Holidays | Africa | Madagascar | Madagascar - Around the Island
Madagascar: The Island of Wonders - GlobalXplorers
Create your own wildlife-filled jungle jaunt through Madagascar on this 14-day adventure to the island’s hotspots. You’ll be lazing on white-sand beaches, exploring tropical rainforests and spending time with a huge variety of local wildlife, including the lemur – the island's most popular animal inhabitants. Dig a little deeper throughout your journey and interact with local communities, getting an insight into the day-to-day life of Malagasy and Betsileo peoples. Discover the French colonial influences in Antananarivo and Antsirabe, and get the chance to chill out in your own time. An eco escapade in Madagascar awaits, with local wildlife, beaches, and a little adventure at every turn.
Highlights
Itinerary - Madagascar - 14 Days
Antananarivo
Welcome to Madagascar. We'll meet in the country's capital – the bustling Antananarivo – a fun, hilly place to explore. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 5 pm, but if you do happen to arrive early, why not head to Analakey to visit the street markets, or perhaps seek out a cafe to soak up the atmosphere. After your important briefing, where you’ll meet up with your group leader and fellow travellers, why not keep the introductions going with an optional dinner with your group at a local restaurant.
Antananarivo – Ambohimanga Rova Tour (per person; maximum 4) (including entry, guiding & camera) – MGA 10000 – MGA15600- Antananarivo – Lemur’s Park (Per Person) – MGA80000
- There are no meals included on this day.
- It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let GX group leader or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Ifaty
After breakfast this morning, you’ll enjoy a heritage walking tour of the old city where you’ll learn a little more about the country’s history, marvel at the interesting architecture of the highland traditional houses and watch on as finely dressed locals pop in and out of Sunday church services. With fewer cars on the road and the streets bustling with friendly church goers, a Sunday is the perfect time to wander about this city. Your walking tour will conclude at Musée de la Photographie, a small museum showcasing the history of Madagascar between 1850 and 1870 through a series of old photographs that have been assembled into short videos. After exploring Antananarivo, we’ll board a flight to Tulear and onward to your hotel in Ifaty for the evening. The night is yours to sit back and relax or go out and explore the town – you’ll be delighted by your accommodation with a swimming pool, snack bar and restaurant so you may choose to stay in, rest up and get ready for tomorrow’s adventures.
- Breakfast
- Today’s flight time is approximately 2 hours. Today’s driving time is approximately 1 hour.
Ifaty
Today is free for you to explore, adventure or relax as you wish. You might like to visit Reniala Private Park, the name means ‘mother of the forest’, this private nature reserve was opened in 2001 as a botanical garden, ornithological park, and incredible baobab forest. Perhaps, you’d like to visit the Village des Tortues, a turtle breeding and conservation project or drop in to the Honko Project and see the protected mangrove area that’s been set up to help reverse degradation of the ecosystems here. Up for something a little more active? Take a traditional dugout (speedboat) out to the nearby reef and snorkel the day away on a guided excursion. As if this wasn’t already enough to choose from, if you’re visiting from July to August, you can also join a humpback whale watching excursion in the lagoon. With plenty to see and do for nature-lovers like you, your choices for today are endless – go out and enjoy it!
- Breakfast
Isalo National Park
Leave Ifaty in the early morning and head to Tulear, where you will enjoy a city tour led by your Tour leader. And then, drive to the Antsokay Arboretum for a visit. The Antsokay Arboretum is a botanical garden with over 900 species of plants from southwestern Madagascar, 90% of which are endemic to the region and 80% of which are medicinal. Among these, many succulents are considered endangered. You can also see creatures that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world; Chameleons, boas, tenrex and birds but also other endemic species.
In the afternoon continue on to Isalo National Park.
- Tulear – Leader-led City Tour
- Tulear – Antsokay Arboretum
- Breakfast
- Day 4 total driving time is approximately 7 hours.
Isalo National Park
After breakfast today, you’ll make tracks to Isalo National Park, for a full day of exploration within the park with your leader. Isalo is known for its variety of landscapes, from rainforests and rolling plains teeming with life to strange geological formations and deep-cut canyons. And of course, there are a variety of lemur species roaming around the place because – well, this is Madagascar. You’re lucky to be spending a couple of days exploring the park, which is home to over 80 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles and 14 species of mammals including three lemur species – ring- tailed, red-fronted and Verreaux's sifakas lemur.
- Isalo National Park – guided walk
- Breakfast
Fianarantsoa
Today, you’ll kiss Isalo National Park goodbye as you hit the road for Fianarantsoa – a colourful town known for its heritage site. It is a must-see, with its long, paved roads, labyrinths of small paths and old houses with flower-studded balconies and tiled roofs. Along the way, you’ll stop at the Anja Community Reserve – a great spot to observe lemurs and learn a little more about the local culture. The forest in Anja was designated a protected area reserve by the Government of Madagascar in 1999. The reserve extends over 30 hectares and is enriched with all kinds of flora and fauna species, most notable for its dense population of semi-tame ring-tailed lemurs. Anja has become a vital example of how community management of natural resources can both effectively protect the area and benefit the community. Based on their individual skillsets some locals work as guides, others work as porters while some perform administrative and management tasks associated with the reserve. The local villagers will be your local expert guides as you explore the reserve, and your leader will be able to translate all the knowledge they can pass on to you.
- Ambalavao – Anja Community Reserve
- Ambalavao – Antemoro Paper Factory visit
- Breakfast
- Today’s travel time is approximately 8 hours.
Ranomafana
Today you’ll visit the historical old city of Fianarantsoa on foot. Then, visit a typical Malagasy village for an insight into how most of the island's population live, then take a local walk to explore the surrounding countryside, which is dotted with rice paddies and vineyards that produce Fianarantsoa's famous wine. You'll get a chance to sample local cuisine with a lunch stop in the villages. In the afternoon, you’ll travel to Ranomafana National Park, located in the southeastern part of Madagascar. Ranomafana means 'hot water' in the Malagasy language and the area is haven for small mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects, as well as palms, bamboo, orchids, and carnivorous plants. This park is home to several rare species with 13 species of lemur, including the famous golden bamboo lemur, which was first reported in the area in 1985 – its presence is one of the main reasons why the government decided to protect this forest. You may want to consider taking an optional night walk once the sun goes down. Your accommodation tonight is a small cottage located within the park's boundaries.
With a little free time, you might consider visiting the thermal springs which the town is named after – located across the Namorona River. The outdoor swimming pool fed by the springs is also a popular spot to take a dip.
- Fianarantsoa – Betsileo: Village visit and walk
- Ranomafana NP – Night Walk
- Ranomafana – Station Thermale – MGA5000 – MGA5000
- Breakfast
- Today’s travel time is approximately 2 hours. The Betsileo Village visit, includes a walk through the local countryside, the duration of the walk is usually 2.5 hours, whilst not a difficult walk parts of the walk are in full sun and we recommend a hat, sunscreen and of course carrying drinking water. Please discuss any concerns with your Leader.
Ranomafana
Today, you’ll get another chance to continue exploring Ranomafana, this time on a guided walk. Keep your eyes peeled for lemurs, striped civets, mongooses, goshawks, geckos, frogs and butterflies. If you’re lucky, you may even spot an incredible net-casting spider or the world's smallest chameleon. Relax into the day, and once again spend the night within the park.
- Ranomafana National Park – Rainforest walk
- Breakfast
- Your activities in the National Park include two guided walks, please discuss duration and walking conditions with your Leader.
Ambositra
After breakfast, head to Valbio Research and Conservation centre; an international research station on the edge of Madagascar's beautiful and abundant Ranomafana National Park. Under the direction of renowned primatologist Patricia C. Wright, the centre works to protect Madagascar’s unique and biologically diverse ecosystems through conservation projects that directly benefit local communities. You’ll get a chance to tour the centre with a researcher and sit down for an informal session to learn about the work they do. After lunch make the journey to Ambositra, home to the third-largest ethnic group in Madagascar – the Betsileo people. Ambositra is known as the arts, craft, and wood carving capital of Madagascar. You’ll get the opportunity to stop by a workshop and learn more about this local art.
- Ambositra – Woodcarving workshop visit
- Ranomafana – Conservation Lecture & Lunch
- Ranomafana – Valbio Research & Conservation Centre
- Breakfast
- Today’s travel time is approximately 5 hours.
Antsirabe
This morning you'll visit the nearby Sandrandahy villages and explore the process of silk production, which is an important part of Malagasy culture. When a Malagasy is buried, their body is wrapped in a large, silk sheet known as a 'lambamena' and, after a few years, the family traditionally return to the tomb to exchange the sheet for a new one. This custom is known as famadihana, and each village specialises in one step of the production. You’ll be lucky enough to visit the Firaisankina silk weavers cooperative – whose name means “solidarity” in Malagasy – an association of more than 100 women based in the village of Soatanana. For generations mothers have passed down to their daughters the craft of making silk shawls, called lambas. You’ll learn about the formation of the co-operative and how collaboration with NGO’s has allowed the women to share the labour across the wider community. A holistic approach to community development—economic, environmental, and medical - with traditional silk weaving as its hub.
After learning more about this wonderful initiative, we’ll drive to Antsirabe. Antsirabe maintains a Malagasy touch with all the tranquillity of a small European town, thanks to the contrast of its bustling street markets and Colonial-style facades. Located in the highlands, it's a popular spa town thanks to the hot springs and thermal baths, and the colourful rickshaws known as 'pousse-pousse' are a popular form of transport. This evening, you’ll enjoy a group dinner in the Gazebo within the grounds of the Guest House.
- Ambositra – Village Visit
- Ambositra – Sandrandahy Village Lunch
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Today’s travel time is approximately 6.5hrs
Antsirabe
Today is a long travel day as we make our way to Andasibe – but trust us, once you arrive, you’ll see why this place is worth the drive. Andasibe is the most visited park in Madagascar and famous for the 11 species of lemur that call it home. Aside from lemurs, you'll find endemic birds including the long-eared owl and the rufous-headed ground roller, as well as the smallest living chameleon – brookesia minima – and countless types of reptiles, insects and frogs.
- Breakfast
- Today’s travel time is approximately 10 hours.
Andasibe National Park
Wake up with excitement as you’ll have the opportunity to discover all the unique wildlife during a guided walk through Andasibe the national park today. Then, this evening, you'll take a night walk through the forest at Mitsinjo – a privately-owned neighbouring reserve, where you'll encounter nocturnal species including endemic butterflies and lemurs. This forest was formed in 1999 by residents of the village of Andasibe in east-central Madagascar. Today, the organization is composed of more than 50 members from the local community who focus on conservation, research, and sustainable development initiatives. However, in total, the reserve positively impacts more than 400 households in the Andasibe area.
- Andasibe National Park – guided walk
- Ambositra – Sandrandahy Village Lunch
- Andasibe National Park – Mitsinjo night walk – EUR6
- Breakfast
Antananarivo
You’ll kiss Andasibe goodbye after breakfast this morning for our final stop in Antananarivo. Once you arrive back in Antananarivo, you’ll take part in a hands-on Madagascan Chocolate workshop led by a local chocolate maker. You'll learn about the ingredients used in chocolate-making, the refinement process, and some of the secrets as to why Malagasy chocolate is so unique and delicious. After preparing your own take-home chocolate creations (yum!), Malagasy pastries will be served with a selection of local teas, coffees, and for the most courageous ones – rhum arrangés (flavoured rum). This evening, why not enjoy a final dinner with your new travel companions – perhaps toast to your Madagascar adventure with a local beer or two.
- Antananarivo – Madagascan Chocolate Workshop
- Breakfast
- Today’s travel time is approximately 5 hours.
Antananarivo - Departure Day
With no activities planned for today, your adventure ends today after breakfast and you’re free to leave at any time, provided you comply with the hotel’s internal check-out policy. Departure transfers are available for pre-booking with Intrepid Travel or your booking agent.
- Breakfast
- 13 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner
- Private Vehicles, Boat, Plane
- Hotel (6 nights) Lodge (3 nights) Cottage (2 nights) Eco Lodge (2 nights)
- Tulear – Leader-led City Tour
- Tulear – Antsokay Arboretum
- Isalo National Park – guided walk
- Ambalavao – Anja Community Reserve
- Ambalavao – Antemoro Paper Factory visit
- Fianarantsoa – Betsileo: village visit and walk
- Ranomafana NP – Night Walk
- Ranomafana National Park – Rainforest walk
- Ambositra – Woodcarving workshop visit
- Ranomafana – Conservation Lecture & Lunch
- Ranomafana – Valbio Research & Conservation Centre
- Ambositra – Village Visit
- Ambositra – Sandrandahy Village Lunch
- Andasibe National Park – guided walk
- Antananarivo – Madagascan Chocolate Workshop
Note:
-
A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability.
-
There is an internal flight included on this trip. Baggage allowance is as follows: Checked-in: 1 Bag, max 20kg. Cabin Luggage: 1 bag, max 5kg.
Internal flights in Madagascar are often delayed and or cancelled at short notice, for this reason, we have included an additional day in Antananarivo to safeguard against possible changes to flights. For this reason, we do not recommend booking any international departures until departure day.
-
Days 11 and 12 in Anakao has bungalow style accommodation. In true Eco-fashion, there is no running water in the bungalows and there is no hot water in the camp. Each bungalow is regularly supplied with a bucket of freshwater for washing and flushing the toilet.