Madagascar Endangered Icons with Daniel Austin 2027

Much enjoyed by our clients is Maromizaha Experimental Reserve, where you'll get to explore one of the trails. The rainforest here is wilder than that of Andasibe and Analamazaotra, offering opportunities to see rare species, including the black-and-white ruffed lemur and the pitta-like ground-roller.

In the afternoon, return to the rainforest in Analamazaotra. After dark, make the first night walk in search of nocturnal critters.

Enjoy Andasibe this morning, where one of the highlights is seeing (and hearing) the iconic indris, as well as spying critically endangered diademed sifakas with their 'what-are-you-looking-at?' expressions!

Trails are graded as easy for the most part. Birding is marvellous in this rainforest site, with most of the eastern rainforest-dwelling 'specials' being present. Those keen on 'herps' can seek out the likes of mossy leaf-tailed geckos, colourful day geckos, tiny Brookesia, nose-horned chameleons and myriad interesting invertebrates.

Make another night walk after dark to seek species such as Goodman's mouse lemur.

After breakfast, drive down the escarpment to Manambato, where the four-wheel-drive vehicles are parked and from where you'll experience a one-hour motorised boat transfer to Lac Ampitabe. Spend two nights at the comfortable, no-frills Le Palmarium, with all meals included.

Tonight, you'll enjoy a boat trip to a wooded islet in the lake for the wonderful experience of observing aye-ayes.

Explore the east coast littoral forest of Palmarium Private Reserve for its abundant wildlife.

Later on, those who wish can repeat the excursion to see aye-ayes.

This morning, transfer to Antananarivo Ivato Airport to check in for the lunchtime Tsaradia flight to Morondava on the central-west coast.

On arrival in Morondava, set off in a four-wheel-drive on the 90-minute drive north to Kirindy Forest for a two-night stay at Akiba Lodge Marofandilia.

Experience an introductory night walk in Kirindy, highly regarded as one of the island's two or three top locations for seeing nocturnal wildlife. As the walk begins in the late afternoon, we'll also be able to make observations of interesting diurnal fauna.

Make day and night walks in Kirindy in search of its diverse nocturnal inhabitants, which include the likes of fosa (Madagascar's largest predator); the incredibly localised and critically endangered giant jumping rat; and an impressive selection of nocturnal primates, including red-tailed sportive lemur, pale fork-marked lemur and grey mouse lemur.

You'll also be taken to look for our tiniest cousin, Madame Berthe's mouse lemur - a very scarce species, as it's found only in the Menabe Antimena Protected Area (our clients have managed excellent sightings of this extreme rarity, now regarded as one of the world's 25 most endangered primates).

Drive back to Morondava. Along the way, stop for photos at the Avenue of the Baobabs. Plus, for those who wish, you can also plant a baobab sapling as part of the habitat restoration programme.

From Morondava, fly back to Antananarivo for an overnight stay.

After breakfast, transfer to Antananarivo airport for the Tsaradia flight to Diego Suarez on the far north coast. Then drive about an hour southwards to Joffreville (ascending about 800m in elevation), where the climate and vegetation are remarkably different from what you'll have seen earlier today.

Montagne d'Ambre National Park protects an isolated rainforest-clad massif where the fauna is quite different from that found in the eastern rainforest band. The main focus for tonight is a nocturnal walk, because herpetofauna is particularly rich here.

Visit the privately protected forest patch in the grounds of Domain de Fontenay, where people come to seek diverse nocturnal animals - notably various species of leaf-tailed (Uroplatus) geckos and chameleons. With luck, dwarf and mouse lemurs will also be in evidence. Enjoy two nights at the comfortable Nature Lodge.

Today will be an easy one, spent exploring the montane forest wonderland of Montagne d'Ambre National Park. This isolated rainforest block holds a large variety of endemic vertebrates, notably many reptiles and frogs. So, seeking out the 'herps' will be high on the list during day and night walks in this area. There are also substantial populations of northern lemurs, such as crowned and Sanford's lemurs, with it being the best site for the latter.

Birding is rewarding, with the guides keeping a lookout for the locally endemic Amber Mountain rock-thrush. Night walks at the private park of Domain de Fontenay nearby are always much enjoyed. Highlights here include the greater dwarf lemur, the giant and mossy leaf-tailed gecko, and many chameleons.

This morning, enjoy breakfast on the lovely terrace at the lodge, before venturing out to seek one or more of the habituated family groups of the critically endangered flagship species here - Perrier's black sifaka. According to experts, the global population of this charismatic sifaka is likely to be less than 500 mature individuals, and they're protected only in this corridor and the nearby Analamerana Special Reserve.

After the forest walk, which should also reveal other species resident in this remote tract of tropical deciduous forest (highlights include crowned lemur and birds such as the elegant crested coua and garrulous sickle-billed vangas), return to the lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, visit another trail in the forest. After dark, make a short night walk, with rare nocturnal lemurs in mind. This is the only location where two species of sportive lemurs (genus Lepilemur), in this case Ankarana and Daraina sportive lemurs, occur sympatrically. You should also see the Tavaratra mouse lemur.

Reptiles often noted in this forest site include panther chameleon, the robust North Madagascar giant velvet gecko and bright green Madagascar giant day gecko. There's also the chance to see the Madagascar giant hognose snake, northern pencil snake (Mimophis occultus) and cat-eyed snake.

After an early breakfast, venture out from behind the camp up along the forest trail into the Protected Area in search of Perrier's black sifakas, which are protected here. Seeing these ultra-rare and localised lemurs, which are among the world's most endangered primates, is a wonderful and memorable highlight of the trip. There are also endangered northern sportive lemurs, along with various birds and reptiles to be seen.

Then drive to Ankarana National Park for a two-night stay at Ankarana Lodge, with all meals included.

After breakfast, you'll be taken into the eastern sector of Ankarana National Park to marvel at the geological wonders packed into this 5km×20km limestone fortress. There's also plenty of wildlife to be seen, including groups of Sanford's and crowned lemurs, Ankarana sportive lemurs and various reptiles. Birding is also rewarding, with the likes of the crested coua and blue vanga being fairly common. The day begins with a quick drive to Mahamasina Gate, from where the trail begins.

Enjoy lunch at the lodge. Then, continue your exploration with another circuit taking in more of the attractions.

Depart after breakfast on the half-day drive through scenic Sambirano country (where Madagascar's high quality cocoa is cultivated) to the north-western coastal town of Ankify. At the jetty, transfer by speedboat at noon to discreet Baobab Beach, where you'll stay for three nights at the lovely Eden Lodge, with all meals included. This is one of the very few locations in Madagascar that offer a combination of rare wildlife and marine features.

Afternoon and night walks will reveal some of the rare species unique to the Sambirano Domain.

This morning, visit Lokobe Reserve, adjacent to Lokobe National Park on the south-east corner of Nosy Be Island. It protects the last stand of Sambirano Forest on Nosy Be. Among the highlights you can expect to see are black lemurs, the critically endangered Nosy Be sportive lemur and herps such as panther chameleon and Madagascar boa.

Continue to the beautiful Nosy Tanikely Marine Reserve, where you can enjoy some snorkelling and lunch.

After lunch, return to Eden Lodge. You can explore more of the Sambirano woods around the property.

A wonderful way in which to end a comprehensive tour, you're taken on a speedboat excursion to seek (and potentially swim with) whale sharks and marine green and hawksbill turtles while enjoying the colourful coral formations.

After lunch, return to Eden Lodge, where those who wish can enjoy a night walk after dark.

A speedboat transfer to Nosy Be port and a road transfer to Nosy Be Airport are followed by a flight back to Antananarivo.

Participants who wish to depart from Madagascar can do so from Nosy Be, without having to return to the capital. This is achievable on Ethiopian Airlines, so anyone on the Ethiopian Airlines flight home will be taken to Nosy Be Airport to check in for their onward flight.

Or, if you wish to make a beach extension in the Nosy Be region, you can do so from here. Please let us know, and we'll amend your itinerary accordingly.

On arrival in Antananarivo, transfer to Relais des Plateaux, where participants leaving on Air France have the day/evening rooms to themselves at Relais des Plateaux.

After a farewell dinner, those departing on Air France will be taken back to Ivato Airport for the Air France or Kenya Airways check-in.

You'll be transferred to Antananarivo Airport to check in for your onward flight if your flight departs during the day.

If your flight departs late the previous night, your transfer will be timed accordingly.