Madagascar Endangered Icons with Daniel Austin 2025/26

Much enjoyed by our clients is Maromizaha Experimental Reserve, which we explore a trail in for our morning activity. The rainforest here is wilder than that of Andasibe and Analamazaotra, allowing for the chance to seek rare species including Black & white ruffed lemur and Pitta-like ground-roller.

In the afternoon we will return to the rainforest in Analamazaotra, and after dark, we make the first of our night walks here, 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 the likes of Mossy leaf-tailed gecko, colourful Day geckos, tiny Brookesia and Nose-horned chameleons and a myriad interesting invertebrates.

We will make another night walk after dark, to seek species such as Goodman's mouse lemur.

After breakfast, we drive down the escarpment to Manambato, where the four-wheel-drive vehicles are parked and from where we embark on a one-hour motorised boat transfer to Lac Ampitabe for a two-night stay at the comfortable, no-frills Le Palmarium, with all meals included.

Tonight, we'll do the boat trip to a wooded islet in the lake where we have the wonderful experience of observing Aye ayes.

Today we explore the east coast littoral forest of Palmarium Private Reserve for its abundant wildlife.

Tonight, those who wish can repeat the excursion to see Aye ayes again.

After a relaxed breakfast we transfer by boat back to Manambato, where we meet our four-wheel-drive vehicles and set off back up-country, on the all-day drive to Antananarivo, where we arrive late afternoon and stay overnight in Relais des Plateaux.

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

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

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 later afternoon, we'll also be able to chalk up observations of interesting diurnal fauna.

We will 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 Gray mouse lemur.

You will also be taken to look for our tiniest cousin, the Madame Berthe's mouse lemur, now feared possibly extinct and at best, very scarce, as it is found only in the Menabe Antimena Protected Area. (Our clients in tours after the pandemic years, managed excellent sightings of this extreme rarity, now regarded as one of the World's 25 Most Endangered Primates).

We'll drive back to Morondava with a stop for photos at Allee des Baobab, along the way for photo opportunities and for those who wish, planting a Baobab sapling as part of the habitat restoration programme.

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

After breakfast, we 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 climate and vegetation are remarkably different than that we will have seen earlier today.

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

We will 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. 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 the northern lemurs such as Crowned and Sanford's lemurs - it is the best site for the latter. Birding is rewarding; guides will keep a lookout for the likes of 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 Greater dwarf lemur; Giant and Mossy leaf-tailed gecko and many chameleons.

A three-and-a-half-hour drive today after an early morning rainforest walk, will take us to Andrafiamena Andavakoera Protected Area, a corridor of tropical deciduous forest with some limestone substrate and caves. For two nights, our base will be the well-tended Black Lemur Camp. Introductory forest walk during the afternoon and night walk after dinner.

This morning, we'll 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 are protected only in this corridor and the nearby Analamerana Special Reserve.

After our 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), we return to the lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, we visit another trail in the forest and after dark, we'll make a short night walk, with rare nocturnal lemurs in mind: this is the only location where two species of Sportive lemur (genus Lepilemur), in this case Ankarana and Daraina sportive lemurs, occur sympatrically. We should also see 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 Madagascar giant hognose snake; Northern pencil snake (Mimophis occultus) and Cat-eyed snakes.

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

We then drive to Ankarana National Park where we stay for two nights at Ankarana Lodge, all meals included.

After breakfast, we will be taken into the eastern sector of Ankarana National Park, to marvel at the geological wonders packed into this 5km x 20km limestone fortress. There's also plenty of wildlife to be seen, including groups of Sanford's and Crowned lemurs; Ankarana sportive lemurs; various reptiles and birding is rewarding with the likes of Crested coua and Blue vanga being fairly commonly encountered. The day begins with a quick drive to Mahamasina Gate, from where the trail begins. (Grading today: easy).

After lunch at the lodge, we will continue our exploration of this incredible place with another circuit taking in more of its extraordinary 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 we stay three nights at the lovely Eden Lodge, all meals included. This is one of the very few locations in Madagascar offering the combination of rare wildlife and the marine aspect.

Afternoon and night walks will reveal some of the rare species unique to the Sambirano Domain of far north-west Madagascar.

This morning we 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 we can expect to see are Black lemurs, the critically endangered Nosy Be sportive lemur and herps such as Panther chameleon and Madagascar boa.

We continue to the beautiful Marine Reserve of Nosy Tanikely where we enjoy some snorkelling and lunch.

After lunch we return to Eden Lodge, where those who wish can explore more of the Sambirano woods around the property.

A wonderful way in which to end a comprehensive tour: we are taken on a speedboat excursion to seek (and swim with, for those able to) Whale sharks and marine Green and Hawksbill turtles while enjoying the colourful coral formations.

After lunch, we 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*** is followed by a flight back to Antananarivo.

*** Participants who wish to depart from Madagascar today 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.).

*** Those who wish to make a beach extension in the Nosy Be region, can do so from here - please let us know and we shall amend your itinerary with pleasure.

On arrival back into Antananarivo, we transfer to Relais des Plateaux, where participants leaving on Air France have day/evening rooms 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 will be transferred to Antananarivo Airport to check in for your onward flight if your flight departs during the day today.

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