Highlights of Madagascar for the Active and Adventurous

Arrive Antananarivo, met on arrival and transfer (15 minutes) to your hotel.

After a morning at lesuire to recover from your flight, enjoy a city tour of Tana. Perhaps the visit old Royal Palace at Ambohimanga Hill, the market of la Digue, the central square or Tsarasoatra Lake for some urban birdwatching.

Transfer to the airport to take flight to Morondava. Met on arrival and transfer to the Kirindy Reserve past the Avenue of Baobabs. Morning and afternoon guided walks in the Kirindy Reserve in search of its special wildlife including eight species of lemur.

Highlights may include the acrobatic Verreaux’s sifaka, red-fronted brown lemur, the impressive predatory fossa, narrow-striped mongoose (bokiboky) and birds such as the white-breasted mesite and crested coua. In the evening take another night walk to see more nocturnal wildlife. The 10,000-hectare Kirindy reserve is a rare remnant of Madagascar’s threatened dry tropical deciduous forest. Take an evening night walk in search of nocturnal species including the tiny Madame Berthe's mouse lemur, the smallest primate in the world.

A full day of morning and afternoon guided walks in the Kirindy Reserve in search of its special wildlife. In the late afternoon look for fossa and narrow striped mongoose around the Kirindy Gite.

Later in the evening take a night walk in search of more nocturnal species. Species to look for include the bizarre giant jumping rat, big-headed gecko, scops owl and six species of nocturnal lemur including the tiny Madame Berthe's mouse lemur (smallest primate in the world).

Transfer around 8 hours through chaning landscapes to Bekopaka, gateway to Tsingy of Bemaraha National Park.

The National Park is a World Heritage Site, protecting a diverse range of flora and fauna and some otherworldly geology. There are tall limestone pinnacles (some 45 metres high) that support fascinating botanical communities, as well as sunken forests, lakes, marshes and some interesting wildlife. In the evening perhaps take a walk around the hotel grounds where the Peter's (Western rufous) mouse lemur can been seen.

A day to explore the National Park including a morning pirogue boat trip on the Manambolo River and a visit to the Petit Tsingy, a small canyon of impressive sharp limestone karst limestone rock formations. Here you may see the rare Madagascar fish eagle hunting over the river and nearby lakes and endemic giant coua and greater and lesser vasa parrots in the dry forests.

Spend another day exploring the National Park and perhaps visit the spectacular Grand Tsingy. Here the tsyiny pinnacles are at their most jagged and impressive. A walk through this trail is adventerous with ladders, narrow pathways and requires some agilty. The sunken forests here are a good spot to see the agile Decken's sifaka, rufous brown lemurs and the highly localised Randrianasolo's (Bemaraha) sportive lemur.

Today spend most of the day, transfering back to Morondava via the famous Avenue des Baobabs at sunset. A sunset view of these iconic 800 year old and endemic trees will provide a beautiful photographic opportunity and a long lasting memory.

Morning transfer 7-8 hours across rural Madagascan countryside to Antsirabe stopping to take photographs along the journey.

You will also be able to see the different ethnic groups and see how the red soil changes to fertile farming lands around the townof Miandrivazo where cotton, rice and tobacco are grown.

After perhaps seeing some of the handicraft stalls in Antsirabe, continue the drive through Bestileo country to Ranomafana, stopping en route at the woodcarving centre of Ambositra. Arrive in Ranomafana in the afternoon and transfer to the hotel. After dark there will be a guided walk to look for nocturnal species such as the rufous mouse lemur and numerous reptiles and endemic frogs and insects.

Morning and afternoon excursions in Ranomafana National Park. Ranomafana is an exceptionally rich high-altitude rainforest reserve where the very rare and locally endemic golden bamboo lemur and eleven other lemur species exist including the beautiful red-bellied lemur and large Milne Edwards sifaka. Birdlife is fantastic with numerous forest specialities to see such as the pitta like ground roller. Over 120 species of endemic frog have also been identified in the area.

The trails can be steep and tough but generally the going is moderate.

Today transfer (1 hour 30 mins) east to the Kianjavato Forest Reserve. The Kianjavato Reserve and project is managed by the Madagascar Biodiversity Project and Lemur Conservation Network and was set up to research lemur ecology and threats in fragmented forests.

Spend the day exploring the rainforest trails for two highly endangered species of lemur in particular; the greater bamboo lemur and the southern black-and-white ruffed lemur. we have very good chances to observe these lemurs alongside red-fronted brown lemurs and beautiful red-bellied lemurs.

Later in the afternoon head deeper into the forest to the site of an aye aye nest thanks to the help of our local guide. As night falls you have an excellent chance to see this elusive species as it sets out for an night of foraging.

Please note that the aye aye excursion involves walking the rainforest undergrowth on potentially very steep and slippery trails.

Today enjoy another day of morning and afternoon guided walks in the biodiverse Ranomafana National Park. Perhaps explore the higher altitude Vohipara Circuit in the morning where secretive forest dwelling birds such as the yellow-browed oxylabes and beautiful yellow-bellied sunbird asity can be found. In the afternoon perhaps explore the trails near the lookout and focus on the many lemurs found in the reserve.

Transfer to Isalo, stopping at the community-run Anja Park en route to see a habituated population of ring-tailed lemurs and search for the impressive Oustalets's chameleon. Arrive in Isalo in the late afternoon and visit the interpretation centre or Window of Isalo if time allows.

Enjoy a day to hike in Isalo National Park. The park, an eroded limestone massif, contains wonderful scenery and unusual plants like the endemic ‘elephant’s foot’ Pachypodium rosalatum and is a sacred burial ground for the Bara tribe. There are many interesting geological sites and places to swim in the park alongside its curious natural history. Wildlife is less diverse here but includes red-fronted brown lemurs, jewel chameleons and the localised Benson's rock thrush.

Depart early for a 2 hour transfer to Zombitse National Park and then spend the rest of the morning exploring the park. Zombitse-Vohibasia acts as a transition zone between the dry and the humid forests of Madagascar with baobabs and numerous orchids. It is home to eight lemur species including the locally endemic Zombitse (Hubbard's) sportive lemur and a dark morph of the Verreaux´s sifaka. Birds are also a highlight with 85 species including Zombitse’s special attraction the rare Appert´s tetraka.

Continue to lodge in Tulear in the afternoon and rest. In the late afternoon and evening take a guided walk in the unique spiny forest at the Antsokay Arboretum. Learn about the adaptions of the the spiny forest flora including the thorny Didiereacae, or octopus, trees to the arid conditions and spot some its special wildlife.

Morning pick up from the hotel and transfer to Tulear airport. Take domestic flight back to Tana. Met on arrival in Tana and take a city tour of Tana if interested.

Morning transfer to Andasibe and Analamazaotra (Andasibe-Mantadia) National Park, also known as Perinet.

Afternoon excursion to Mitsinjo forest, a community-managed part of Analamazaotra rainforest. The forest here supports lowland streaked tenrecs, indris, the tiny Goodman’s mouse lemur, eastern woolly lemur and furry-eared dwarf lemur as well as Malagasy tree boa, many species of chameleons, leaf-tailed geckos and endemic frogs. Take a night walk once dark for the nocturnal species.

In the morning transfer further north and enjoy a guided walk in Mantadia National Park.

The lush primary rainforest of this park is an excellent location to see the beautiful diademed sifaka and the more elusive black and white ruffed lemur. Birds include the shy scaly-ground roller and velvet asity amongst many more. Enjoy another night walk in the evening near the hotel. At night it is possible to encounter many nocturnal lemurs as well as pygmy chameleons, giant millipedes and an assortment of colourful endemic frogs, camouflaged stick insects and much more.

Morning excursions in the Perinet rainforest reserve. The reserve is the best place to see the largest lemur species, the indri, along with common brown and eastern grey bamboo lemurs, diademed sifakas, huge Parson's chameleons and the bizarre giraffe-necked weevil. Perhaps also take a cultural tour of Andasibe village if of interest.

In the afternoon transfer 4 hours back to Tana. On arrival back in Tana check in to the hotel for the evening.

Later transfer to the airport to check in for the flight home.

Depart Antananarivo on flight home.