Madagascar | An Odd Corner of the World

Depart the United States for Madagascar.

Upon arrival at Antananarivo International Airport, clear customs and immigration, meet your local guide, and transfer to your hotel. This is a travel day and no meals are included. Please note operational days for flights to Madagascar are subject to change without prior notice and there might be need for additional hotel nights at Antananarivo at additional cost. Check in starts at 12 pm.

After a leisurely breakfast and orientation at the hotel, we'll visit Lemur Park, where we'll have a chance to see different species of lemurs from all around Madagascar. Lunch will be at the site. We'll return to our hotel in the afternoon and have some time to rest before having dinner at our hotel.

After a late breakfast, we will be transferred to the airport for our flight to Morondava. Upon arrival, we will be met and transferred to the hotel for lunch. This afternoon we will have our first visit to the Avenue of the Baobabs.

After breakfast at the hotel, depart by canoe to the fishing village of Betania. This afternoon return to Avenue of the Baobabs for another afternoon shoot.

Very early this morning, we will have a sunrise photo shoot at Avenue of the Baobabs. Afterwards, we will continue to Kirindy private reserve. In Kirindy you will have the chance to see seven species of lemurs, including the Fat-tailed Lemur and the tiny Pygmy Mouse Lemur, believed to be the world’s smallest primate. Kirindy is the best place to see the giant jumping rat, as well as the fossa (Madagascar’s top predator), and you can also witness various spiny tenrecs, birds, and reptiles aplenty. The diverse flora includes three of the six endemic Malagasy baobabs. Upon arrival, we will have time to rest and relax before we enjoy the trails in search of wildlife. After dinner, we will have a nocturnal walk.

We will visit the reserve in the morning before we start heading back to Morondova for our afternoon flight back to Antananarivo. Upon arrival, we will transfer to our hotel.

Drive to Andasibe through the green and luxuriant vegetation of the east. This first stop is in the humid part of the country with many primary forests and lakes. Along the way are Merina villages in the rocky mountains. Arrive at Andasibe in time for a late lunch (about 1:30 pm) and check in at Vakona Lodge. Situated in a eucalyptus plantation 4.3 miles away from the Périnet National Park Entrance, Vakona Forest Lodge is considered one of the most comfortable hotels in this area. The individual bungalows are thoughtfully scattered throughout the grounds and boast generous space, a good bathroom, electric heaters, a mini bar, and a safe. At about 5:30 pm, depart for an evening walk in the forest to look for frogs, chameleons, moths, leaf-tailed geckos, mouse lemurs, and other nocturnal animals at VOIMMA Community Reserve. The letter sequence is an abbreviation for Vondron’olona miaro mitia ala, which translates to "local people love the forest". Return to the hotel at about 8 pm for dinner.

We will continue our explorations in search for lemur species such as the Indri, Sifaka Lemur, Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur, Grey Bamboo Lemur, Common Brown Lemur, and Red-bellied Lemur. Later this afternoon, we will visit Lemur Island on the hotel property. This evening return to VOIMMA for another nocturnal walk.

Early this morning visit Analamazaotra Reserve for the last photography opportunities in the Andasibe region (with picnic lunch). Later drive to Manambato Village and take the ferry for the transfer to Akanin’ny Nofy, which means "Nest of Dreams."

Today visit the private Palmarium Park, also known as Akanin’ny Nofy. The park is situated on 123.5 acres on the east coast of Madagascar, along the Ampitabe Lake and the Indian Ocean, in the Pangalanes Channel. Discover the endemic flora and fauna of Madagascar, such as rare palm trees and plants like orchids and mahoganies, as well as reptiles. See if you can spot all 10 species of lemur living in the park: Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur, Black Lemur, Crowned Lemur, hybrid of Brown and Crowned Lemurs, and Coquerel’s Sifaka, to name a few. After lunch at our hotel, we will go to the beach to photograph some frogs and the local flora. After an early dinner, we will take the boat to the peninsula for a nocturnal excursion to find the Aye Aye lemurs.

Continue exploring the trails of Palmarium to practice photographing dancing Coquerel’s Sifakas and hybrid lemurs jumping from branch to branch. This evening after an early dinner, go on a second excursion to find the Aye-Aye lemur.

After breakfast, transfer by boat to Manambato and drive back to Antananarivo. En route stop for a picnic lunch and visit Pereyras Nature Farm at Marozevo Andekaleka. Arrive at the hotel in Antananarivo in time for dinner.

After a short breifing and breakfast transfer to the airport for the flight to Fort Dauphin. Upon arrival transfer to Berenty, 53 miles from Fort Dauphin. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to explore the surroundings on your own or with your guide, who will be available. Spend the next four days exploring the Berenty Reserve. The reserve is home to five species of lemurs, flying foxes (a type of large fruit bat), and 96 bird species. Berenty is famous for its lemurs because of the ease with which they may be seen here in the wild. Red-fronted Brown Lemurs occur in large numbers during the day, and both White-footed Sportive and Grey Mouse Lemurs are regularly encountered on night walks. The favorites are the Ring-tailed Lemurs and Verreaux’s Sifakas. Immediately behind the cabins, a system of trails provides easy access to the abundance of lemurs, birds, and a resident colony of Madagascar fruit bats or flying foxes. Be on the lookout for the numerous Giant Couas, as well as any species that you may have missed so far. Before dinner each night, enjoy walks within the spiny forest, where you may spot nocturnal species such as the Grey Mouse Lemur, the White-footed Sportive Lemur, chameleons, and birds. (Please note that the schedule of internal flights within Madagascar is subject to change without prior notice. Depending on final flight schedule, the final itinerary might be different.)

Full day at Berenty.

Full day at Berenty.

Full day at Berenty.

Full day at Berenty. If our final flight schedule for the next day is for a morning flight, we will spend the morning at Berenty for photography and afterwards drive to Ft. Dauphin to spend the night.

Early breakfast then transfer to the airport for the flight to Antananarivo. Upon arrival head to lunch at an open-air restaurant. This afternoon, explore the city during a drive to Ambohimanga Royal Hill, a hilltop fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the palace dwellings and heritage of Madagascar. Dinner this evening at the hotel.

After an early breakfast at our hotel we will have our last excursion to Tsarasaotra-Alarobia private bird park & lake for birds-in-flight photography. After lunch at a local restaurant at Tana, explore the spice and handicraft market before returning back to our hotel to pack and get ready for our flight back home. Dinner will be at the hotel. Please note that order of activities are subject to change depending on flight times. Check out is at 11:00 pm.

Arrival in United States.