transfer to the airport and fly to Morondava. Upon arrival, transfer to Kirindy, 60 km of track from Morondava, along the baobab’s alley. After check-in, we will have 1-hour hiking in “Kirindy Park” with a guide. Rich on wildlife and home to 8 species of day active lemurs, Kirindy is also home to “the Fossa” the only predator for lemurs and the “Giant Jumping Rat” and the world’s smallest primate as well as dozens of amphibian and reptile species (and no poisonous snakes). At around 6pm, we meet our guide again for a night walk to see night active animals, Overnight in hotel on B&B.
Included
Accommodation BB
Night walk in Kirindy Reserve
Relais du Kirindy BB
Day 12 Kirindy – Morondava
Morning walk with a special guide. Kirindy is one of the most rewarding wildlife sites where visitors spot 8 species of lemurs: the most common one are: Verreaux’s sifaka, fulvus rufus, red-fronted brown lemurs. Afternoon drive back to Morondava, Along the way, we stop in « ALLEE DES BAOBABS » for sunset photo; this is the region of splendid Grandidier’s baobab, Andasonia grandidieri. Arrival in Morondava end of the afternoon. Check-in and night in Hotel.
Included
Accommodation DBB
Guided day visit in the Kirindy Reserve
Palissandre Cote Ouest Resort & Spa DBB
Day 13 Morondava – Tana
At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport to fly to Tana .
Included
Accommodation BB
Transfer hotel – airport – hotel
San Cristobal BB
Day 14 Tana – Departure
At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport and connection with your international flight.
Included
Transfer hotel – airport