Madagascar Tailormade – Rainforests, Pangalanes & Baobabs

Welcome to Madagascar! On arrival at Antananarivo’s international airport, you will be met by your local representative and transfer to your nearby hotel for much needed rest after your long journey, and ahead of your adventure commencing tomorrow.

This morning after breakfast, you will be met by your local representative and transferred eastwards towards Andasibe National Park

Leaving the capital behind, the journey follows National Road 2 through increasingly lush and verdant scenery. Although the distance is only around 135 kilometres, the winding road and traffic mean that the journey takes approximately four hours. As you travel east, the landscape changes noticeably, with tropical vegetation, waterways and forest becoming increasingly prominent.

On arrival in Andasibe during the afternoon, check into your lodge and settle into your surroundings. The area is one of Madagascar’s most important rainforest regions and is renowned for its exceptional concentration of endemic wildlife, particularly lemurs. Andasibe-Mantadia is recognised for its primary rainforest and is one of the island’s most accessible destinations for observing the famous indri.

This morning, travel approximately 17 kilometres to Mantadia National Park for a guided exploration of one of eastern Madagascar’s beautiful rainforest environments.

Mantadia forms part of the wider Andasibe-Mantadia protected area and is characterised by dense primary forest, tangled lianas, mosses, ferns, bamboo and towering trees. The forest provides an extraordinary habitat for Madagascar’s endemic wildlife, and your guide will help you look for lemurs, colourful birds, chameleons and other forest species.

Following your morning exploration, return towards Andasibe and visit Vakona Private Park, including its famous Lemur Island. Reached by canoe, the small forested island provides an excellent opportunity to observe several species of lemur at close quarters and offers some particularly rewarding photographic opportunities.

Later, enjoy an evening wildlife experience at the VOIMMA private reserve, where a guided walk provides the opportunity to look for nocturnal wildlife as the forest becomes increasingly active after dark. At VOIMMA, the reserve encompasses approximately 28 hectares of rainforest and provides habitat for species including dwarf lemurs, mouse lemurs, chameleons, reptiles and birds.

Return to your lodge for the evening.

Today brings one of the highlights of your time in eastern Madagascar: a guided walk in Andasibe National Park.

The forest is home to an impressive variety of endemic wildlife, but the undisputed star is the indri, Madagascar’s largest living lemur. Rather than relying on visual sightings alone, you may first hear the indri’s distinctive calls echoing through the forest canopy before your guide helps locate them amongst the trees.

The reserve also provides habitat for other lemurs, chameleons, tenrecs and numerous bird species, while the luxuriant vegetation includes orchids, ferns, mosses and other plants characteristic of Madagascar’s eastern rainforest. The official tourism authority describes Andasibe-Mantadia as one of the island’s principal areas for encountering the indri and other endemic species. The walk lasts approximately three to four hours and will be taken at a pace suited to wildlife observation.

Afterwards, visit Andasibe village, home to the Betsimisaraka people, where you can gain a glimpse of everyday life in this rural part of Madagascar.

Later, enjoy a further evening wildlife experience at the VOIMMA private reserve, where a guided walk provides the opportunity to look for nocturnal wildlife as the forest becomes increasingly active after dark.

Leave Andasibe National Park this morning and continue eastwards towards the waterways of Madagascar’s Pangalanes region.

The drive follows National Road 2 for approximately three hours, passing through changing rural landscapes. En route, stop at Brickaville, a historic town with links to Madagascar’s colonial-era development.

Continue towards Manambato, a small settlement on the shores of Lake Rasoabe. Here, the character of the journey changes as you leave the road behind and board a speedboat for the approximately one-hour journey towards Ankanin’ny Nofy, travelling across Lake Rasoabe and along part of the historic Pangalanes Canal.

The Pangalanes form an extensive network of lakes, lagoons and waterways running parallel to Madagascar’s east coast, and travelling by boat provides a fascinating glimpse into both the tropical landscape and the daily life of communities living along the waterways.

On arrival at Ankanin’ny Nofy, settle into the Palmarium area and enjoy your first evening surrounded by the tropical forest and waterways.

Palmarium Reserve – Ankanin’ny Nofy

Palmarium Reserve, meaning “Nest of Dreams”, is a tranquil private reserve on Madagascar’s east coast, set beside Lake Ampitabe and the famous Pangalanes Canal. Accessible only by boat, the reserve offers an immersive experience in tropical nature, with lush forest, distinctive Madagascan flora and a variety of lemur species moving freely through the surroundings. Guided walks provide excellent opportunities to observe the wildlife at close quarters, while the peaceful lakeside setting and sense of isolation make Palmarium a particularly atmospheric stop on a Madagascar journey. A night-time excursion to search for the elusive aye-aye can also be arranged, adding an exciting after-dark element to the experience.

Enjoy two full days exploring the remarkable Palmarium Reserve, set amongst lush tropical vegetation and surrounded by water. With its combination of wildlife, waterways and tropical vegetation, these two days provide a wonderful contrast to the forest landscapes around Andasibe.

The reserve provides opportunities to encounter several species of lemur as well as reptiles, birds and other wildlife. The vegetation is equally impressive, with palms, orchids, vanilla and other tropical plants creating an atmospheric setting for walking and wildlife observation.

Early risers can take part in an optional birdwatching excursion, when the cooler morning conditions offer good opportunities to search for endemic bird species.

During your time in the reserve, enjoy guided walks and allow plenty of time simply to appreciate the peaceful surroundings. The bungalows are located within the reserve, meaning that wildlife encounters can form part of everyday life here rather than being confined to scheduled excursions.

On the evenings, travel by boat across Lake Ampitabe to Aye-Aye Island, a conservation area established to protect the highly distinctive and endangered aye-aye. A guided visit offers an opportunity to look for this unusual nocturnal lemur in its natural environment.

A further day exploring the remarkable Palmarium Reserve, set amongst lush tropical vegetation and surrounded by water. With its combination of wildlife, waterways and tropical vegetation, these two days provide a wonderful contrast to the forest landscapes around Andasibe.

The reserve provides opportunities to encounter several species of lemur as well as reptiles, birds and other wildlife. The vegetation is equally impressive, with palms, orchids, vanilla and other tropical plants creating an atmospheric setting for walking and wildlife observation.

Early risers can take part in an optional birdwatching excursion, when the cooler morning conditions offer good opportunities to search for endemic bird species.

During your time in the reserve, enjoy guided walks and allow plenty of time simply to appreciate the peaceful surroundings. The bungalows are located within the reserve, meaning that wildlife encounters can form part of everyday life here rather than being confined to scheduled excursions.

On the evenings, travel by boat across Lake Ampitabe to Aye-Aye Island, a conservation area established to protect the highly distinctive and endangered aye-aye. A guided visit offers an opportunity to look for this unusual nocturnal lemur in its natural environment.

After breakfast, board your boat for the approximately three-hour journey along the Pangalanes Canal towards Toamasina (Tamatave).

This is more than simply a transfer: it is an opportunity to observe everyday life along one of Madagascar’s most fascinating waterways. Villages and settlements line the canal, with local people using traditional pirogues and boats to transport goods and passengers. You may see fishermen at work, children swimming, and families carrying out their daily activities along the water.

The lush vegetation and interconnected waterways provide a final glimpse of eastern Madagascar’s distinctive tropical landscape.

On arrival in Toamasina, transfer to the airport for your domestic flight back to Antananarivo. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy a final evening in the capital.

Transfer to the airport this morning for your domestic flight to Morondava, on Madagascar’s west coast.

On arrival, begin the journey northwards towards Kirindy, travelling through the distinctive landscapes of western Madagascar. The scenery changes dramatically as the lush eastern forests give way to dry woodland and the characteristic red earth of the west.

On arrival at your lodge, settle in before heading out with your guide for an initial exploration of Kirindy Forest.

This dry deciduous forest is renowned for its endemic wildlife and offers a very different environment from the rainforests of Andasibe. During a guided walk, look for lemurs, birds, reptiles and other inhabitants of the forest.

As darkness falls, venture out again for a night walk, when some of Madagascar’s nocturnal wildlife becomes active. This is an excellent opportunity to search for mouse lemurs, sportive lemurs, chameleons, geckos and other creatures that are rarely seen during daylight hours.

Spend two full days exploring the remarkable Kirindy Forest, allowing plenty of time for guided walks and wildlife observation.

Kirindy’s dry deciduous forest is particularly rewarding for wildlife enthusiasts and provides the opportunity to encounter several species of lemur, including Verreaux’s sifaka and brown lemurs.

The forest is also home to a remarkable variety of reptiles, birds and other endemic species. One of its most famous inhabitants is the fossa, Madagascar’s largest native carnivore and one of the most elusive animals on the island.

Your experienced local guides will help you search for wildlife amongst the trees and undergrowth, explaining the ecology of the forest and the species that inhabit it.

A further evening walk will provide another opportunity to experience Kirindy after dark, when nocturnal lemurs, chameleons, geckos and other wildlife become active.

These two days provide a particularly immersive wildlife experience and a fascinating contrast with the humid rainforest environments encountered earlier in the journey.

A further day exploring the remarkable Kirindy Forest, allowing plenty of time for guided walks and wildlife observation.

Kirindy’s dry deciduous forest is particularly rewarding for wildlife enthusiasts and provides the opportunity to encounter several species of lemur, including Verreaux’s sifaka and brown lemurs.

The forest is also home to a remarkable variety of reptiles, birds and other endemic species. One of its most famous inhabitants is the fossa, Madagascar’s largest native carnivore and one of the most elusive animals on the island.

Your experienced local guides will help you search for wildlife amongst the trees and undergrowth, explaining the ecology of the forest and the species that inhabit it.

A further evening walk will provide another opportunity to experience Kirindy after dark, when nocturnal lemurs, chameleons, geckos and other wildlife become active.

Enjoy a final morning nature walk in Kirindy before beginning the journey back towards Morondava.

This afternoon, experience one of Madagascar’s most instantly recognisable landscapes: the iconic Avenue of the Baobabs.

As the afternoon progresses, the immense baobab trees stand silhouetted against the changing colours of the sky and the red earth of the Menabe region. The avenue is particularly atmospheric towards sunset and provides one of the great photographic moments of any visit to western Madagascar. Morondava is recognised as the gateway to this iconic landscape, which lies close to the town.

Arrive in Morondava towards the end of the afternoon and check into your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to Morondava airport for your domestic flight back to Antananarivo.

On arrival in the capital, transfer to your hotel and enjoy a final evening in Madagascar.

This evening provides an opportunity to relax after your extensive journey through the island’s eastern and western landscapes, or to enjoy some last-minute shopping and sightseeing if time permits.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before your private transfer to Antananarivo’s international airport for your onward flight home.

Your Madagascar adventure comes to an end, with memories of rainforest trails, extraordinary lemurs, traditional waterways, dry forests and the unforgettable silhouettes of the island’s giant baobabs.

If you have more time to spare perhaps look to fly north to Nosy Be to spend time relaxing on idyllic beaches.