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Madagascar Wildlife Discovery Tours 2013

From £3,945 per person
Madagascar Madagascar

On our exclusive Madagascar Wildlife Tours you'll see a superb variety of lemurs, birds and extraordinary reptiles, frogs and invertebrates, and diverse flora. We offer two variations of this extremely popular small group departure, for which the itineraries encompass the eastern rainforests, the dry deciduous forests and the bizarre 'spiny desert' of semi-arid southern region. Some of the departures include Berenty Reserve while others instead, visit the baobab forest of Kirindy. During all the tours, you will gain insight into the fascinating culture of some of Madagascar's different peoples. Rainbow Tours are the leading UK experts for travel in Madagascar.
 

Madagascar Wildlife Discovery Tours 2013

Tours with Berenty from £3945 per person
31 May  - 17 Jun  Fully Booked (See our Madagascar Wildlife Discovery Northern Tour which still has places available)
20 Sep - 7 Oct  Fully Booked
6 - 23 Oct   Fully Booked
26 Oct - 13 Nov  Places Available

We may be running additional tours in November subject to the Air France schedules. Ask us for details.

Tours with Kirindy from £4150 per person
13 - 30 Sep  Fully Booked
20 Sep - 7 Oct  Fully Booked

Why go to Kirindy
Kirindy Forest is an example of tropical deciduous dry forests, Madagascar’s most threatened habitat type. Only about 2% of the original forests remain intact. Kirindy is dominated by thousands of baobabs – notably Grandidier’s baobab, the largest - and it claims a world record in terms of primate density. By day see the ‘dancing’ Verreaux’s sifaka, as well as Red-fronted brown lemurs. Among the many nocturnal lemur species found in Kirindy is the world’s smallest primate, Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur, which is so tiny it can fit into an egg cup.

Itinerary

On this trip you will visit:
  • Andasibe-Mantadia National Park (Perinet)
  • Berenty Private Reserve
  • Eastern Rainforests
  • Ifaty
  • Isalo National Park
  • Kirindy Forest
  • Ranomafana National Park
  • The South
  • Towns & Cities
  • Tulear
  • Western Dry Forests
Day 1
Antananarivo
Depart in the morning on Air France flight via Paris (Charles de Gaulle) to Antananarivo.

On arrival in Antananarivo in the evening, you will be met by your tour leader, and assisted with currency exchange. You will be transferred to Palissandre Hotel for a 1-night stay.
Accommodation: Palissandre
More hotel info   |   Hotel image gallery
     
Day 2
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park (Perinet)
Depart for Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. The 3½-hour journey takes us through Merina territory with the characteristic brickworks, paddy-fields, and villages. Introductory walk in the rainforest. Stay 3-nights at the comfortable Vakona Forest Lodge OR Andasibe Hotel.
Accommodation: Vakona Forest Lodge
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Day 3
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park (Perinet)
Day for the rainforest reserve. We are virtually certain to see the iconic Indri. Other species include the Grey bamboo lemur, Common brown lemur, some of the rainforest dependent groundrollers, Parsons and Short-horned chameleons and Madagascar day gecko. On our night walk in Station Forestier d’Analamazaotra, we may see the Greater dwarf lemur, Rufous mouse lemur, Small-toothed sportive lemur and Eastern woolly lemur.
Day 4
Mantadia National Park
Spend the day discovering the rare wildlife in the primary rainforest of Mantadia National Park. Mantadia's star attraction is the spectacular nominate subspecies of the Diademed Sifaka, second largest of all surviving lemurs. Other diurnal lemurs less easily seen include Red-bellied lemur and the garrulous Black-and-white ruffed lemur. There is a substantial population of Indri in Mantadia - some are strangely darker than those in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. Almost all the most sought-after rainforest bird species may be spotted in Mantadia.
Day 5
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park - Antananarivo
After a final rainforest walk to catch up on species previously missed, you will drive back to the capital city to arrive late afternoon and 1-night stay at Relais des Plateaux.
Accommodation: Relais Des Plateaux
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Day 6
Berenty Private Reserve OR Kirindy Forest Reserve
We transfer to Antananarivo airport to check in for the Air Madagascar flight to Fort Dauphin (south-east coast) OR to Morondava (west coast).

On arrival in Fort Dauphin, you will be driven 4 hours inland to Berenty Private Reserve to stay 2-nights in simple en-suite bungalows at Berenty Lodge. Exploring Berenty with its broad trails on flat terrain is easy.

OR

Alternatively, on arrival in Morondava you will be met and driven 90 minutes north via the Alley of Giant Baobabs (a national monument and World Heritage Site) to the well-tended Camp Amoureux, to stay 2-nights in en-suite bungalows. Night walks in both reserves are equally rewarding.
Day 7
Berenty Private Reserve OR Kirindy Forest Reserve
Spend the day either exploring gallery woodland and spiny bush at Berenty Private Reserve OR the remarkable Baobab forest of Kirindy Forest Reserve.

Best known for its large and well habituated populations of Ringtail lemur and the 'dancing' Verreaux's sifaka, Berenty also holds a wide variety of birds, reptiles and fascinating dry country flora; and contains two of the only four remaining stands of gallery forest in the entire Mandrare River Valley.

OR

Kirindy claims a world record in terms of primate density, with species resident including Red-fronted brown lemur, Verreaux’ sifaka and the smallest of all primates, Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur. Kirindy is dominated by 3 species of baobabs, notably the statuesque Grandidier’s baobab, largest of all baobab species. It is the best place in which to seek the island’s largest predator, the Fosa.
Day 8
Fort Dauphin OR Morondava
After spending more time exploring Berenty, travel back to Fort Dauphin to stay 1-night in Croix du Sud.

OR

After more time spent exploring Kirindy Forest to see wildlife unique to western Madagascar, return to Morondava to stay overnight in Palissandre Cote Ouest.
Day 9
Antananarivo
You will be transferred to Fort Dauphin OR Morondava airport to check in for the Air Madagascar flight back to Antananarivo, where you will be met and transferred to Palissandre to stay 1-night. Time allowing you will be taken to see attractions in the capital, including the Aye ayes in the new nocturnal house at the National Zoo, Botanical Gardens and Museum.
Accommodation: Palissandre
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Day 10
Ifaty Beach
We fly to Tulear on the south-west coast for a 2-night stay in Les Dunes. This is in the most interesting area of spiny bush, which we will have the opportunity to explore. In the afternoon those who wish, can snorkel (payable locally): the hotel has boats to take guests out to the barrier reef offshore.
Accommodation: Les Dunes d'Ifaty
More hotel info   |   Hotel image gallery
   
Day 11
Ifaty Beach
Early morning excursion to the spiny bush for bottle baobabs, octopus trees, rare birds of Ifaty Beach, including the Long-tailed ground roller and Sub-desert mesite and many other interesting life forms in what is Madagascar's most bizarre habitat.
Day 12
Zombitse & Isalo National Parks
We travel 3 hours inland to the transition forest national park of Zombitse, which appears on all birding and most natural history itineraries as the forest is packed with rare birds, interesting reptiles and of course, lemurs. We can also stop at the colourfully painted Mahafaly and Antandroy tombs of Andranovory. Continue to Isalo, with the aim of watching sunset in Isalo. Stay 2-night stay at Relais de la Reine de Isalo OR Isalo Rock Lodge.
Accommodation: Isalo Rock Lodge
More hotel info   |   Hotel image gallery
     
Day 13
Isalo National Park
We have the full day for the sandstone massif of Isalo National Park, home to a strange community of range-restricted plants and animals, along with iconic lemurs such as Verreaux' sifakas.
Day 14
Ambalavao & Ranomafana National Park
We travel east to Ambalavao and visit the Anjaha Community Conservation Site for habituated Ringtail lemurs in a dramatic setting. Continue northeast to Ranomafana National Park. In this montane rainforest, 12 species of lemur find sanctuary, including all three species of bamboo lemur. Two - the Golden and Greater Bamboo lemur - are found almost nowhere else. Introductory walk in the rainforest. Stay 2-night stay at Centrest Sejour Hotel OR Setam Lodge.
Accommodation: Setam Lodge
More hotel info   |   Hotel image gallery
Day 15
Ranomafana National Park
Explore Ranomafana for rainforest wildlife. Other key species include the Milne-Edwards sifaka and Red-bellied lemur. We may see five or more species of lemur in a single day here. Ranomafana is a delight for twitchers, who come to see rarities like Brown mesite, Rufous-headed ground-roller, Yellow-bellied sunbird asity and Pollen's vanga. If night walks are permitted, we would hope for sightings of the Rufous mouse lemur, Malagasy striped civet and, with luck, Leaf-tailed gecko.
Day 16
Ambositra
After a morning rainforest walk in Ranomafana, we depart for the scenic drive to Ambositra with sightseeing en route. We stay the final night at L’Artisan.
Day 17
Antananarivo
We travel back to Antananarivo via Antsirabe. We visit highlights of the capital including the Artisans market. After a farewell dinner at a restaurant in Antananarivo, those departing on the Air France flight will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Paris.
Day 18
On arrival in Paris at Charles de Gaulle, connect on the onward flight to London Heathrow.

Price guides 2013/2014

From £3,945 per person, for departures to Berenty
From £4,150 per person, for departures to Kirindy

Single supplement from £720

Please note flights are booked on an ad-hoc basis and costs will be subject to change at time of booking.

Minimum group size is 6 and maximum is 12

This itinerary can be extended to allow you to visit additional reserves or to enjoy a beach holiday

Tour includes:
Rates are per person sharing including international flights (economy class) and airport taxes; all transportation in new comfortable 25-seater air-conditioned vehicle, accommodation and all meals; all transfers; guides in and entrance permits to the reserves specified; the services of a dedicated, professional English-speaking wildlife guide / tour leader throughout the tour.

Tour excludes:
Gratuities, items of a personal nature, all drinks, travel insurance, Madagascar visa (Currently at no cost).

Please note that Madagascar is a poor country with a limited tourism infrastructure. This itinerary has been arranged in good faith based on the best local information available before departure. However, things change in Madagascar and flight schedules can be altered, sometimes at short notice. We reserve the right to alter the accommodation specified and the order of this itinerary in what we consider to be the best interests of the participants

Speak with a specialist
Rainbow specialists provide a high-quality, personal service and respected, impartial advice so you can make informed decisions about your individual holiday. To talk through your holiday ideas and plans, ring us on 020 7666 1250, or make an enquiry by email.

Accommodation

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Berenty Lodge
Berenty Private Reserve, Madagascar
Berenty Lodge  Berenty Lodge has 13 simple en suite bungalows, and is located in one of Madagascar’s oldest reserves, established by the De Heaulme family in 1937. Breakfasts are served in the snack-bar, near the...
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Isalo Rock Lodge
Isalo National Park, Madagascar
Isalo Rock Lodge  The impressive new Isalo Rock Lodge is located high on a sandstone massif overlooking the Isalo National Park, in south west Madagascar. From the lodge the panoramic views over the...
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Le Camp Amoureux
Kirindy Forest, Madagascar
Le Camp Amoureux  In the forest near Marofandilia, 44 km from Morondava and close to the Alley of Giant Baobabs, this well-maintained camp provides good quality accommodation for those wishing to explore the fascinating...
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Les Dunes d'Ifaty
Ifaty, Madagascar
Les Dunes d'Ifaty  Les Dunes d'Ifaty offer the highest standard of accommodation in Ifaty. Set on the southern tip of Ifaty beach, its terraced bungalows all have sweeping views over the Mozambique Channel and are well...
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Relais de la Reine de Isalo
Isalo National Park, Madagascar
Relais de la Reine de Isalo  This firm favorite with visitors is next door to, and under same ownership as Jardin du Roy. Blocks of six spacious, en suite rooms are grouped around a courtyard. The hotel is thoughtfully...
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Setam Lodge
Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar
Setam Lodge Setam Lodge is the newest hotel at Ranomafana National Park and is the area’s premier hotel, just a kilometre from the park gate. The lodge is built on the side of a hill, with stunning views across Ranomafana....
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Vakona Forest Lodge
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park (Perinet), Madagascar
Vakona Forest Lodge is family-run and the best hotel in the area. It has 28 comfortable rooms and bungalows, a sparkling pool and stables in a eucalyptus plantation and private reserve 7km from the entrance to Perinet. The...
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