ABOUT THE TOUR
Madagascar, fourth largest island in the world, is a truly unique destination. Its separation from Africa some 65 million years ago resulted in the evolution of flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth. Today, the island is often considered to be the eighth continent for its remarkable biodiversity and culture which this exceptional tour, with the help of expert local guides, explores in depth.
Our journey begins in the island’s colourful capital, Antananarivo, or Tana as it is known, which we will return to in between all three subsequent ports of call. We will visit the historic ‘haute ville’ dominated by the Rova (royal palace) built on the city’s highest peak.
We fly to the far south of the island to the secluded Mandrare River Camp, a luxury tented camp in a breathtaking setting in the remarkable Spiny Forest, which is home to the fascinating Antandroy tribe and a unique variety of wildlife including Verreaux’s Sifaka lemurs.
We drive to the east of the island to Mantadia Lodge in Andasibe, a stunning rainforest park which consists of two protected areas, the Perinet Special Reserve and Mantadia National Park. Perinet is world famous for its population of indri lemurs, which are the largest living lemur species.
We fly to Anjajavy Lodge situated on the northwest coast mid-way between Mahajunga and Nosy Be on a small peninsula with secluded bays, beautiful white sandy beaches and pockets of deciduous forest and mangroves. It is surrounded by a private reserve which includes a landscape of ancient baobab trees and tsingy rock formations found only in Madagascar and is known for its Coquerel’s sifaka lemurs
TOUR LEADER
Andy Bunten
15 days from £11,780 per person
TOUR DATE: 8 – 22 APRIL 2026
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: £1,845
Price Includes
- Accommodation throughout as shown in the itinerary
- Breakfast daily; 12 lunches; 12 dinners
- Group transfers and transportation as per the itinerary
- All entrance fees, visits, excursions
- Gratuities in restaurants for included meals; gratuities to guides/s; gratuities to driver/s; porterage
- Local English-speaking guide/s
- The services of your tour leader throughout
Price Excludes
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Meals ‘under own arrangements’
- Items of personal expenditure (e.g. telephone calls / laundry etc.)
- Government levies or taxes introduced after costing and publication of this programme on 02/05/2025.
DAY-BY-DAY OVERVIEW
Wednesday 8 April: London / Dubai
Depart from London Heathrow on a flight to via Dubai to Antananarivo (not included in the cost of the tour).
Thursday 9 April: Dubai / Antananarivo
On arrival in Antananarivo (Tana), take group transfer to the Radisson Blu Hotel where one night is spent. Dinner at Le Marais restaurant.
Overnight: Radisson Blu, Antananarivo
Friday 10 April: Antananarivo / Mandrare
Transfer to the Tana airport for a private charter flight to Ifotaka. Transfer to the Mandrare River Camp where three nights are spent.
Lunch at the camp. Afternoon at leisure. Evening walk in the Forest of Zenavo, a pre-historic spiny forest, to see sifika lemurs, white foot sportive lemurs, mouse lemurs, birds, chameleons and owls. Dinner at the camp.
Overnight: Mandrare River Camp
Saturday 11 April: Mandrare
Excursion on foot or by boat across the Mandrare River to the Sacred Gallery Forest to see ring tailed lemurs and Verreaux sifika lemurs.
Lunch at the camp. Afternoon at leisure. Late afternoon walk through the spiny forest to see the ancestral tombs of the Antandroy tribe. Sundowners on the river bank. Dinner at the camp.
Overnight: Mandrare River Camp
Sunday 12 April: Mandrare
Early morning walk in the spiny forest before breakfast. Visit to the local market or local Antandroy village.
Lunch at the camp. Afternoon at leisure. Sundowners and watch the sunset amidst boababs. Traditional dance and music performance by local villagers. Dinner at the camp.
Overnight: Mandrare River Camp
Monday 13 April: Mandrare / Antananarivo
Transfer to the airstrip for a private charter flight to Tana. Transfer to the Radisson Blu Hotel where one night is spent.
Lunch at the hotel. Visit the Queen’s Palace and the old colonial railway station. Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Radisson Blu, Antananarivo
Tuesday 14 April: Antananarivo / Andasibe
Drive to Andasibe National Park. Check into the Mantadia Lodge where three nights are spent.
Lunch at the lodge. Visit a private reserve operated by local NGO Mitsinjo which funds reforestation and an amphibian captive-breeding programme. Dinner at the lodge.
Overnight: Mantadia Lodge, Andasibe
Wednesday 15 April: Andasibe
Excursion to Mantadia National Park for a hike to see indri indri lemur, diademed sifaka, grey bamboo lemur, red-bellied lemur and white ruffed lemur. Also see birds including the scaly ground roller, the pitta-like ground roller and the red-breasted coua.
Picnic lunch by the Rianasoa Waterfall. Hike back and drive to the lodge. Night walk in forest surrounding the lodge and see a variety of nocturnal lemurs such as mouse lemur, white footed sportive lemur, fat-tailed dwarf lemur and woolly lemur. Dinner at the lodge.
Overnight: Mantadia Lodge, Andasibe
Thursday 16 April: Andasibe
Excursion the Perinet Reserve to see indri indri, grey bamboo lemurs, common brown lemurs, diademed sifakas and the black and white ruffed lemurs. Also see birds including the velvet asity, blue coua and Nuthatch vanga.
Lunch at the lodge. Option to go on a further night walk. Dinner at the lodge.
Overnight: Mantadia Lodge, Andasibe
Friday 17 April: Andasibe / Vakona / Antananarivo
Visit to Lemur Island, Vakona Lodge’s private reserve. Here see habituated lemurs including bamboo lemurs, black and white ruffed lemurs, brown lemurs and one diademed sifaka.
Lunch at the lodge. Drive to Antananarivo and check in at the Radisson Blu Hotel where one night is spent. Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Radisson Blu, Antananarivo
Saturday 18 April: Antananarivo / Anjajavy
Transfer to Tana airport for a scheduled charter flight to Anjajavy. Check in at Anjajavy Lodge where three nights are spent.
Lunch at the lodge. Early evening night walk to see Coquerel’s sifaka lemurs, danfoss mouse lemurs, Grewcock’s sportive lemurs, endemic tsingy tuft-tailed rats, Commerson’s leaf-nosed bata, and maybe the rare and elusive fossa. Dinner at the lodge.
Overnight: Anjajavy Lodge
Sunday 19 April: Anjajavy
Morning at leisure to enjoy the beach or pool.
Lunch at the lodge. Afternoon walk along the King’s Alley of Baobab trees and tsingy rock formations home to Coquerel’s sifakas. Dinner at the lodge.
Overnight: Anjajavy Lodge
Monday 20 April: Anjajavy
Boat trip to Moramba Bay passing marine baobabs, sandy beaches, mushroom shaped tsingy islands. Keep an eye out for the endangered Madagascar fish eagle.
Picnic lunch on a secluded beach. Return to the lodge. Lantern lit farewell dinner in the hotel’s Oasis Gardens.
Overnight: Anjajavy Lodge
Tuesday 21 April: Anjajavy / Antanarivo / Dubai
Transfer to the airstrip for a scheduled charter to Tana.
Lunch at a local restaurant. Group transfer to Tana airport for a flight via Dubai to London (flights not included).
Wednesday 22 April: Dubai / London
Arrive London.
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