A spectacular and biodiverse reserve with an altitude range of 500 to 2,658 metres and mountainous outcrops of ancient Precambrian granite, waterfalls, lakes and unusual vegetation. Pic Boby, Madagascar’s second highest mountain, is a tough climb but there are other less challenging trails through some magnificent scenery and habitats, including lowland forest, high humid tropical … Continued
An extra-special itinerary crafted to take in all the top wildlife, cultural and historical highlights with minimal travel and superb luxury accommodations.
Comfortable small lodge situated close to the primary rainforest of Ranomafana National Park
A welcoming lodge in a beautiful setting on a white-sand beach on the remote Masoala peninsula.
An excellent beachside resort in Morondava featuring beautifully designed bungalows, a large swimming pool and good restaurant.
The most comfortable accommodation option for visiting Kirindy Reserve.
Luxury rental villas in a wonderfully secluded location upon the beautiful Nosy Be Island
Very simple tented campsite in the remote Sahamalaza-îles Radama, famous for its blue-eyed black lemurs.
A fantastic lodge in the heart of Menabe Antimena’s dry forest, within easy reach of the Avenue of the Baobabs.
This gentle itinerary showcases Madagascar’s most exciting underwater life along with some of its best National Parks.
A wonderfully restored hotel offering one of the most modern accommodations for the Ranomafana National Park.
A recently renovated lodge on the outskirts of Ranomafana village and close to the National Park entrance.
The only accommodation available within Kirindy Special Reserve
It was an excellent trip. I saw a lot of a wonderful country and would like to return. The Malagasy people are lovely. Friendly and hospitable throughout. Everything was done to ensure we were happy and comfortable. Excellent service and wildlife. Wildlife highlights: mating fosas, close encounters with indri, diademed sifaka and ringtailed lemurs above … Continued
Comfortable accommodation within reasonable proximity to Kirindy
A lovely small hotel in central Fort Dauphin, between the Anosy mountains and beautiful sandy beaches.
One of the best hotels in Ifaty, this comfortable and well positioned accommodation is both near the spiny forest and good beaches.
A comfortable, eco-friendly hotel in the heart of Tulear.
Quality of wildlife: Excellent. We saw everything we wished for and more. All guides were excellent. English excellent, very comprehensive knowledge. [Our escort guide] in particular was superb with an encyclopaedic knowledge.
The Masoala peninsula protects the last remaining extensive coastal lowland rainforest in Madagascar. Given World Heritage Site status in June 2007 and accessible only by boat, the reserve boasts staggering biodiversity and a wide variety of habitats: rainforest, littoral forest, marsh, flooded forest, mangrove and coral reefs are all represented. Masoala has a staggering 50% … Continued
The best accommodation in Maroantsetra with comfortable but simplistic rooms and a good view towards Nosy Mangabe Island.
Ankarafantsika, commonly known as Ampijoroa, is a prime tract of tropical dry deciduous forest combined with a lake harbouring Nile crocodiles and highly endangered Madagascar fish eagles. The reserve contains many other rare, endemic birds including Van Dam’s vanga, sickle-billed vanga, white-breasted mesite, Schlegel’s asity and red-capped coua. Reptiles are plentiful in the dry forest … Continued
An easy paced introduction to the best of Madagascar with swimming pools and accessible wildlife for everyone.
A wonderful family run and seafront lodge on the small island of Nosy Sakatia, popular amongst divers and snorkellers.
A luxury experience ideal for some down time after an exciting wildlife journey
Another area to see the remarkable spiny forest. Also offers great birding, as well as interesting reptiles and invertebrates.
One of the most comfortable hotels in Mahajunga, with sea views.
We had an EXCELLENT honeymoon – the preparations Reef & Rainforest made and the package put together were very well done. All guides excellent.
Wildlife highlights and pictures from an extensive journey through the wilds of Madagascar
Award-winning seaside hotel on the island of Nosy Be overlooking the long sandy beach of Ambataloaka
An ideal trip for those wishing to travel at a gentle pace without too much flying or driving and see a wide range of highlights.
Remote and little visited, this is about as isolated as you can get. A beautiful deserted beach and small fringing reef, with nothing but passing fishing pirogues to break the isolation, this is the place for those who want to get completely off the beaten track and a good base from which to visit Tsimanampetsotsa … Continued
Famed for its stunningly eroded, Jurassic sandstone runiforme scenery, strange plants, canyon-dwelling lemurs and pandanus, the Isalo massif rises majestically from the flat Horombe plateau. The park offers wonderful hiking through impressive gorges, canyons and forested areas of fire-resistant tapia on which the endemic Malagasy silk worm feeds (harvested for centuries to weave expensive burial … Continued
The Ifotaka and Mandrare River region (near Fort Dauphin and Berenty) is an area of dry spiny forest and riverine or gallery forest with ninety-five per cent endemicity, home to the proud Antandroy tribe with its fiercely held traditions and a fascinating culture. The forest is sacred to the Antandroy and much hunting is fady … Continued
Our highlights were the lemurs of course, but the sheer variety of them was amazing and we really loved how close some got. The spiny forest was particularly great for photographs because of such amazing backgrounds. Also loved the whale shark dive and the reefs were beautifully clear.
Impressive luxury hotel in a dramatic setting serving delicious food
A wonderful trip which would have been very difficult to put together to a similar standard ourselves. Would definitely consider another R&R holiday! Un grand merci!
A project initiated in 1999, Anja Park is a small (8ha) community-managed reserve 15km south of Ambalavao, visited on a 1-2 hour walk to see habituated lemurs including plenty of ring tailed lemurs (you may even get the ‘lemur on the shoulder’ experience). The surroundings are beautiful with impressive rock formations and interesting arid-adapted flora. … Continued
Situated in the central highland region known as the Hauts Plateaux, the capital Antananarivo (known as Tana) was built in a commanding position atop a long ridge 1400m above sea level. Founded in 1610, it is the largest city in Madagascar with over two million inhabitants. As Tana is the hub for international and domestic … Continued
A rustic and friendly guesthouse in Fianarantsoa.
Akiba Lodge is ideal for wildlife lovers looking for a nature experience off the beaten track and a chance to see and support the conservation of the rare Perrier’s sifaka.
Having recently returned from a truly memorable 3 weeks in Madagascar we wanted to express our sincerest thanks to you Helen, and all at Reef and Rainforest for arranging such a superb wildlife viewing experience. As you are aware, we were particularly keen to see and photograph the fosa. At Kirindy forest we actually encountered … Continued
Where and When to see Madagascar’s real life Gremlins in the wild.
Thank you so much to you and your team for a wonderful holiday and experience. Everything worked so well, flowed so well and we felt most welcome in Madagascar. Our guide was just FANTASTIC! He deserves a very special congratulations for his patience, willingness to assist, his ability to ensure everything went smoothly, his local … Continued
Kirindy (once known as the Swiss Forest) is a private dry deciduous forest reserve claimed to have the greatest density of primates in the world, with eight species of lemur including Verreaux’s sifaka and the world’s smallest primate, the pygmy mouse lemur, and 23 species of other mammals including fosa, the lemurs’ main predator, often … Continued
One of our favourite lodges in southern Madagascar and the wildlife of the bizarre spiny forest
A beautifully creative small lodge, with stunning views over the Table Mountain and spiny forest.
A RAMSAR site, it is the newest designated National Park in Madagascar and one of its most unusual reserves. It comprises a milky blue 15-km long saline lake populated by pink and dwarf flamingos and other wading birds, with an adjacent limestone escarpment covered in rare pachypodium-dominated spiny forest displaying extreme adaptation to the arid … Continued
A beautifully furnished four-bedroom guesthouse, with views over Antananarivo
A charming but simple hotel overlooking the Isalo Massif with accommodation in basic African style bungalows.
Set directly on the beach, the Baobab Hotel offers stunning views of the bay and comfortable bungalow options.
Sixty kilometres long and only seven wide, this pretty island off the east coast of Madagascar is best known for humpback whale-watching between July and September. The whales come to the sheltered waters between the island and the mainland to engage in courtship and give birth to their young. Ste Marie is also noted for … Continued
Normally included as a short stop between Isalo and Tulear, the rare forests of Zombitse Vohibasia is in a transition zone between dry deciduous and spiny forest habitats. Birders will be interested to learn it protects 47% of Madagascar’s endemic birds and appreciate seeing Appert’s greenbul (found nowhere else), giant, Coquerel’s and olive-capped couas, as … Continued
With its extraordinary setting and its wide range of facilities Ravintsara Wellness Resort offers a luxurious break in the middle of nature.
This adventure will reveal the hidden charms of a Madagascar that few are lucky enough to see.
North of Tulear on an Indian Ocean beach, Ifaty enables visits to both spiny forest and offshore reefs. The spiny forest is a bizarre tangled mix of drought-resistant plants with extravagant adaptations to their environment such as baobabs and didieracae (known as octopus trees). This is a good location for locally endemic birds including nightjar, … Continued
Simple accommodation run by the local community in the land of the rare golden-crowned sifaka.
The warm waters of the Indian Ocean possess many travel pearls
The newest and most comfortable accommodation for the wildlife rich Andasibe region.
Easily accessible from Diego Suarez (also known as Antsiranana), Amber Mountain is a large volcanic hill of montane rainforest situated in a semi-arid plain and lies between altitudes of 850m and 1475m. It is characterised by towering trees, waterfalls, streams, crater lakes, ferns and orchids. The reserve has a high endemicity and contains 77 bird … Continued
Located in a rural part of Ampijoroa close to Ankarafantsika National Park.
Beautiful lodge has extremely comfortable rooms with attractive décor amid lovely surroundings
I feel the tour was immensely enjoyable, well-constructed and gave a good overview of eastern and southern Madagascar. [Our guide and driver] are to be commended for their attention to our needs at all times. [Our guide] was outstanding – he couldn’t have done more to make our holiday better. I would have no hesitation … Continued
Set in three hectares of peaceful and attractive gardens. Ideal for stopovers
Simple park run campsites at different elevations in Marojejy National Park.
Pleasant bungalows along the beachfront facing the Mozambique channel
A luxury Madagascar holiday with plenty of lemurs, chameleons and other wildlife as well as ample time to relax in beautiful surroundings.
One of the original and most comfortable hotels in the Andasibe area with a peaceful and attractive location next to a lake.
Tour guide was perfect (Excellent++). Attentive and caring. Outstanding person. Became part of the family. Give her an award!!! Local guides very enthusiastic and knowledgeable and pleasant people to be with. Helen’s enthusiastic and sparkling voice was a pleasure to hear on the ‘phone. All questions answered in detail and printed information sent was helpful. … Continued
Spacious, detached villas with stunning sunset views, and a restaurant considered among the best on the island.
Comfortable tented accommodation within Isalo National Park, conveniently situated just off RN7
One of Madagascar’s very best wildlife lodges offering comfort, excellent food and service, sea views and rainforest on your doorstep.
A wonderful lodge, in close proximity to both the town of Ambalavao and the Anja Community Reserve.
A comfortable, eco-friendly lodge in the heart of the Delta
The discovery of the endangered golden bamboo lemur in 1986 and rediscovery of the greater bamboo lemur soon after led to National Park status in 1991. The montane rainforest hills beside the rushing Namorona River harbour 12 species of lemur and around 120 bird species. It is also renowned for its many orchids, bright day … Continued
From the spice town of Sambava, penetrate inland to the pristine primary rainforests and highlands of Marojejy National Park – one of the most challenging wildlife locations on the island. Having been a Strict Reserve until the end of 1998, it had only been explored by scientific researchers. In 1999, clients of Reef & Rainforest … Continued
Boutique hotel offering spacious and stylish accommodation in the sheltered south of Nosy Komba island
Charming bungalows offering a superb panoramic view of the Bay of Diego, the Mozambique Channel and the Indian Ocean.
Comfortable accommodation close to the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park
“It was a fab trip. Everything went very well in Madagascar. All the local guides were really good but special praise goes to [our guide] at Andasibe – so knowledgeable and interesting. He, like all the guides, showed a real love for the wildlife and environment. Excellent wildlife: highlights – fosas in daylight within 10 … Continued
The best location in Madagascar to see the aye aye in the wild.
An in depth look at Madagascar’s largest area of rainforest.
A small charming lodge just twenty minutes outside of Tulear and adjacent to the Antsokay Arboretum for wildlife walks.
Our ever popular locally-led magical overland journey through Madagascar taking in all its iconic wildlife highlights.
Nosy Komba (Lemur Island) is a small rainforest-covered volcanic island located between mainland Madagascar at Ankify and the ‘big island’ of Nosy Be. It offers far more peace and solitude than Nosy Be, with quiet white-sand beaches and no roads. There are various hiking trails on the island where wild lemurs and other wildlife may … Continued
A comfortable modern hotel with excellent, friendly service
A fantastic but rustic lodge on the edge of the Pangalanes Canal, perfect for photographers and families.
A brand new lodge in the remote Tsingy de Namoroka National Park.
A beachfront camp backed by Farankaraina forest, one of the best reserves to search for the elusive aye-aye.
Located on the beautiful island of Nosy Be, this hotel offers stunning views of the sea and very comfortable rooms
Nosy Be, a large volcanic island eight kilometres off the north coast, is the country’s most popular location for visitors, who come seeking beach relaxation and to explore the surrounding smaller islands such as Nosy Komba, Nosy Sakatia and Nosy Tanikely. It is intensively cultivated with plantations of coffee, cinnamon, cocoa, ylang ylang and vanilla, … Continued
An outstanding Madagascan wildlife holiday featuring exceptional wildlife, remarkable scenery and much more, all in comfortable accommodation.
Truly the Big One
Help support vital reforestation in Madagascar while tracking aye ayes, black and white ruffed and greater bamboo lemurs.
It was lovely to meet Helen face-to-face and to devise the ideal trip with her – her enthusiasm for Madagascar certainly confirmed us in our choice of destination. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides, seemed genuinely interested in their work and in interacting with tourists. Invaluable in spotting wildlife and discussing uses of local medicinal plants. [Our … Continued
A smart and modern business style hotel, located in central Antsirabe.
Comfortable three-star hotel set in exotic gardens with restaurant serving delicious French cuisine
Located approximately 90 minutes’ drive to the north of Tana, Anjozorobe is perhaps the last remaining viable hauts plateaux forest in Madagascar, and one of the richest for biodiversity. Ten species of lemur, including indri and diademed sifaka, inhabit the high altitude (over 1500m) and montane (800m – 1500m) forests, which are drier and more … Continued
Luxury boutique resort set within 22 hectares of naturally wooded hillocks edged by white-sand beaches
[Our escort guide] was excellent – he had amazing vocabulary and was always good natured, patient and attentive. He provided us with a great commentary to the country and proved to be a brilliant wildlife spotter. Wildlife highlights: seeing a streaked tenrec, snorkelling with green turtles, the pygmy chameleons, the biggest giant millipede I’ve ever … Continued
We had a great holiday seeing and getting close to more wildlife than we’d imagined. The guides and wildlife guides were excellent and very knowledgeable. The accommodation and food was excellent and we were able to relax given how well everything was planned. Thank you!
An exceptional location for wildlife viewing and coastal relaxation, the Anjajavy peninsula in the north-west of Madagascar has thousands of acres of dry deciduous forest in which at least two species of baobab can be found as well as Coquerel’s sifaka, aye-aye, common brown lemur, Milne Edwards sportive lemur, pale fork-marked lemur, tenrecs, chameleons and … Continued
A well-paced itinerary showcasing many wildlife and landscape highlights and finishing with a beautiful and quiet beach location.
Colonial style lodge on the edge of Montagne d’Ambre National Park and with access to a private forest reserve.
Comfortable hotel set in landscaped gardens and opposite the Tana Waterfront shopping centre
Rustic bungalow accommodation on the edge of the wonderful Masoala National Park.
Comfortable rooms with large private bathrooms surrounded by beautiful gardens
Reef & Rainforest is the UK’s longest-established specialist for Madagascar, having operated there since 1992
Thanks to everyone at Reef and Rainforest for making our holiday so memorable. I came home feeling like we had great experiences in Madagascar and that our itinerary had been really well planned to ensure we saw a great variety of what the country is about. Ian and the team were fantastic while we were … Continued
Sponsor an exemplary rainforest regeneration project & directly help offset your carbon footprint – see how to help below.
Basic accommodation but with a prime location within the Ankarafantsika National Park and plenty of wildlife all around.
Recently upgraded, the Arotel offers the most luxurious accommodation in Antsirabe.
Luxurious hotel set along a beautiful beach, on a remote peninsula in northwest Madagascar.
An exquisite hotel in a stunning location with outstanding service, delicious food and top quality accommodation.
One of Madagascar’s most iconic luxury, tented lodges on the banks of the Mandrare River in the remote spiny forest and ancestral lands of the Antandroy Tribe.
Discover the Reefs and Rainforests of wild Masoala National Park and go search of the mysterious aye aye, iconic helmet vanga and agile red ruffed lemur in their natural habitats.
A World Heritage Site only accessible to the public since 1998, this tsingy offers an other-worldly experience. Visitors are surrounded by tall limestone pinnacles, some over 45m (150 feet) high, and can enter (sometimes via ropes) sunken dry deciduous forest harbouring unusual flora and fauna. Plants such as aloe, pachypodium and delonix cling to the … Continued
Enjoy a journey of discovery to see the wild National Parks and marine life of Northern Madagascar.
Set in a commanding position with views over the forest to the Mozambique Channel and Diego Suarez Bay
Large variety of lemurs, indri and sifakas in different surroundings. Watching families leaping from tree to tree was enthralling. Chameleons, from a two day old hatchling to larger ones displaying their unusual movements was captivating. Beautiful and unusual birds in a variety of habitats. Watching a kingfisher wait, catch and then consume a large crab … Continued
Offers wonderful, secluded accommodation in luxury safari style tented rooms and a private three-bedroom villa, all set on beautiful Baobab Beach
Basic accommodation with easy walking along well tended, level and wide trails in shady riverine gallery forest
A wonderful rustic Bush Camp with stunning views of the Tsingy.
One of the most comfortable accommodations in Andasibe.
Nosy Ve is an uninhabited coral island three kilometres off Anakao in the far southwest with deserted white-sand beaches and low greenery with little shade. Local fady (taboos) have left Nosy Ve unspoilt and provided a safe nesting ground for many red-tailed tropicbirds which allow close approach. Mediocre snorkelling is available on the fringing reef … Continued
A luxurious retreat set in a truly stunning position overlooking Isalo National Park
Berenty is a long-established private reserve set amidst sisal plantations, with habituated ring-tailed lemurs, ‘dancing’ Verreaux’s sifakas and beguiling brown lemurs seen from wide, easy trails in the gallery (riverine) forest and patches of spiny forest near the reserve’s lodge. Sightings of lemurs are guaranteed, giving ample scope for good photographs. Fruit bats nest in … Continued
A massif of sharply-eroded karst limestone pinnacles (called tsingy locally) with sunken patches of dry deciduous forest containing a high density of primates, Ankarana National Park boasts beautiful lakes, underground rivers, sinkholes (cenotes) and caves with evidence of ancient civilisations, and the world’s only cave-dwelling crocodiles. Ankarana, accessed through Diego Suarez (Antsiranana), combines well with … Continued
Our guide to when to travel where and what to see.
The accessible and popular rainforest region reached by an easy drive from the capital, it consists of two protected tracts of adjacent montane rainforest: Analamazaotra Special Reserve (usually known as Périnet and situated near the village of Andasibe) and Mantadia National Park. There are also several smaller community managed forest reserves run by the assocation … Continued
Rising to 1000 feet off the luxuriant Masoala peninsula, the island is home to the shy aye-aye – subject of one of the Durrell Wildlife’s captive breeding projects – four further lemur species, reptiles such as leaf-tailed gecko and the rare tree boa, and two species of tenrec. Hikes can be taken around the island’s … Continued
Where to see and photograph Madagascar’s top wildlife.
Discover one of Madagascar’s most dramatic wildlife hotspots and rainforests.
A simple lodge located just 200 meters from the entrance track to Ankarana National Park.
Comfortable, friendly camp built into the side of a hillside overlooking rice paddies in Anjzorobe
A comfortable hotel close to the beach on the edge of the Masoala’s main town of Maroanstsetra
Comfortable accommodation close to Ankarana National Park, one of Madagascar’s most exciting reserves
Uninhabited except by a few small fishing hamlets and one tourist resort, Mitsio is a collection of small islands 40 nautical miles north east of Nosy Be affording excellent diving and snorkelling on vibrant fringing coral reefs. Each island has a unique character; eg La Grande Mitsio is known for its huge basalt columns (the … Continued
Lovely boutique hotel located in Antananarivo’s historic Upper Town
Basic wooden bungalows surrounded by lush rainforest and just steps from a wild beach.
A simple but comfortable hotel close to Perinet Reserve where indri can often be heard at dawn.
A comprehensive itinerary taking in all of Madagascar’s main ecosystems and focusing on its unique birdlife in addition to its lemurs and other wildlife.
Wake to the song of the indri at this comfortable lodge, ideally placed for rainforest exploration.
Lying between Fort Dauphin and Berenty, it protects a surprising range of habitats for its 760 sq kms. Rainfall patterns over the Anosy mountain range have led to eastern humid rainforest at one extreme, and lower rainfall in another section has given rise to dry spiny forest at the other. The area in between is … Continued
Beautifully positioned new hotel overlooking the stunning Mozambique Channel
Loved it all! 17 species of lemurs, loads of reptiles and endemic birds. Did masses of photography. Highlights included male giraffe necked weevil, witnessing an indri howling and Verreauxs sifakas jumping through the trees in gorgeous early morning light. [Our guide] was great as were local guides. Very happy with the itinerary. We wanted it … Continued
A charming seafront lodge, on a private beach looking out towards Nosy Be
Where to see Madagascar’s top predator and rare behaviour caught on camera
