Madagascar | Exploring the Red Island`s Unique Biodiversity with Ken Clifton, Biologist

Depart the United States for Madagascar.

Arrive in Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital, on a late night flight. After clearing immigration and customs and exchanging money at the airport, meet our local guide and transfer to the hotel. Check in and rest after the long flight. (Please note: We recommend considering a stopover in Paris en route, or coming in a day early, to rest.) Check-in starts at 12pm.

Enjoy a leisurely morning before meeting for lunch and a program orientation at the hotel. Your guide will give an overview of Madagascar's politics, economy, culture, and diverse natural environments. Professor Clifton will provide the following lecture, "Dispersal and isolation: How 'island biogeography' contributes to Madagascar's unique flora and fauna." Have the remainder of the day for exploration on your own and/or rest after your journey.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Toliara. Upon arrival, drive to the hotel and then enjoy a visit to the Antsokay Arboretum, a 100-acre site created in 1980 by Swiss amateur biologist Hermann Petignat and dedicated to conservation of the country's endemic flora. On the guided tour through the botanical trail, witness the ingenuity of a diverse flora that has adapted, sometimes in extraordinary ways, to the heat and drought of this region. The arboretum has a collection of over 900 plant species from the southwest of Madagascar, 90% are endemic to the region and 80% have medicinal properties. In addition to the excellent flora, over 30 species of birds can be found here, as well as 2 nocturnal lemur species, and 25 reptiles. Explore the gardens and have lunch. In the afternoon visit Tule'Art museum, a fascinating initiative that aims to transform waste management practices in Madagascar.

This morning transfer to the Toliara commercial harbor for the approximately 1 hour transfer by boat to Anakao Ocean Lodge, a tranquil, beach front property situated in the Mozambique Channel. Upon arrival, settle in to bungalow rooms built on top of the sand dunes affording sea views. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the beautiful Andovoke bay, a perfect half-moon beach originating from coral and disappearing into the stunning turquoise green to cobalt blue sea. The lodge also boasts an onsite spa, traditional vezo dugout sailing canoes, and snorkeling gear. Beach towels are provided as well.

Today explore the nearby uninhabited island Nosy Ve. Begin with a boat ride to the island, the journey takes approximately 45 minutes. Once on the island, enjoy the pristine beaches and do some birding and snorkeling. The Nosy Ve-Androka National Park includes sections of the 3rd largest coral reef system in the world. Return to the hotel later for a little time to relax before dinner.

This morning, very early breakfast and then 6:00am departure for the 1.5 hour drive in 4x4 vehicles to visit Tsimanampesotse National Park's over 100,000 acres of wetlands, arid landscapes, baobab trees, and spiny forest. The park is the country's first to be classified as an important Ramsar site to protect the wetland of Lake Tsimanampesotse and is home to over 100 bird species including a year-round colony of Greater Flamingos. Other highlights include several lemur species (Ring-tailed Lemur, Verreaux's Sifaka, Reddish-gray Mouse Lemur, Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur, White-footed Sportive Lemur), blind cave dwelling fish and much more! This park is also the only protected area within the limestone plateau and the coastal area along the coastline of the Southwest. Have a picnic lunch on site and later this afternoon return to the lodge, with an optional stop along the way at Ambola Bay, to swim at an amazing beach if interested. This evening Dr. Ken Clifton will present "Fish vs. Lemurs: Contrasting marine population biology with what is happening on land".

This morning, begin the journey with a boat trip back to Toliara, and then drive approximately 4.5 hours to Isalo National Park, where you will stay for the next two nights. After the drive, check in at the hotel, have dinner, and relax in anticipation of Isalo and its beautiful landscapes of sandstone canyons, fauna and flora, natural swimming pools, and waterfalls.

Spend the day exploring Isalo National Park, a continental sandstone plateau dating to the Jurassic Period. Hike across varied landscapes with different forms of sandstones, dotted with the famous dwarf baobab. After an hour's walk with short climbs, stop to rest in a spectacular valley with beautiful views. A picnic lunch prepared by the locals villagers will be provided. The overlook shows miles of azure sky, rocky desert, and winding greenery. Continue to a white-sand natural pool for the chance to go swimming before hiking back to the starting point. Return to the hotel for a cocktail and dinner.

Continuing northward, today's drive is along breathtaking scenery. After driving approximately 4 hours, stop at Anja Community Reserve, a 74-acre forest managed by the local community and a vital example of sustainable tourism in Madagascar. The reserve boasts a diverse variety of endemic species, including several families of orchids and saxicolous plants, as well as lemurs. Have lunch at a nearby restaurant, and then continue the 2.5-hour journey to Fianarantsoa.

Today, experience rural life in Madagascar during an approximately 3.5-hour walk through the villages of the Betsileo Community, one of the largest Malagasy communities in the country. Walk through their abundant rice fields and experience their daily life. Have lunch with the members of the community, and then visit the old city, approximately 45 minutes away. Later, travel back to the hotel to rest and have dinner. This evening, Ken will discuss "The dynamics of ecological communities across a varied landscape".

This morning after breakfast, travel 2 hours to the mountainous Ranomafana National Park, on the edge of Madagascar's High Plateau with elevations ranging from 1,640 to 4,921 feet. Ranomafana contains a variety of forest environments and is part of the Rainforests of the Atsinanana World Heritage Site. It has served as a model for subsequent parks and reserves in Madagascar and abroad. Have lunch at Centre ValBio (CVB), a world famous research station established in 2003 and managed by Stony Brook University. Run by Dr. Patricia Wright, an accomplished American primatologist and conservationist, the CVB focuses on biodiversity, community health, environmental arts, and reforestation. Receive a presentation on the flora, fauna, and research efforts at ValBio. Then, check in at Setam Lodge. This evening, take a walk along the road bordering the national park in search of nocturnal species like chameleons and mouse lemurs. Return to the lodge for dinner.

After breakfast, hike in the 102,000-acre Ranomafana National Park. Please note that hikes are moderately difficult and uphill on the way in, and often include off- trail experiences. The pace will be based on the physical ability of the participants. Ranomafana's rainforest is home to the critically endangered greater bamboo lemur, golden bamboo lemur, and 11 other lemur species, plus species of precious woods, palm trees, orchids, and carnivorous plants. Next, visit a nearby Tanala village to learn about this Malagasy ethnic group. Meet the village leader and enjoy singing and dancing with community members.

Continue north to Antsirabe, the third-largest city in Madagascar, known for its French colonial architecture. En route, stop in Ambositra, a 5-hour drive, to visit a workshop and discuss commerce in rural Madagascar. Enjoy lunch in Ambositra and drive approximately 2-hours to check in at your hotel in Antsirabe. This evening, enjoy a group dinner at Guesthouse Madalief with a talk from a Madalief Foundation representative about social work and projects.

After breakfast, begin the final leg of the journey back to Antananarivo. En route, visit the small town of Ambatolampy, approximately 3-hours' drive time, and its aluminum pot factory for a glimpse into this Madagascan industry. Though this factory is small-scale, one craftsman can still make as many as 20 of these robust pots per day. Visit the local market to hear about the seasonality of foods available and how commerce works here. Have lunch at a local restaurant in town and then continue another 3-hours to the capital city. Farewell dinner this evening at La Varangue who specializes in dinners based on revisited Malagasy flavors, in a warm setting with traditional architecture.

Explore the city during a drive to Ambohimanga Royal Hill, (about 1.5 to 2 hours' drive depending on the traffic), a hilltop fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the palace dwellings and heritage of Madagascar, and then head to lunch at an open-air restaurant. This traditional meal is also be accompanied by the singing and dancing of a local dance troupe. Return to the hotel for dinner and time to pack, enjoying the use of a day room while awaiting departure flights. In the evening, head to the airport for the flight back to the U.S.

Arrive back home today following the overnight flight.