Skip to content
4.8/5 Excellent
Call us
mut hero
Madagascar23 daysMax 12 travellersSolo-friendly

Wild Madagascar

From river navigation on the Tsiribihina to limestone pinnacles, baobab forests, and encounters with isolated tribes, this 23-day journey crosses Madagascar's most remote landscapes.

View dates & prices

As Featured In

The TelegraphCulture TripThe TimesLonely PlanetThe GuardianIndependentNational GeographicThe TelegraphCulture TripThe TimesLonely PlanetThe GuardianIndependentNational Geographic
About this journey

What to expect on this trip

The island of Madagascar occupies a unique place, both culturally and geographically, within Africa. Separated from the mainland millions of years ago, its fauna has developed very differently from the rest of the continent’s wildlife, and it is home to countless species found nowhere else on earth. Its people are an intriguing mix of Malay and African ancestry, with complex patterns of beliefs and an unusual history. On this off the beaten track adventure we explore this enigmatic and alluring land. Our journey takes us West on an exciting navigation along the Tsiribihina River followed by a visit to Kirindy Reserve with its semi-dry western tropical forest, home to the “fossa”.

We then travel the coastal track from Morondava to Tulear with its stunning scenery of baobabs, thorny bushes, and magically pristine white sandy beaches, home to the Mikea, a primitive bee-hunting tribe that have very little contact with Westerners – without a doubt one of the cultural highlights of the tour. Heading inland again, another truly memorable high spot greets us: the little frequented Andringitra National Park where we hike along the spectacular Tsaranoro Valley. We then enter the culturally rich and diverse Central Highlands before the tour ends in the capital Antananarivo.

This Madagascar tour package can then be extended with a visit to the Anjozorobe Forest corridor where we explore its delicate and stunning tropical rainforest, rich in unique wildlife: sundry species of lemur, including the beautiful Indri, chameleons, and a multitude of reptiles. Madagascar is unlike anywhere else on earth – join us to experience its diverse charms on a trip that will challenge what you thought you knew about Africa. You can also read about how to travel around Madagascar to better understand across this vast island.

mut1
mut2
The journey

Wild Madagascar

What makes this trip special

Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.

Your route
mut map

The highlights

  • Cruising the Tsiribihina River

    Board your boat at Masiakampy and spend two days navigating the Tsiribihina River, stopping at Sahambano village and camping by the river each night. The journey passes through primary semi-dry forests with opportunities to see lemurs, crocodiles, bats, and rich birdlife in the gorges of Bemaraha.

  • Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park

    Explore this World Heritage Site of eroded limestone pinnacles using boardwalks and ladders between formations, descending into deep canyons and gorges. Two full days are devoted to the Grand and Petit Tsingy circuits, with lemurs and birds encountered throughout.

  • Kirindy Reserve Night Walk

    After arriving at Kirindy Reserve, an evening guided night walk reveals unusual nocturnal animals including the Brown lemur, fossa, giant jumping rat, frogs, and insects. Early risers the following morning can try to spot the elusive and shy Fossa before heading to Morondava.

  • Avenue des Baobabs & Coastal Route to Andavadoaka

    Travel south from Morondava through the Avenue des Baobabs — a protected natural monument of trees over 1,000 years old — before continuing along an extreme off-road coastal route through spiny forest hosting 95% endemic plant species, lemurs, sifakas, and radiated tortoises. The route concludes at Andavadoaka's coastal location with traditional fishing outrigger-canoes.

  • Andravona & the Mikea Tribe

    Spend three nights at the idyllic lagoon of Andravona, set on pristine sands flanked by spiny forest and baobabs. The highlight is a visit into Mikea Forest to spend time with remaining Mikea tribe members, experiencing their way of life, traditions, and arts — one of the most isolated communities on the island.

  • Isalo National Park & Fenetre de l'Isalo

    A guided excursion in Isalo National Park follows trails to mountain-top panoramas of eroded rock in shades of ochre, russet, and blue-grey. The day ends at Fenetre de l'Isalo, a natural rock window formation that frames a spectacular sunset.

Trip highlights for Wild Madagascar

Full itinerary · 23 days

Prefer a PDF? Get the printable dossier
Dates & prices

Choose your departure

Reserve your place with a £350 per-person deposit; the balance is due 70 days before departure. Prefer your own space? A single room is available on every departure.

  • Departure
    1 Oct 202623 Oct 2026
    Guaranteed
    From
    £4,395 pp
    Single supp. +£815
    Contact for availability
  • Departure
    27 May 202718 Jun 2027
    Guaranteed
    From
    £4,395 pp
    Single supp. +£815
    Book now
  • Departure
    30 Sept 202722 Oct 2027
    Guaranteed
    From
    £4,395 pp
    Single supp. +£815
    Book now
  • Departure
    18 May 20289 Jun 2028
    Guaranteed
    From
    £4,395 pp
    Single supp. +£815
    Book now
  • Departure
    28 Sept 202820 Oct 2028
    Guaranteed
    From
    £4,395 pp
    Single supp. +£815
    Book now

Can’t find the right fit?

Every one of our Madagascar journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.

Tailor my trip
What's included

What your tour price covers

Included in the price

  • Arrival and departure transfers
  • Overland transport throughout with professional driver
  • Domestic flights as shown in the itinerary
  • All accommodation
  • Services of English-speaking guide / tour leader
  • Meals as listed
  • Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary

Budget separately for

  • International flights (contact us for expert advice and a quote)
  • Any airport taxes (except when included with domestic flights)
  • Travel Insurance
  • Visa – To be obtained in advance
  • Drinks
  • Items of personal nature
  • Tips (Discretionary)
Before you go

Essential information

Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.

Foreign Office travel advice

We constantly monitor official travel advice, including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Madagascar Travel Advice, and will always advise clients of any warnings before departure. At the time of writing, there are no specific warnings against travel to the parts of Madagascar that we visit on our tours.

Please contact us if you have any specific concerns or would like to understand what measures are in place to ensure your trip remains safe and trouble-free.

For additional official guidance, travellers may also refer to:
- US Department of State — US State Dept Madagascar Travel Advisory
- Australian Government — Smartraveller Madagascar Advice
- Government of Canada — Canada Travel Advice for Madagascar

Please note this information applies primarily to British citizens — nationals of other countries should check the current position with their respective government travel authority.

Voices from the road

What travellers say about us

Independently verified reviews from travellers who joined Wild Madagascar. Rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ reviewers.

This was my second visit to Madagascar so I knew that travel can be challenging. What a surprise it was to find many of the roads in the North recently paved. There are two ways to view the wildlife in Madagascar. The easy way is to visit sanctuaries with habituated animals that will eat out of your hand and present easy photo opportunities. The second way is to find the wildlife in the wild. That is what this itinerary offers. I don’t know how many kilometers I walked or how many mountains I climbed but, it was a lot. It was made possible by going “mora mora” ( slowly, slowly in Malagasy ), by hiring an extra porter in Maronjejy to carry my backpack and a helping hand when needed. There was a very good mix of wildlife and cultural experiences-both of which I enjoyed. Again, I am very grateful that you ran the tour with just myself. I look forward to more adventures with Undiscovered Destinations.
Read full review

Barbara Robert, USA

Dore is great guide. Patrique is an outstanding driver, considering very poor road conditions in Madagascar. Both did a great job. Accommodations were better than expected. I have seen everything I would like to see and satisfied.
Read full review

Traveller from Canada

The country was beautiful and the local guides hired for the various parks were good. The guide, Nambibia, was excellent; he knew a lot about the country and he was very well organized. The people were very nice and the wildlife was engaging.
Read full review

Marc Moshma, USA

Excellent guide and driver, knowledgeable and practical, good language and people skills, added value to trip.
Read full review

Gary Decourcey, Australia

The guide and driver were exceptional. I think I’ve done 4 Africa trips with UD. every time your overseas reps do a great job. No complaints at all. Accommodations and food exceeded my expectations. Guide and driver were exceptional. Very punctual and knowledgeable.
Read full review

Robert Scerbo, USA

Dore is one of the very best tour guides I have had for any of my numerous overseas travels. The accommodations were beyond what I had anticipated! They were all truly excellent and impressive, especially the superb Vakona Lodge in Andasibe. What an amazing place to stay with uncommonly good meals and staff.he transportation was fantastic--and we had two incredibly professional, kind drivers who not only got us safely to our destinations, but were friendly and cheerful, helping us in different ways during the trip. Everything was excellent, and I wish i was younger so I could do this trip all over again!
Read full review

John Thomas, UK

Both Ando and Edi were excellent guides.
Read full review

Jo Goodburn, UK

Tour guide Nambinina... He was very good & very knowledgeable. guides in national parks & reserves were all excellent.
Read full review

Catherine Price, Canada

Jason was very helpful and the booking process was quick and easy. UD offers itineraries that many competitors do not. I thoroughly enjoyed both trips I've taken with them. While they may not suit everyone, I have happily recommended the Senegal tour to fellow travellers.
Read full review

Bernice Hird, UK

Helped by Jason van der Wath

Excellent customer service, reliable itineraries and ability to solve local issues when they arise
Read full review

Gustavo Musto, Uruguay

Want to customise this tour?

Make Wild Madagascar your own — adjust the route, dates, pace or who travels, or start from a blank page with a specialist. We'll bring the details of this trip straight into your enquiry.

Customise this tour
Ready when you are

Start planning your Madagascar adventure

Join a small-group departure, or let our Madagascar specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.

Common questions

Things travellers usually ask

  • How many travellers will be in my group?

    Maximum 12 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.

  • Can I travel solo?

    Yes — there's no compulsory single supplement on our small-group tours. You get your own room at no extra cost. About 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you'll be in good company.

  • How fit do I need to be?

    Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.

  • When are the next departures?

    The next available departures are 1 October 2026; 27 May 2027; 30 September 2027. See the "Choose your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.

  • What's included in the tour price?

    Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure transfers; Overland transport throughout with professional driver; Domestic flights as shown in the itinerary; and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.

  • Where exactly does this trip go?

    This tour visits Madagascar. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.

Trusted partners & accreditations