South Africa Safari & Madagascar

After breakfast, you'll be met by your private guide and driver before setting off on the five-hour journey east to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, Madagascar's best-known protected rainforest reserve. Travelling in a comfortable 4WD vehicle, you'll pass through the island's changing landscapes before arriving at Mantadia Lodge, where you'll spend the next three nights. Your stay includes dinner and breakfast each day.

This afternoon, enjoy your first guided walk in the rainforest of Analamazaotra Special Reserve, the most accessible section of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. Accompanied by an experienced local guide, begin searching for the reserve's extraordinary wildlife, from diverse chameleons and unusual endemic birds to several species of lemur, including the magnificent indri, whose haunting calls are among the most memorable sounds of Madagascar's eastern rainforests.

Rise early for a guided walk in Andasibe National Park (Perinet), where the rainforest comes alive with birdsong and the haunting calls of indri echo through the canopy. As you explore the network of forest trails with your expert guide, look out for several species of lemur, colourful birds, geckos and an impressive diversity of chameleons, along with many of the unique plants and invertebrates that make Madagascar's eastern rainforests so remarkable.

After lunch, continue your exploration with a guided walk in nearby Mitsinjo Community Reserve (Analamazaotra), an important conservation initiative that protects a beautiful tract of primary rainforest.

After dusk, head out once more on a night walk in search of Madagascar's fascinating nocturnal wildlife. Mouse lemurs, chameleons asleep on slender branches, tree frogs and a host of unusual nocturnal creatures all become active after dark, offering a completely different perspective on the rainforest.

This morning, explore the magnificent rainforest of Mantadia National Park with your expert guide. The park protects a more rugged and less-visited tract of forest than Andasibe and offers excellent opportunities to encounter some of Madagascar's most sought-after wildlife, including diademed sifaka, black-and-white ruffed lemur, red-bellied lemur and a wealth of endemic birds such as pitta-like ground roller, velvet asity and white-throated oxylabes.

Should access to Mantadia be temporarily affected by road or bridge conditions, you'll instead visit nearby Maromizaha Experimental Reserve. This superb rainforest reserve protects many of the same habitats and is home to an equally impressive diversity of wildlife, ensuring an excellent alternative day's exploration.

This afternoon, visit the Frog Breeding Centre, managed by the NGO Association Mitsinjo. The centre plays an important role in the conservation of Madagascar's critically endangered amphibians through carefully managed captive breeding and research programmes designed to support wild populations. Among its most celebrated residents is the striking golden mantella, one of the island's flagship amphibian species.

This evening, enjoy a second night walk if desired.

This morning, transfer to the airport for your Madagascar Airlines flight to Nosy Be, gateway to the islands of Madagascar's tropical north-west coast.

On arrival, you'll be met by our local representative and driven to Chanty Beach, where a short speedboat journey brings you to the peaceful island of Nosy Sakatia. Surrounded by warm, turquoise waters and vibrant coral reefs, Sakatia Lodge will be your home for the next four nights. Your stay in a Ravinala Bungalow includes dinner and breakfast each day.

Spend these days at leisure, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of Nosy Sakatia. Unwind on the beach, swim in the warm waters of the Mozambique Channel or explore the vibrant coral reefs, widely regarded as among Madagascar's finest for both snorkelling and scuba diving. Green and hawksbill turtles are frequently encountered in the surrounding waters, while the island's forests and gardens also provide opportunities for nature walks.

Sakatia Lodge has an excellent on-site dive centre offering scuba diving, snorkelling excursions and a range of optional marine activities. Credit card payments are accepted for additional services and extras.

Please note: Sakatia Lodge has just a handful of bungalows and is one of Madagascar's most sought-after beach properties. We recommend booking well in advance, particularly for travel between July and November.

This morning, return by speedboat to Nosy Be before transferring to the airport for your Madagascar Airlines flight to Antananarivo. Upon arrival, you'll be met by our local representative and transferred to the charming Nosy Manga boutique hotel for your final overnight stay, with breakfast included.

Please note: where schedules permit, we can also tailor this itinerary to make use of Airlink's convenient once-weekly direct service between Nosy Be and Johannesburg, reducing travel time and avoiding the need to return via Antananarivo.

After a relaxed breakfast, you'll be transferred to Antananarivo International Airport for your Airlink flight to Johannesburg, where you'll connect with your onward British Airways overnight flight to London.

Should you wish, we can also arrange onward flights to a number of regional UK airports as part of your personalised travel arrangements.