Madagascar Wildlife and Discovery with Daniel Austin 2021
Baobab Alley on the way to Kirindy Forest  
Sicklebilled vanga is often seen in Menabe (Jan Gershag)  
Kirindy is the best place in which to seek Fossa (Fosa)  
Red-fronted brown lemur, Kirindy  
Tsingy limestone formations at Ankarana (Mike Unwin)  
A previous Daniel Austin tour group seeking lemurs  
Verreaux's sifaka  
Giant jumping rat, Kirindy (Fiona)  
Female Crowned lemur on tsingy at Ankarana  
Daniel Austin tour group planting Baobabs in Menabe  
Indri, Andasibe-Mantadia (Daniel)  
Blue coua is commonly seen in Andasibe-Mantadia  
Nose-horned chameleon, Andasibe-Mantadia NP  
Parson's chameleon, Mitsinjo rainforest (Derek)  
 
Giant leaf-tailed gecko is often seen at Montagne d'Ambre  
18 day tour
Prices from
£7595

Tour Highlights

  • Kirindy for Baobabs, Fossa and other rare wildlife
  • Reptiles and frogs galore in Montagne d'Ambre
  • Tsingy, caves and rare wildlife in Ankarana
  • Baobabs at Montagne des Francais and Ankarana
  • Indri and other rainforest wildlife at Andasibe-Mantadia
  • Aye ayes and Ruffed lemurs of Le Palmarium
I'm enquiring about: Madagascar Wildlife and Discovery with Daniel Austin 2021

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I'm enquiring about: Madagascar Wildlife and Discovery with Daniel Austin 2021

Madagascar Wildlife and Discovery with Daniel Austin 2021

Madagascar

We are delighted to offer another wonderful wildlife and discovery tour with Madagascar expert Daniel Austin, who has been leading tours to the Madagascar's wilderness areas for the last 7 years. 

In our 2021 tour, Daniel will be taking a small group (maximum 8 participants), to look for the fascinating and highly endangered wildlife restricted to the central-western lowlands at Menabe Antimena Protected Area, where we explore the dry deciduous forests of Kirindy and Marofandilia, and we visit the iconic Baobab Avenue not far away. Our aim will be to spot rarities such as Fossa, Giant jumping rat and the smallest of all primates, Madame Berthe's mouse lemur. 

We then explore the Northern Parks look, beginning with a visi to Montagne des Francais for dry-country flora and continuing to Montagne d'Ambre, one of the best places in Madagascar for keen herpetologists. Night walks are superb here. We then travel down to Ankarana, an extraordinary place for its world class scenery including 'tsingy' limestone pinnacle-fields, impressive caves and tropical deciduous forests which harbour plenty of rare wildlife. After having explored Ankarana, we travel to Ankify and take a speedboat over to Nosy Be, where we will visit Lokobe National Park for wildlife of the 'sambirano' domain.

The last section of the itinerary focuses on the humid eastern region, where first, we travel down to the Pangalanes Canal for two nights at Le Palmarium, a prominent attraction of which its habituated population of the Aye aye. Thi large and bizarre-looking nocturnal lemur epitomises all that is weird and wonderful about Malagasy wildlife. We then travel up-country to end our Madagascar wildife experience with 3 nights at Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, the island's most visited protected rainforest. Here, the intriguing cast of characters we will meet include Indri, Parson's chameleon and Giraffe-necked weevil. We then return to the capital after a wonderful trip!

Daniel will be accompanied by ace Malagasy wildlife expert guide, Harry (Hery) Rakotosalama. 

Group size: minimum 6 - maximum 8 participants. 

Read more about this tour


Day 1
Day 1
19 October 2021: Arrive into Antananarivo
Arrive into Antananarivo off your international flight.
 
(This itinerary is structured around Air France flights from London or select other UK airports to Paris CDG and on to Antananarivo, arriving late in the evening. But do let us know if you would prefer to fly on another carrier; we will be pleased to assist with arrangements).
 
You will be welcomed and transferred to Relais des Plateaux to stay overnight, breakfast included.
Accommodation: Relais Des Plateaux
       
Day 2
Day 2
20 October 2021: Antananarivo - Morondava - Kirindy Forest/ Menabe Antimena Protected Area
Transfer to Antananarivo airport for the flight to Morondava on the west coast.
 
On arrival, we travel in 4-wheel drive vehicles to Kirindy via Baobab Alley.
 
We stay 2 nights in en-suite bungalows at Relais du Kirindy.
 
In the afternoon and early evening, we explore this wonderful dry forest, searching for various diurnal and nocturnal lemurs, birds and reptiles.
Accommodation: Relais du Kirindy
       
Day 3
Day 3
21 October 2021 - Kirindy Forest
We make day and night walks in Kirindy, in search of its rare and often, range-restricted wildlife.
Accommodation: Relais du Kirindy
       
Day 4
Day 4
22 October 2021: Kirindy - Morondava - Antananarivo
We drive back to Morondava airport (about 90 minutes) to check in for the Tsaradia flight to Antananarivo.
 
On arrival, we transfer to Relais des Plateaux for an overnight stay. Closer to the time, when domestic flight schedules are published, we will finalise sightseeing excursions for this day.
Accommodation: Relais Des Plateaux
       
Day 5
Day 5
23 October 2021: Antananarivo - Diego Suarez - Montagne d'Ambre National Park
We transfer to the airport to check in for the Tsaradia flight to Diego Suarez on the remote north coast.
 
On arrival, we visit the new Montagne des Francais reserve, for its endemic Baobabs and small wildlife.
 
We then drive to Montagne d'Ambre National Park for 2 nights in Domain de Fontenay, all meals included.
 
Tonight we make a nocturnal walk in the private reserve; one of the most rewarding to be had in the country.
Accommodation: Domain de Fontenay
           
Day 6
Day 6
24 October 2021: Montagne d'Ambre National Park
An early start: after a coffee at the lodge, we visit beautiful Montagne d'Ambre, to seek resident wildlife and enjoy the scenery here.
 
We make another night walk in the area, to chalk up more nocturnal critters.
Accommodation: Domain de Fontenay
           
Day 7
Day 7
25 October 2021: To Ankarana National Park
We travel to magnificent Ankarana National Park, for a 2 night stay in Iharana Bush Camp (or Ankarana Lodge) with all meals included.
 
In the afternoon going into early evening, we will make an excursion including the 'tsingy tsingy' walk, where we enjoy sundowners at a viewing platform, followed by a night visit to the nearby lake where snakes aggregate to prey on frogs.
Accommodation: Iharana Bush Camp
                             
Day 8
Day 8
26 October 2021: Ankarana National Park
Today we will be taken to explore Ankarana East for wildlife, more tsingy formations and plenty of Baobabs.
Accommodation: Iharana Bush Camp
                             
Day 9
Day 9
27 October 2021: Ankarana - Nosy Be island
We travel through scenic Sambirano country to Ankify, where we take a speedboat transfer to Nosy Be port.
 
From here, we take a road transfer to Vanila Hotel, our base for the next two nights.
Accommodation: Vanila Hotel
       
Day 10
Day 10
28 October 2021: Lokobe National Park
After breakfast we make an excursion by road and boat, to the Sambirano forest of Lokobe, to seek its localised wildlife. This includes Black lemurs, the critically endangered Claire's sportive lemur and many reptiles and frogs.
Accommodation: Vanila Hotel
       
Day 11
Day 11
29 October 2021: Nosy Be - Antananarivo
We fly back to Antananarivo, the vibrant Malagasy capital city. Depending on the flight time, we will go sightseeing in and around Antananarivo: if it is a morning flight, we will visit Ambohimanga, a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site on a scenic hilltop 24km from the city.
 
We overnight in Relais des Plateaux Hotel.
Accommodation: Relais Des Plateaux
       
Day 12
Day 12
30 October 2021 - Antananarivo - Palmarium Reserve/Lac Ampitabe
After breakfast, we travel in 4-wheel drive vehicles to the escarpment to Manambato, at the 600-km Pangalanes Canal. Here, we stay 2 nights in the rustic Le Palmarium, on the shore of Lac Ampitabe. (Drive time about 7hrs + boat transfer of abour 1 hr)
 
Tonight, we'll take a boat excursion to an offshore islet, where the big attraction is a habituated population of Aye ayes.
Accommodation: Le Palmarium
               
Day 13
Day 13
31 October 2021: Le Palmarium Reserve
Today we explore the reserve of Palmarium, which protects a rare parcel of East coast littoral forest. Wildlife viewing here is effortless, with lemurs and reptiles galore being in evidence.
 
At night, we revisit the extraordinary Aye ayes.
Accommodation: Le Palmarium
               
Day 14
Day 14
01 November 2021: Le Palmarium - Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
After breakfast we transfer back to Manambato by motorised boat and travel 4 hours upcountry to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, for a 3-night stay in Mantadia Lodge with all meals included.
 
We will take an introductory rainforest walk, and after dark, a night walk to seek nocturnally active species.
Accommodation: Mantadia Lodge
           
Day 15
Day 15
02 November 2021: Mantadia National Park
An early start: we visit beautiful Mantadia National Park, about 37km from the lodge. Here we seek the likes of Diademed sifaka, Black & white ruffed lemur and many species of rainforest-dependent birds.
 
Please note that as is the case at Isalo, the terrain here requires a reasonable level of physical fitness. (This does not apply to Andasibe or 'Perinet', where trails are graded as Easy).
Accommodation: Mantadia Lodge
           
Day 16
Day 16
03 November 2021 - Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
After an early breakfast we venture into the country's most famed rainforest, in search of the wonderful Indri and other rainforest inhabitants.
 
In the afternoon, we visit Lemur Island, for that 'lemur-on-the-shoulder' experience.
 
Tonight, we'll undertake a second night walk to catch up with some more nocturnal species.
Accommodation: Mantadia Lodge
           
Day 17
Day 17
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park - Antananarivo
After a final rainforest walk in Andasibe this morning, we travel back to Antananarivo, where we have the use of day/evening rooms at Relais des Plateaux.
 
Farewell dinner at the restaurant.
 
In the later evening, those flying out on Air France are transferred to the airport to check in for onward flights.
Accommodation: Relais Des Plateaux
       
Day 18
05 November 2021 : Departure
Flight to Paris CDG (if you are flying on Air France), and on to London Heathrow or selected other UK airports.
 
*** Should you prefer another international carrier, please let us know - we will be happy to quote for you.
 
*** If you wish to upgrade your international flights, let us know and we shall advise supplement.
 
*** If you prefer to arrange your own international flights, deduct £890 from the the tour price per person as that is the Air France economy class fare we have used to calculate this tour price.

Pricing Information & Dates

18 day tour, from £7595 per person
Price Includes
Return international flights from London Heathrow (or selected other UK airports) to Antananarivo
Domestic Tsaradia/Air Madagascar flights
Airport taxes
Airport facilitation
Services of tour leader Daniel Austin throughout the tour
Services of experienced Malagasy guide throughout the tour
Services of drivers
Services of reserve/ national park guides.
National Park permits
All transfers and transportation in comfortable, private, 4-wheel drive vehicles
Activities and excursions as detailed
All accommodation as outlined
All meals
Bottled mineral water
Price Excludes
Madagascar visa (35 euro, issued on arrival)
Drinks
Items of a personal nature (tips, phone calls, laundry, travel insurance)
Price Notes
Price Notes
Single Room Supplement: £825
Group size: minimum 6 - maximum 8

Tour Route Map

  1.   Antananarivo
  2.   Kirindy Forest
  3.   Montagne d’Ambre National Park
  4.   Ankarana National Park
  5.   Nosy Be, the Mitsio and Radama islands
  6.   Pangalanes Canal
  7.   Andasibe-Mantadia National Park

Accommodation on this Tour

Domain de Fontenay
Domain de Fontenay
Montagne d’Ambre National Park, Madagascar
Domain de Fontenay Best known for its 300 hectare private forest park, this lodge is located near Joffreville so offers excellent accommodation for those wishing to experience beautiful Montagne......
           
Iharana Bush Camp
Iharana Bush Camp
Ankarana National Park, Madagascar
Situated about 16 km from the town of Ambilobe, Iharana Bush Camp has eight bungalows with en suite facilities (showers not bath tub). The design reflects a unique crossover between traditional Malagasy and African styling.
                             
Le Palmarium
Le Palmarium
Pangalanes Canal, Madagascar
Le Palmarium About an hour by motorised boat from Manambato village (which in turn is about 4 hours drive east of Andasibe) or 2h30min from Port Fluvial, Tamatave, this simple, relaxed and no-frills......
               
Mantadia Lodge
Mantadia Lodge
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, Madagascar
Mantadia Lodge Sure to become the most sought- after accommodation servicing Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, this lodge, under the same ownership as Couleur Café in Antsirabe, was opened in......
           
Relais Des Plateaux
Relais Des Plateaux
Antananarivo, Madagascar
Relais Des Plateaux is positioned on the outskirts of Antananarivo and is just a ten minute drive away from the airport. Rooms are large and comfortable with air-conditioning and mini-bar. The hotel has a large outdoor heated pool and a spacious new restaurant.
       
Relais du Kirindy
Relais du Kirindy
Kirindy Forest, Madagascar
Comfortable, no-frills accommodation with swimming pool, half an hour's drive from Kirindy Forest.
       
Vanila Hotel
Vanila Hotel
Nosy Be, the Mitsio and Radama islands, Madagascar
Vanila Hotel is a welcoming beachfront hotel run by the father-and-son team of Jean-Louis and Damien Salles and is one of the nicest on Nosy Be. It has good facilities and is an excellent base for scuba diving, sailing and deep-sea fishing.
       

Image Gallery

Baobab Alley on the way to Kirindy Forest
Sicklebilled vanga is often seen in Menabe (Jan Gershag)
Kirindy is the best place in which to seek Fossa (Fosa)
Red-fronted brown lemur, Kirindy
Tsingy limestone formations at Ankarana (Mike Unwin)
A previous Daniel Austin tour group seeking lemurs
Verreaux's sifaka
Giant jumping rat, Kirindy (Fiona)
Female Crowned lemur on tsingy at Ankarana
Daniel Austin tour group planting Baobabs in Menabe
Indri, Andasibe-Mantadia (Daniel)
Blue coua is commonly seen in Andasibe-Mantadia
Nose-horned chameleon, Andasibe-Mantadia NP
Parson's chameleon, Mitsinjo rainforest (Derek)
Madagascar Wildlife and Discovery with Daniel Austin 2021 15
Giant leaf-tailed gecko is often seen at Montagne d'Ambre
Click on images to enlarge

Reviews

'Service from tour operator: Excellent. Overall holiday satisfaction: Excellent. Mandrare River Camp: Excellent in all respects. Same for Manafiafy and Constance Lodge Tsarabanjina. Maison Gallieni (Antananarivo): comfort, service and meals excellent; location and faciltities good.

We had the most AMAZING tme. Thank you for all your help - it was a very, very special trip'.

Mr & Mrs Parsloe
December 9, 2015
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